A review by zayzay2
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

dark informative reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Really enjoyed this book, I knew what this book would discuss before I read it and was excited to see how the author would do it. The female lead is sociopath who doesn't know wrong or right, she doesn't know what is socially exceptible and the social Norms and etiquettes. All the characters were grey characters, the female lead is understandable as her thought and feeling aren't considered 'normal'. The male lead talked about the patriarchy a lot and I agreed with some of he's takes on it but it got debunked the moment we learn he's a stalker, makes female workers uncomfortable by saying sexist things, ran away from he's roommate so he didn't pay rent, made he's family pay the rent he ran from and finally leeching of the female lead. He's takes on society and work culture I agree with, but he then talks about how we still the in the dark ages where women and men are still following the norms from then which isn't entirely true. He makes him self a victim when he's not, he talks about how women don't have it as hard as men society and how men are only valued if they work good paying job, married and have kids if not they will be excluded from society. What's interesting is he complains about how the pretty women he wants only go for the man that is successful and not him, well why would they? you don't even want to take care of yourself how will you be able to take of them?. He deems certain women ugly or useless as they have reached a certain age and won't be fit to have a child while arguing that society needs to be more excepting of him, he leeches of the female lead making her pay the rent and food for both of them. The only reason he care about the patriarchy is due to it affecting him and not everyone if he was a successful man that women wanted he would not care at all he's selfish, he doesn't want to take accountability and work and be apart of society but he doesn't even want to work in this economy and complains. Her friends and the husbands are also the problem they make her feel uncomfortable due to her bing single, not everyone should get married and she really shouldn't. They are the perfect type of people that contribute to the patriarchy, classism, sexism and help it thrive as they think they are good people for judging others. Every character was a grey characters, there was a lot of discussion and dialog I agreed with and the characters were interesting.