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A review by nightfell
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This book just GOT me.
Even though I'm not close in age to the protagonist, I share a lot of the same experiences as her (in a different form). I admire how little she cared that the people around her were concerned because she had no husband and worked in a convenience store her whole life. If I were in her situation I would be so anxious, but I know her lack of anxiety is because she doesn't think her life is wrong or devoid of meaning, which I love about her. I liked the ending, as it enforces the idea that at the end of the day, you shouldn't care what other people have to say about the way you live your life.
Shiraha was always saying things that actually had value but he said it in the weirdest and most annoying way, and it just became funny but irritating at the same time, (but in an enjoyable way).
I loved how Keiko wasn't sure what the 'right thing' was, like in terms of how to live her life. The conflict between society's expectations of her and her desire to work in her current job was well-done and I really felt connected to the story throughout.
- the way she literally adopted him, and and when she would cook for him, said he needed his "feeding" was comical.
- Also, when she got irritated at her sister's newborn baby crying, saw a knife laying nearby, and insinuated that she wanted to kill the baby I died.
- The part where she said they should eat the dead bird in a flashback was kind of relatable to me in the weirdest way. Not the actual dead bird part, but when you're younger (at least when I was younger) and I didn't know what the right thing to say was, and always felt like what I said was weird ect.
Even though I'm not close in age to the protagonist, I share a lot of the same experiences as her (in a different form). I admire how little she cared that the people around her were concerned because she had no husband and worked in a convenience store her whole life. If I were in her situation I would be so anxious, but I know her lack of anxiety is because she doesn't think her life is wrong or devoid of meaning, which I love about her. I liked the ending, as it enforces the idea that at the end of the day, you shouldn't care what other people have to say about the way you live your life.
Shiraha was always saying things that actually had value but he said it in the weirdest and most annoying way, and it just became funny but irritating at the same time, (but in an enjoyable way).
I loved how Keiko wasn't sure what the 'right thing' was, like in terms of how to live her life. The conflict between society's expectations of her and her desire to work in her current job was well-done and I really felt connected to the story throughout.
- the way she literally adopted him, and and when she would cook for him, said he needed his "feeding" was comical.
- Also, when she got irritated at her sister's newborn baby crying, saw a knife laying nearby, and insinuated that she wanted to kill the baby I died.
- The part where she said they should eat the dead bird in a flashback was kind of relatable to me in the weirdest way. Not the actual dead bird part, but when you're younger (at least when I was younger) and I didn't know what the right thing to say was, and always felt like what I said was weird ect.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism
Minor: Sexual assault and Stalking