Take a photo of a barcode or cover
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed this novel as it was not heavy with the plot but was more abstract, focusing more on the main character and her relation to the world around her. This is definitely more character-driven which dos not bother me but it I wanted to see more depth in her relationships or the complicated relationship with the people around her. Shihara, I see his part in the novel, but the ending doesn't justify his purpose. I really like how the novel focuses on how normality is important to society and how the main character navigates her best to be seen as normal, which is something I found quite insightful. Overall, really enjoyed the novel but would not give it five stars just because although the ending is satisfying for Furukura, I still think there could have been more that was resolved. Her suddenly leaving the convenience store because a random man she doesn't like tells her to and then a couple pages afterwards she realizes that she actually exists with the convenience store is a bit fast. There could have been more that could have been explored.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Stalking
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wish I could have physically gone into the book and flung that parasitic loser off the page lol.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
challenging
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Stalking
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Convenience Store Woman is an engaging story of difference and neurodivergence in contemporary Japanese society (though non-Japanese readers will likely see their own societies reflected here as well). It explores the mismatch between how the first-person narrator, Keiko, feels comfortable and at home in the world and the discomfort of the "normal" people (her word) around her. While Keiko's particular way of being is never named or identified, she reads very strongly as autistic to me (and, judging from reviews online, to other autistic women as well). She is also asexual and aromantic. Keiko's interior world is richly presented, and it is ultimately a funny and sweet portrayal of a person who has managed to find the place in society where they feel comfortable and valued, in spite of external pressures to be otherwise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Misogyny
Moderate: Bullying, Toxic relationship, Acephobia/Arophobia
Minor: Stalking
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book tries to critique societal norms but doesn’t quite succeed. The main character is clearly neurodivergent and spends the story being told she needs to be “fixed,” as a which, as a neurodivergent, feels ableist and undermines the message. The critique of conformity might have been stronger if the protagonist were neurotypical but still rejected societal expectations. The lack of chapters makes the structure feel odd, and while the main character’s knowledge of convenience stores is interesting, it’s not enough to redeem the book. Overall it’s a was a bit of a let down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Misogyny, Sexism
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Stalking, Acephobia/Arophobia, Sexual harassment
Minor: Animal death, Rape, Violence
dark
funny
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A bittersweet short novel. The misunderstood outsider tries to fit in but it doesn't feel right. The cruelty of the sheep. Took me a while to decide how I felt about this book but I'd read something similar again
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Misogyny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Misogyny, Sexism, Acephobia/Arophobia
Minor: Stalking
dark
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Misogyny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Stalking, Toxic friendship
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thanks, I hate it.
This is not a light, funny, ‘oh, isn’t she quirky’ comfort read.
Keiko is a neurodivergent women who works in a shop. She loves her job and is happy with her life – except for the fact that everyone around her wants her to leave her job and start being ‘normal’.
I adore Keiko – but I despised literally everyone else in this book. They’re horrible awful people obsessed with forcing everyone to live identically to them. Except for one other person, who’s awful but differently awful. Keiko’s sister and best friend are the worst.
As soon as it became clear that the MC was neurodivergent, I googled the author. This book is riddled with internalised ableism, right from the start. From what I read about the author, the premise of this book (though perhaps not the plot) seems to be autobiographical.
The main character is obsessed with what I can’t help but thinking of as self-inflicted ABA. I hope the author is more generous with herself.
The idea of neurotypical people reading this book makes me uncomfortable. But then maybe they need to read it in order to see the hell they put on neurodivergent people. But then, they won’t see it; they’ll just see a ‘charming’ story about a ‘quirky’ woman.
Ugh.
This is not a light, funny, ‘oh, isn’t she quirky’ comfort read.
Keiko is a neurodivergent women who works in a shop. She loves her job and is happy with her life – except for the fact that everyone around her wants her to leave her job and start being ‘normal’.
I adore Keiko – but I despised literally everyone else in this book. They’re horrible awful people obsessed with forcing everyone to live identically to them. Except for one other person, who’s awful but differently awful. Keiko’s sister and best friend are the worst.
As soon as it became clear that the MC was neurodivergent, I googled the author. This book is riddled with internalised ableism, right from the start. From what I read about the author, the premise of this book (though perhaps not the plot) seems to be autobiographical.
The main character is obsessed with what I can’t help but thinking of as self-inflicted ABA. I hope the author is more generous with herself.
The idea of neurotypical people reading this book makes me uncomfortable. But then maybe they need to read it in order to see the hell they put on neurodivergent people. But then, they won’t see it; they’ll just see a ‘charming’ story about a ‘quirky’ woman.
Ugh.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Misogyny, Acephobia/Arophobia
Moderate: Toxic relationship