Reviews with content warning for Toxic relationship - Convenience Store Woman

Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

241 reviews

owlribbon's review against another edition

3.5

Content Warnings

jessereadsthings's review against another edition

3.0

fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Content Warnings

atamano's review against another edition

3.0

dark funny fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

mayaism_01's review against another edition

5.0

funny 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: Complicated

Such an interesting representation of how someone with a disability or who is just generally seen as 'different' can be shunned by society - I think this would especially resonate with neurodivergent folks. It's bizarre seeing how the idea of being 'normal' is so ingrained in the way we interact with other people, a 'normal' way to react in conversation, a 'normal' way to progress in your life, and a 'normal' way to achieve success or happiness. Keiko is satisfied and happy with her life, she doesn't need to change but everyone around her butting in to tell her how to be 'normal' is what makes her life difficult.

I also enjoyed the introduction of Shiraha as a foil to Keiko, while Keiko is happy with her life and doesn't understand why everyone wants her to be 'normal', Shiraha desperately wants to be 'normal' but feels so far from it that he warps his desperation to hatred and resentment of anyone and everyone he perceives benefits from the way society is structured. Though both characters could be categorized as 'different', why they choose to live the way they do are incredibly different.

The autistic/neurodivergent rep in this is really special and the way Murata injects witty humor and uses an absurdist tone makes the writing both intelligent and genuinely funny. I think this story will really stick with me for the way Keiko represents a version of myself I aspire to be, Keiko doesn't fit in and she doesn't want to!

And here's a quote that really stuck with me:
“She’s far happier thinking her sister is normal, even if she has a lot of problems, than she is having an abnormal sister for whom everything is fine.”

Content Warnings