Reviews with content warning for Emotional abuse - Convenience Store Woman

Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

63 reviews

jkiranjot's review against another edition

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reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? N/A
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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lizzy_lisko's review

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challenging reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

0.25

//IF YOU'RE NEURODIVERGENT AND STRUGGLING WITH SELF WORTH DON'T READ THIS BOOK//

As a neurodivergent asexual person, the issues brought up just trying to prove that you're worth as much to society as neurotypical heterosexuals hit home like a hammer. I really wanted to like this book but it feels like the writer is ableist at the end of the day. When finished I had to practice some serious self worth exercises.

Whilst admorable that Keiko is content with her situation, she is taken advantage of and put down by everyone around her with no hint that this shouldn't be the case. She masks all day everyday and nothing is said about how emotionally and physically damaging doing this is. And no notion that 'atypical' people should have career progression equal relationships and a strong supportive network.

Normal people treat Keiko badly. It may read like they're supportive but they aren't. Nothing suggests they should try to meet Keiko where she is. Later in the book she agrees to help someone and the author keeps saying how Keiko thinks she's getting something out of it. She isn't. She's just being used.

'If you don't fit in then stay at the bottom. If you don't fit in it's all on you to fake and wear a mask' are the ultimate messages here.

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krshmnsh's review against another edition

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dark reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

From my first impression of this novel, all I can say is that this was a deeply unsettling read for me.

Maybe it was the absence of the outcome I hoped for, the boxed in characters that all seem trapped in time or even the lack of healing within the storylines presented. I can't say for sure. But what I do know is that I'm glad I have this novel a try.

It may not have lived up to it's outstanding reviews (in my eyes), but it's as real as you can expect from something tackling these sorts of societal issues.

Definitely a read that leaves much for you to reflect on.

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sapphic_reader's review

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reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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a_robin_reads's review against another edition

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reflective medium-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

4.0

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Information:

Listened to the audiobook from Storytel

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Review:

Enjoyed this a lot! One of the characters was really annoying, so therefore not 5 stars, but great nonetheless.

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Review previously placed on my blog:

I have read Convenience store woman by Sayaka Murata. I listened to the audiobook.

At first I thought this was going to be a 5 star read and maybe a favorite. I could really identify with the main character and just thought all the things that were talked about in the book were very good. But then there came a character I utterly disliked and that made that part hard to read. Didn't enjoy that. Nonetheless a very good book. I gave it 4 stars.

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samvansam's review against another edition

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dark reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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yuna's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I didn't know what to expect with this as it's not my usual fare--translated and litfic. But it's charming. I loved Keiko Furukura and every time some garbage person in her life tried to give her shit for not conforming to ableist, sexist societal norms I was all "fight meeeeeee!" Nice to see a neurodivergent woman as the main character and though she encounters a lot of ableism, sexism, misogyny, and social harassment, she stays true to herself. I'll never look at convenience stores in the same way again.

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