A review by pbpb
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

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

2.5

An interesting read, but not entirely convincing. The reasons might be considered a spoiler so continue reading at your own risk.
A main part of the story is that Keiko cannot find a job besides a low-paying convenience store worker as that is all she is familiar with. She has worked there for 18 years! And the narration shows that she is an incredibly skilled and dedicated worker. Surely she would have been able to become a manager at least, if not rise up the ranks from there. The book does not touch on that at all. Additionally, the ending felt a bit abrupt and brings the reader almost to the same place as they began - an outsider in society finds peace in the structure of the convenience store. The only difference is that the main character knows she cannot give it up even to live a "normal" life.

The characters were also quite flat and though some of them serve a purpose by being so, the others did not work out in favour of the story. 
I did enjoy reading this book and found Keiko's story strange and comforting at the same time. I don't think it is a particularly special or spectacular novel, but I cannot say I regret it either. I think the ideas in the novel would have been conveyed more effectively if there was more thought into the characters, their situations, and how they change (or don't) throughout the story. 
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