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A review by inamerata
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.0
A brisk, interesting read. Murata's snappy, declarative writing does a good job of portraying the characters and their world.
I'm surprised at how often I see this described as particularly funny or quirky, though. Keiko is simply an extremely direct person, out of step with the norms around her, and who is happiest when given explicit instructions on how to behave. This makes her excel at work and flounder in most other social situations. Her main arc is deciding if she should change her external behavior as she ages or not. There's not much cause to laugh or gawk. It's a small, interior story that doesn't really challenge or condemn society so much as subvert it with how Keiko mentally engages with her role in it.
I'm surprised at how often I see this described as particularly funny or quirky, though. Keiko is simply an extremely direct person, out of step with the norms around her, and who is happiest when given explicit instructions on how to behave. This makes her excel at work and flounder in most other social situations. Her main arc is deciding if she should change her external behavior as she ages or not. There's not much cause to laugh or gawk. It's a small, interior story that doesn't really challenge or condemn society so much as subvert it with how Keiko mentally engages with her role in it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Ableism
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Toxic relationship