A review by reggiewoods
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad fast-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

4.25

Keiko isn’t like other little kids, and she herself will tell you she doesn’t understand what it mean to be human. Luckily, she gets a job at a convenience story where the training manual tells her exactly how people expect one to act; she follows the manual and people get off her back about being socially inappropriate. Murata’s novel is an interesting look at what it means to belong, to be a part of society, and finding self fulfillment. It’s a very quick and engaging read, funny, dark, and darkly funny. While nothing grabbed me about Murata’s prose style, her quirky characters and ability to make the mundane full of drama were quite enjoyable. Anyone who has ever felt like they don’t belong is likely to feel a connection with Keiko and her struggle to have people just let her be.