Take a photo of a barcode or cover
emotional
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
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:
Complicated
A chill detached book about a neurodivergent woman who has never been normal trying to be normal to appease the people around her. People pleasing is at the center of Keiko’s being and I don’t think it’s discussed how much she really wants to be “normal”. The contrast between her isolation and Shiraha’s is earnestness and whether the characters wallow in their setbacks.
I feel that Keiko’s conformity era could’ve been expounded much more. We see why it’s tempting but it’s never threatened. Low stakes, which is just fine honestly!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault
challenging
dark
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Misogyny
Minor: Sexual assault, Violence, Stalking
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Misogyny, Sexism
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Acephobia/Arophobia, Toxic friendship, Classism
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Infidelity, Violence, Stalking, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Sexual harassment
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Acephobia/Arophobia
Moderate: Sexism, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Toxic friendship
Minor: Body shaming, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Classism
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Misogyny, Sexism, Acephobia/Arophobia
Moderate: Animal death, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Classism
Minor: Bullying, Child death, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Stalking, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Keilo is such a charming character. She has a mental disability which is not specified in the book but it makes her experience and feel things differently than others. It is commentary on society and on 'being normal'. This is made very clear with an exaggerated characterisation of the 'societal voice'. But it is also about finding your way in society and finding your own voice.
The book is very short and I like that. The book does not have to be any longer. However, even though the books is so small, I could not read it in one sitting. I would not describe it as a page turner. This is not critique but just an observation and opinion.
I think, this could work really well as a play.
The book is very short and I like that. The book does not have to be any longer. However, even though the books is so small, I could not read it in one sitting. I would not describe it as a page turner. This is not critique but just an observation and opinion.
I think, this could work really well as a play.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
a part of me that often observes the peculiar transmission of other people’s ways of speaking and mannerisms onto my behaviour felt very at home in this book. also made me nostalgic for the times of working in customer service, when you know the workplace in and out, being hyper-tuned-in to subtle changes and proceeding with your job so smoothly, you’re practically ice-skating, with a parcel in one hand, a batch of keys in another, and a request for extra pillows with the room number on repeat in your head.
a lovely short book about finding joy in predictability and stability in spite of societal expectations for a “normal” successful life.
Keiko Fukuroku, our protagonist, shares her fondness for the convenience store where she has worked for half her life, 18 years. the store is like a living creature that Fukuroku knows very closely. but to other people, and society in general, she is strange for not having secured a “normal” job that’s appropriate for her age, nor has she got a husband (oh gosh!). and, to everyone’s bafflement, she is not planning to.
Fukuroku is likely on autistic spectrum: she shares her experiences of taking things too literally, tracing back to her childhood; her “masking” by mirroring the prosody of people around her; and her preference for repetitiveness and predictability of her job at the convenience store. however, there is no explicit mention of neurodiversity in the book, only her family’s concerns over “normality” (e.g., her sister gets so frustrated, she says they have to go to counselling). these concerns stem from complete lack of understanding and, hence, acceptance of the way in which Fukuroku finds joy and happiness in her life, that is, the way that is a stark mismatch with the majority. the story plays around with the idea of conformity: in some ways, Fukuroku’s conformity at work is comforting, in other ways - the required conformity towards life milestones and ideas of success.
i loved the details that our character observes in other people’s speech, how people contain little bits of those who are closest to them, and the tenderness with which she tends to the convenience store.
***
***
this was a wonderful encounter with another Japanese author. i look forward to reading Sayaka Murata’s upcoming book (vanishing world) and see how she tackles the topics of sex, procreation, and another take on the strangeness of society.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Animal death
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Misogyny