Reviews with content warning for Classism - Convenience Store Woman

Reviews tagging 'Classism'

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

70 reviews

rhi_'s review against another edition

3.0

dark fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

cavexcanem's review against another edition

4.0

reflective tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

maeve_sharko's review against another edition

4.25

reflective relaxing sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

i liked this book fine. I love how it showed two viewpoints on the alienation from society, one a neurodivergent viewpoint and a contrasting deeply misogynistic viewpoint. The book shows the intricacies of society and rebelling against it while also feeling relaxing.

Keiko is a great main character and you feel her depression and loss at not working at the convenience store and additionally feel the bursting joy of just simply being in one again.

would recommend for a rainy afternoon when you need to be reminded of your intuition

Content Warnings

pbpb's review against another edition

2.5

reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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.

Content Warnings