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A review by elainetodd
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I read this as two different people. as a reader and enjoyer of good books and as a teacher of children on the autistic spectrum. The story doesn't say the the main character Keiko is autistic but there is so much evidence that she is Keiko knows she's "not normal" [an awful phrase but bear with me] and she doesn't understand "normal people". She gives a couple of examples early on , of how she thinks completely differently from neurotypical people and when that led to attitudes and behaviour that made her feel unsafe she continued her childhood and school years by masking her true self.
Throughout the book I recognised characteristics of my former students which actually warmed my heart and brought a smile to my face. Keiko doesn't give the same importance to things neurotypical people do , so her nephew is no more important to her than any other baby. She mimics the voice and characteristics of others . She "noticed that whenever I got angry at the same things everyone else did they all seem happy" , so she behaved that way in order to fit in. She can be extremely abrupt and what may be considered rude by neurotypicals simply because she has no concept of feelings being hurt and she is similarly unphased by people being rude to her .She simply takes the words at face value. Instead of looking at the emotion behind a facial expression Keiko sees the small parts involved. For example instead of seeing shock on someone's face she muses about how the eyes nose and mouth all make an O , and when describing someone crying she observes that drops of water are squeezing through his fingers and running down their face.
Now the children I taught were often non verbal or limited speech, and they had additional learning difficulties so they felt no need to mask and were blissfully unaware of societies ' demands to have people behave in what is considered a socially acceptable manner. And why should they ? They were very lovable and valuable as they are.
Keiko, who is also very lovable and valuable. does not have this luxury, surrounded as she is by family and friends who want her to be like them. They don't understand her and she is made to feel like an outsider. However hard she studies human behaviour and tries to copy it she can't She has a heartbreaking epiphany about halfway through the book. "The normal world has no room for exceptions and always quietly eliminates foreign objects
Finally I understood why my family had tried so hard to fix me" At this point I had drops of water running down my face.
However , in the convenience store , which is run in a regimental way with slogans and very prescriptive things to say and do, Keiko thrives. Here is a world where she feels safe and valuable, where she knows what's expected of her and life has meaning. Here she has clear instructions with no hidden meaning. She goes to sleep and she eats because she has to be strong for the convenience store.
Towards the end her hold on life through the safety of the convenience store becomes compromised and the clamouring voices of the neurotypical demands become louder and more violent . Poor Keiko needs to learn what to ignore and what direction to follow to help her live .
As a reader of good books I answered the following questions for myself:
Is it engaging. Yes a short story but I never put it down from beginning to end. It was never boring and often comical
Is it well written.? The writing was written as if written by an autistic woman. It was direct and simple but the reader can read between the lines for a more nuanced view of circumstances. Excellent writing
Did it engage my emotions ? Considering that Keiko herself was describing things in an entirely emotionless manner it is an example of Sayaka Murata's talent that she did. I was stressed when Keiko was stressed and furious with her friends and particularly her sister for making her feel they were suffering because of her !
Did it make me think of larger issues outside the story's remit? The social commentary of this tale is far reaching. Keiko the autistic woman could be anyone who feels and is treated like a foreign object who needs to be eliminated . In our 21st century world to be different still brings fear and hatred down on you. Trans people, for example, are vilified and often killed simply for existing . Non binary people , different races, disabled people, mentally ill people are all not welcome in so called "normal " society. Why do we insist on making people like us? The world has room for all people to be themselves.
I have gone on long enough and I'm aware my career makes me more passionate maybe than others about this issue. However I heartily recommend this short novel for a good read with some comedy and a thought provoking social commentary. Give it a try.
Throughout the book I recognised characteristics of my former students which actually warmed my heart and brought a smile to my face. Keiko doesn't give the same importance to things neurotypical people do , so her nephew is no more important to her than any other baby. She mimics the voice and characteristics of others . She "noticed that whenever I got angry at the same things everyone else did they all seem happy" , so she behaved that way in order to fit in. She can be extremely abrupt and what may be considered rude by neurotypicals simply because she has no concept of feelings being hurt and she is similarly unphased by people being rude to her .She simply takes the words at face value. Instead of looking at the emotion behind a facial expression Keiko sees the small parts involved. For example instead of seeing shock on someone's face she muses about how the eyes nose and mouth all make an O , and when describing someone crying she observes that drops of water are squeezing through his fingers and running down their face.
Now the children I taught were often non verbal or limited speech, and they had additional learning difficulties so they felt no need to mask and were blissfully unaware of societies ' demands to have people behave in what is considered a socially acceptable manner. And why should they ? They were very lovable and valuable as they are.
Keiko, who is also very lovable and valuable. does not have this luxury, surrounded as she is by family and friends who want her to be like them. They don't understand her and she is made to feel like an outsider. However hard she studies human behaviour and tries to copy it she can't She has a heartbreaking epiphany about halfway through the book. "The normal world has no room for exceptions and always quietly eliminates foreign objects
Finally I understood why my family had tried so hard to fix me" At this point I had drops of water running down my face.
However , in the convenience store , which is run in a regimental way with slogans and very prescriptive things to say and do, Keiko thrives. Here is a world where she feels safe and valuable, where she knows what's expected of her and life has meaning. Here she has clear instructions with no hidden meaning. She goes to sleep and she eats because she has to be strong for the convenience store.
Towards the end her hold on life through the safety of the convenience store becomes compromised and the clamouring voices of the neurotypical demands become louder and more violent . Poor Keiko needs to learn what to ignore and what direction to follow to help her live .
As a reader of good books I answered the following questions for myself:
Is it engaging. Yes a short story but I never put it down from beginning to end. It was never boring and often comical
Is it well written.? The writing was written as if written by an autistic woman. It was direct and simple but the reader can read between the lines for a more nuanced view of circumstances. Excellent writing
Did it engage my emotions ? Considering that Keiko herself was describing things in an entirely emotionless manner it is an example of Sayaka Murata's talent that she did. I was stressed when Keiko was stressed and furious with her friends and particularly her sister for making her feel they were suffering because of her !
Did it make me think of larger issues outside the story's remit? The social commentary of this tale is far reaching. Keiko the autistic woman could be anyone who feels and is treated like a foreign object who needs to be eliminated . In our 21st century world to be different still brings fear and hatred down on you. Trans people, for example, are vilified and often killed simply for existing . Non binary people , different races, disabled people, mentally ill people are all not welcome in so called "normal " society. Why do we insist on making people like us? The world has room for all people to be themselves.
I have gone on long enough and I'm aware my career makes me more passionate maybe than others about this issue. However I heartily recommend this short novel for a good read with some comedy and a thought provoking social commentary. Give it a try.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Genocide, and Gaslighting