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pbpb's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
An interesting read, but not entirely convincing. The reasons might be considered a spoiler so continue reading at your own risk. A main part of the story is that Keiko cannot find a job besides a low-paying convenience store worker as that is all she is familiar with. She has worked there for 18 years! And the narration shows that she is an incredibly skilled and dedicated worker. Surely she would have been able to become a manager at least, if not rise up the ranks from there. The book does not touch on that at all. Additionally, the ending felt a bit abrupt and brings the reader almost to the same place as they began - an outsider in society finds peace in the structure of the convenience store. The only difference is that the main character knows she cannot give it up even to live a "normal" life.
The characters were also quite flat and though some of them serve a purpose by being so, the others did not work out in favour of the story.
I did enjoy reading this book and found Keiko's story strange and comforting at the same time. I don't think it is a particularly special or spectacular novel, but I cannot say I regret it either. I think the ideas in the novel would have been conveyed more effectively if there was more thought into the characters, their situations, and how they change (or don't) throughout the story.
The characters were also quite flat and though some of them serve a purpose by being so, the others did not work out in favour of the story.
I did enjoy reading this book and found Keiko's story strange and comforting at the same time. I don't think it is a particularly special or spectacular novel, but I cannot say I regret it either. I think the ideas in the novel would have been conveyed more effectively if there was more thought into the characters, their situations, and how they change (or don't) throughout the story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Classism
madamdun's review against another edition
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Misogyny, and Acephobia/Arophobia
lynxpardinus's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Animal death, Sexual assault, Stalking, Acephobia/Arophobia, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Bullying and Rape
kcmillheiser's review against another edition
dark
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Stalking, Acephobia/Arophobia, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Classism
booksdogsandcoffee's review against another edition
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book hit me hard in the feels. It’s a look at Keiko’s life trying to fit into what society deems “normal” as she grows up and works 18 years at a convenience store. She mimics the people around her to seem “normal” so that people don’t try to fix her or don’t ask her why she is weird or at a “dead end job”. Convenience store woman’s is a hard look at how we treat people who don’t fit the status quo in society, capitalism and what is expected of women in our communities.
Cw/tw
Misogyny
Bullying
Violence
Cw/tw
Misogyny
Bullying
Violence
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Misogyny
Minor: Violence and Acephobia/Arophobia
clarathromycin's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Acephobia/Arophobia
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Stalking
the_endless_void's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Ableism and Acephobia/Arophobia
kaziaroo's review against another edition
challenging
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
[minor/vague spoilers ahead but it's not a plot-heavy book]
I have mixed feelings about this as although I enjoyed it, I really wish it had gone in a direction where Keiko could have found labels for her differences (such as autism, or even just neurodivergence, and aromanticism/asexuality), other than seeing herself as a creature made to work in a convenience store. She then could possibly have found others like herself and potential support for her future (there was never really a resolution to her concerns about what happens when her body can't keep up with convenience store life anymore). I guess it's just not the route the author wanted to go down but I feel like it could have said more about the lack of representation and acceptance for people with these differences, rather than focussing on societal expectations – it seems the author wanted to straddle the line between a story about capitalism and shallow societal norms, and one about the life of an undiagnosed neurodivergent and aro-ace adult who has never met anyone like herself (and as an aside, Keiko definitely wants this, as shown by her disappointment in how the store manager suddenly became "a human male" after he started recognising her as a "normal" person). As someone for whom these latter issues are very important already, I don't know how much these would have come across to a reader who is not familiar with them. I worry that people might read it and just think that Keiko is weird and that's that – at least Eleanor Oliphant had a "rational" reason for her difference whereas Keiko just concludes that she isn't human, which isn't great representation for neurodivergent and aro-ace people. So maybe it's best that she wasn't given those labels! Neurodivergent people are too often wielded as quirky and convenient tools for pointing out how weird society is, for better or for worse. On the plus side, Keiko is very self aware and comfortable with her differences, and it's only the attitude of the people around her that make her doubt herself. Overall, I enjoyed the book and it gave me lots to think about (as demonstrated by this rambling review) but it also left me feeling a bit disappointed/uncomfortable.
I have mixed feelings about this as although I enjoyed it, I really wish it had gone in a direction where Keiko could have found labels for her differences (such as autism, or even just neurodivergence, and aromanticism/asexuality), other than seeing herself as a creature made to work in a convenience store. She then could possibly have found others like herself and potential support for her future (there was never really a resolution to her concerns about what happens when her body can't keep up with convenience store life anymore). I guess it's just not the route the author wanted to go down but I feel like it could have said more about the lack of representation and acceptance for people with these differences, rather than focussing on societal expectations – it seems the author wanted to straddle the line between a story about capitalism and shallow societal norms, and one about the life of an undiagnosed neurodivergent and aro-ace adult who has never met anyone like herself (and as an aside, Keiko definitely wants this, as shown by her disappointment in how the store manager suddenly became "a human male" after he started recognising her as a "normal" person). As someone for whom these latter issues are very important already, I don't know how much these would have come across to a reader who is not familiar with them. I worry that people might read it and just think that Keiko is weird and that's that – at least Eleanor Oliphant had a "rational" reason for her difference whereas Keiko just concludes that she isn't human, which isn't great representation for neurodivergent and aro-ace people. So maybe it's best that she wasn't given those labels! Neurodivergent people are too often wielded as quirky and convenient tools for pointing out how weird society is, for better or for worse. On the plus side, Keiko is very self aware and comfortable with her differences, and it's only the attitude of the people around her that make her doubt herself. Overall, I enjoyed the book and it gave me lots to think about (as demonstrated by this rambling review) but it also left me feeling a bit disappointed/uncomfortable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Acephobia/Arophobia, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Ableism, Eating disorder, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Chronic illness, Infidelity, and Stalking
The main character is persistently treated as "wrong" and in need of a cure because she displays autistic traits and is aro/ace.yashe96's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Sexism, and Acephobia/Arophobia
Minor: Stalking
aelunny's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
A really great book that cured my reading slump and really made me reflect. This is the sort of book that would be perfect for an English class because there are many themes throughout the book and questions that are posed and left for interpretation and while being out of school, I'm really tempted to write a few five paragraph thesis essays about this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Acephobia/Arophobia
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria