Reviews - The Convenience Store by the Sea

725 reviews for:

The Convenience Store by the Sea

Sonoko Machida

3.8 AVERAGE

helloween's review against another edition

4.75

emotional lighthearted reflective relaxing 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: Complicated

strawberryshampoo's review against another edition

4.0

hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing 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

feelincelestial's review against another edition

3.75

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-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

This was a very lighthearted and sweet read. A nice relaxing story if you’re in need of a mental breath of fresh air.

blanchreads's review against another edition

4.0

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book caught my eye, with its beautiful cover and title. When I got this in Taipei bookstore I didn’t know it was set in Fukuoka. Fell in love with Fukuoka when we visited the place in December. There is nothing sort of magical in this place.

Welcome to Tenderness!..It’s a 24/7 convenience store by the quaint seaside town in Kitakyushi, Mojiko. Look like regular convenience store from the outside but it has that warmth about the store that draws you in, aside from the handsome manager with his own fans club. It’s always welcoming, people know each other, the offerings are delish from the coffee to sweet parfait, egg sandos to ramen, fried chicken to soba noodles. They got everything you need and all you need is a visit to the store.

I’ve read quite a few Japanese translated literature and one thing that’s common among them is the pacing, a bit slower than the others. I also feel like you are reading their daily slice-of-life. And I cant say whether it’s the translation or how it was written, but their dialogue most of the time seems a bit off or unnatural. Having said that, i still enjoyed this slow burn book. The convenience store setting is always a fascination to me in Japanese translated books l have read. Maybe the place is very much part of their daily life. Convenience stores are thriving in Japan and they offer really good food.

All stories are interconnected. Some stories will really tug your hearts and some are a bit slow to my liking. But in all stories it speaks about connection and community, and theirs always feels like home. It has that warm feeling all over and one full of simply joys. It offers a reflective way to look at our everyday, ordinary life. The characters are all likable and all are going through something at one point in their life whether it be regrets, hopes or courage.

If you love reading Japanese translated literature, you might want to read this one.