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turrean's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
sad
medium-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? No
4.5
This is a comic and unsettling look at how modern society still strives for conformity, regardless of lip-service paid to the ideas of personal liberty and “being oneself.”
A few scenes were very disquieting, such as when the main character describes violent impulses she represses, or when the very thin margin of her acceptance by her circle of friends is threatened by their unthinking adherence to traditional gender roles.
A few scenes were very disquieting, such as when the main character describes violent impulses she represses, or when the very thin margin of her acceptance by her circle of friends is threatened by their unthinking adherence to traditional gender roles.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Classism, Sexism, and Ableism
bbbunniii's review against another edition
5.0
I enjoyed this one! An interesting, thought-provoking quick read
midhun's review against another edition
3.0
Little repetitive but decent book, liked the writing style - actually more of a horror story about the woes of being an autistic woman in Japan.
seakay05's review against another edition
5.0
This was a very interesting read! Without proclaiming to change the world, the book pulls you into the little world of Keiko and her convenience store. It's a quaint and endearing book, even though we know as readers that Keiko could never return that sentiment. I, at least, found myself firmly on her side -- do we really need to strive for society's conception of greatness, anyway? Keiko makes me think of the neutral (maybe lawful in regards to the convenience store) good and relatively content counterpart to No Longer Human's Yozo, who falls much more firmly on the scared and distressed side of the spectrum. Very happy to see Keiko's realization at the end despite the things that momentarily lead her in a different way. I'm rounding up my rating from 4.5 to 5 here, because I think the book (and Keiko) deserve it :)
mizzbooks_'s review against another edition
2.0
Unfortunately this was not the book for me. I found a couple passages very interesting with really heartwarming and at the same time heartbreaking quotes. But overall it just gave me the ick. Not for the main character herself, but the people who surrounded her and the things they were saying.
starfleeting's review against another edition
3.0
Well-written but definitely not the book I was expecting. I think I wanted to read it for so long and then formed my own idea of what it would be based on all these blurbs that what I ended up getting was, while not bad, it just didn't give me what I was wanting out of it.
I could appreciate the dark humor in it and the critical eye directed at Japanese society (tho I think my favorite parts included dunking down on the shitty incel character). I could even appreciate how the narrator is clearly on the spectrum (most likely autistic, which made a lot of her reactions and thoughts make far more sense from that perspective).
Combine a narrator like this plus Japan's history of not wanting to confront mental illness/neurodivirgency/learning disabilities with her added masking (trying so hard to be "normal" but it's never "normal" enough for everyone else thus being told to be even more "normal" as well as "cured"), and there truly is a story saying a lot here.
It's just a shame I came out of it still feeling like I didn't get what I wanted out of it. But at least the narrator decided to choose what she loved to do, what gave her a sense of purpose. That's a pretty brave thing to do in *any* society.
I could appreciate the dark humor in it and the critical eye directed at Japanese society (tho I think my favorite parts included dunking down on the shitty incel character). I could even appreciate how the narrator is clearly on the spectrum (most likely autistic, which made a lot of her reactions and thoughts make far more sense from that perspective).
Combine a narrator like this plus Japan's history of not wanting to confront mental illness/neurodivirgency/learning disabilities with her added masking (trying so hard to be "normal" but it's never "normal" enough for everyone else thus being told to be even more "normal" as well as "cured"), and there truly is a story saying a lot here.
It's just a shame I came out of it still feeling like I didn't get what I wanted out of it. But at least the narrator decided to choose what she loved to do, what gave her a sense of purpose. That's a pretty brave thing to do in *any* society.
eileenthecrow's review against another edition
3.0
i actually really loved this. i think it's an interesting read and a novella you can read from cover to cover in one sitting. i probably would recommend it to anyone because of how easy it is to finish the book and how bizarre and fascinating the main character is. however, there were times in the book where the writing and the conversations between the characters felt so extremely unrealistic that it was off-putting as a reader. i don't know if it's the translation or if it's the book itself, but at the end of the day these little things annoyed me so much that i had to give it 3 stars.
angelayn's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
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? Yes
4.5
I really enjoyed the book. It was beautifully written and I will be thinking about this book for a long time.
What makes us truly ‘normal’? Furukura has worked at the same convenience store as a part-time worker for 18 years. She devotes herself to her job. She is happy and content about her life. But the people around her think otherwise. She has never been in a relationship and has some quirks in her that makes her friends and family think she needs to change and progress in life. They think that she is incurable. But is she really?
The book made me think about what it means to be a normal person. Why we put so much weight on ourselves and others to be that normal person. We say that being our true selves is the utmost happiness in life but do we really believe that. Lots of thoughts in my head. I highly recommend this book.
What makes us truly ‘normal’? Furukura has worked at the same convenience store as a part-time worker for 18 years. She devotes herself to her job. She is happy and content about her life. But the people around her think otherwise. She has never been in a relationship and has some quirks in her that makes her friends and family think she needs to change and progress in life. They think that she is incurable. But is she really?
The book made me think about what it means to be a normal person. Why we put so much weight on ourselves and others to be that normal person. We say that being our true selves is the utmost happiness in life but do we really believe that. Lots of thoughts in my head. I highly recommend this book.
blue_is_at_sea's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0