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funny
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
This novella truly was an experience. I must admit I was expecting this to be a strange story, and it was. It’s honestly what hooked me and kept me reading.
The reason why this book got a 3.5 star rating instead of something higher, though, is because of Shiraha. Shiraha is proof that when you live in a male dominated country, you are an insufferable shit when the world doesn’t give you what you think you deserve. The misogynistic trash this man spewed over and over made me want to bash him over the head with a shovel. I cannot express to you all how much rage he filled me with. He’s the perfect representation of a mediocre man that only knows how to complain about the way the world expects “too much” from him. Now, in theory, I understand part of where he’s coming from. Neither men nor women should have to follow a strict path in life in order to be accepted by society. Where he lost me was when he tried to say he was more oppressed as a man than women were. Just no. Shut the fuck up. Don’t come at me with that bullshit. And really, he was spewing his bullshit over and over, and it just got to be boring and repetitive. Therefore, he considerably negatively affected my experience with this book.
Shiraha aside, though, I really enjoyed this book! I liked being in Keiko’s mind. The woman clearly has some sort of disorder, and her perspective really made this story unique. I loved how she readily thought violence would solve most issues but restrained herself from using it because society deemed it unacceptable. And to this point, I loved how the resolution of this novella is all about Keiko learning to stop caring about society’s expectations of how she should live her life. She fully embraces the fact that working at a convenience store gives her purpose and structure. She lets go of this idea that she has to please her family and coworkers in order to be accepted as normal. She accepts that she doesn’t have to get married and have children in order to be “happy” and “normal.” I love it!
In addition to the commentary made through Keiko and Shiraha, this novella also includes a lot of commentary on how individuals are expected to be useful. If an individual isn’t useful or stops being useful, they are cast to the side. They are abandoned because of their inability to serve. A mentality which is quite unfortunate. So, I loved that this book challenged that mentality.
All in all, I do not regret picking this up at all. It was interesting, and I appreciated what it had to say.
The reason why this book got a 3.5 star rating instead of something higher, though, is because of Shiraha. Shiraha is proof that when you live in a male dominated country, you are an insufferable shit when the world doesn’t give you what you think you deserve. The misogynistic trash this man spewed over and over made me want to bash him over the head with a shovel. I cannot express to you all how much rage he filled me with. He’s the perfect representation of a mediocre man that only knows how to complain about the way the world expects “too much” from him. Now, in theory, I understand part of where he’s coming from. Neither men nor women should have to follow a strict path in life in order to be accepted by society. Where he lost me was when he tried to say he was more oppressed as a man than women were. Just no. Shut the fuck up. Don’t come at me with that bullshit. And really, he was spewing his bullshit over and over, and it just got to be boring and repetitive. Therefore, he considerably negatively affected my experience with this book.
Shiraha aside, though, I really enjoyed this book! I liked being in Keiko’s mind. The woman clearly has some sort of disorder, and her perspective really made this story unique. I loved how she readily thought violence would solve most issues but restrained herself from using it because society deemed it unacceptable. And to this point, I loved how the resolution of this novella is all about Keiko learning to stop caring about society’s expectations of how she should live her life. She fully embraces the fact that working at a convenience store gives her purpose and structure. She lets go of this idea that she has to please her family and coworkers in order to be accepted as normal. She accepts that she doesn’t have to get married and have children in order to be “happy” and “normal.” I love it!
In addition to the commentary made through Keiko and Shiraha, this novella also includes a lot of commentary on how individuals are expected to be useful. If an individual isn’t useful or stops being useful, they are cast to the side. They are abandoned because of their inability to serve. A mentality which is quite unfortunate. So, I loved that this book challenged that mentality.
All in all, I do not regret picking this up at all. It was interesting, and I appreciated what it had to say.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Minor: Violence
challenging
dark
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:
Yes
What. Did. I. Just. Read?
Strangely disturbing, strangely fascinating, a mix of intentional and unintentional commentary on society and conformity and life purpose. I really enjoyed a few points in this book, but found more it uncomfortable than I found it enjoyable. Recommended if you enjoy poking into random worldviews to see how they fit together.
Strangely disturbing, strangely fascinating, a mix of intentional and unintentional commentary on society and conformity and life purpose. I really enjoyed a few points in this book, but found more it uncomfortable than I found it enjoyable. Recommended if you enjoy poking into random worldviews to see how they fit together.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Violence
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Concise, insightful, and delicately written. Thoroughly enjoyed gobbling this down in one sitting. Very interesting ideas about living and working in our modern world with no value judgement.
Recommend for fans of Aggretsuko (tv series) or Haruki Murakami.
Recommend for fans of Aggretsuko (tv series) or Haruki Murakami.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Misogyny, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Eating disorder, Violence