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Reviews tagging 'Animal death'

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

102 reviews

reflective tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: N/A
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

“O padrão do mundo é compulsório e os corpos estranhos são eliminados sem alarde. Os seres humanos fora do padrão acabam sendo ratificados"
Devorei este livro em duas sessões. Li até 70% fora, e 30% em casa. Ele te prende na trajetória da protagonista e não te deixa escapar. Keiko trabalha em uma loja de conveniência 24h, uma konbini. Ela não se sente parte da sociedade, por não agir de forma convencional como esperam (escola, faculdade, trabalho, casamento, ter filhos). Notei que isso a-angustiava, ela não sabia como viver. Ao entrar na konbini, ela se sente parte de algo, parte do mundo. Agora há um manual para seguir. Eu achei preocupante ela só se sentir bem no trabalho, mas, talvez há pessoas que realmente gostem de viver assim, não sei.
Ao surgir outro personagem na história, senti raiva dele e quis abandonar a leitura, mas não o-fiz. Seu comportamento me irritou, mas continuei. É um retrato fiel da sociedade contemporânea, nisso me lembrei bastante de O Morro Dos Ventos Uivantes. É interessante, ácido, cruel e triste.
No entanto, é necessário que haja relatos, que os autores exponham suas angústias com o mundo, vendo, assim, que não estão sozinhos e outras partes do mundo se sentem da mesma forma.
Bom, recomendo muito essa leitura, Sayaka é brilhante.
Vi um comentário no insta sobre crianças que não se encaixam e fiquei muito pensativa. Estamos vendo essas crianças? Estamos tentando fazer com que se encaixem? Estamos reproduzindo pressões sociais que criticamos?
Fica a reflexão, adoraria saber o que pensam dessa discussão, e dessa leitura.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging 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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark hopeful reflective sad 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: Complicated

Quite an intriguing read but I wish it took some more time with the second half of the book. It was interesting and disturbing to see Keiko and Shiraha interact, but the writing style was kinda bland (easy to read tho).

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
emotional 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: Yes

Existencial crisis, social norms and neurodivergent representation.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
funny lighthearted 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: Yes

I really enjoyed this short novel. As someone who used to live in Japan (and is currently visiting!), so many of the little snippets of convenience store happenings were super nostalgic. I also enjoyed the larger commentary on conformity and what is deemed “normal.”

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
emotional funny lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Before I get into it, I just want to say that I hope that the translation of this book isn't the reason why I wasn't a huge fan. I've seen some comments online that the translation wasn't great so hopefully that isn't the root cause. Moving on though, I read this book at a time in my life where I was (and still am) questioning my purpose and ambitions. So I was hopeful that this book would be as inspiring as many online reviews claimed. Unfortunately, it missed the mark on several occasions for me such as with the "humor." I admire the protagonist for standing firm in the way she wants to live her life, and it's implied that she may be autistic. But
the whole subplot where that random man was staying RENT FREE in her apartment? BOTH UNEMPLOYED AND DISRESPECTFUL TOWARDS HER? No to mention her family and "friends" (really just former classmates) are just so unsupportive.
I wanted to throw the book. There are elements of a good, inspiring story about the joys of the mundane, but so many of the supporting characters and just plot in general were unlikable.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
funny hopeful 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: Yes

I thoroughly enjoyed this quirky little book. Keiko Furukura may be different, but she learns to accept her own instincts and purpose in life despite the pressure from society to confirm. It's an interesting commentary on the strangeness of what society considers normal and unwillingness to accept people who are happily different. It also gave me a newfound respect for konbini workers! 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
reflective tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings