A review by bookwyrmknits
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This was an odd reading experience. I enjoyed the parts set in the convenience store, and I thought the audiobook narrator did a great job. Additionally, the protagonist Keiko reads as on the spectrum (though it's never explicitly stated) and it's really good to see the representation.

However, about halfway through the book, Shiraha (the "bitter young man" mentioned in the blurb) gets introduced, and when he starts talking to Keiko more about his views on society the book gets IMO less enjoyable. I was still interested enough to see how it plays out, and the story is short so I didn't feel like I wasted any time reading it.

I liked Keiko's resolution and decision at the end, but before getting there I did get very sick of Shiraha's incel comments and constant reference to society being "stuck in the Stone Age."
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