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thewordsdevourer 's review for:
Convenience Store Woman
by Sayaka Murata
challenging
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
an incisive critism of social conformity and ridiculous--yet widely accepted and normalized--societal expectations through the eye of a seemingly "odd" main female character. i greatly enjoyed the close look into the surprisingly exciting machinations and precise strategy of a convenience store's, and the inner workings of its staff's lives. the author def made her points through a number of characters, including the highly unlikable incel who i wanted to throttle.
however, there were a couple things i wish were explained more. how come keiko's still at the bottom of the totem pole despite having been a hard worker at the store for nearly 2 decades? it's baffling that she hasnt been promoted in some way. also, why did she let go of the job so easily near the end? she practically existed for it, surely it wouldve taken more than a parasitic dude she barely knew to convince her to quit? if there were other factors at play, they should've been mentioned more clearly. nevertheless, i enjoyed convenience store woman overall, esp for its critical examination of societal expectations.
however, there were a couple things i wish were explained more. how come keiko's still at the bottom of the totem pole despite having been a hard worker at the store for nearly 2 decades? it's baffling that she hasnt been promoted in some way. also, why did she let go of the job so easily near the end? she practically existed for it, surely it wouldve taken more than a parasitic dude she barely knew to convince her to quit? if there were other factors at play, they should've been mentioned more clearly. nevertheless, i enjoyed convenience store woman overall, esp for its critical examination of societal expectations.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Gaslighting
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Stalking