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A review by lemonsandligaments
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
dark
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This was a book to break a few weeks of booklessness.
It is about a woman who works in a convenience store, and I enjoy the monotony of it. When she describes the tasks that she has to do you can really see that she’s in her element.
She also talks about her purpose BEING the convenience store, not necessarily in a bad way, which brings back memories of old, similar occupations.
The book summarised in a sentence would be “we live in a SOCIETY”. Some characters in the book pose interesting points. There was one moment where I was on the edge of my seat, the argument with her sister .
Otherwise, the rest of the book is pretty monotonous, maybe in a way that mimics the convenience store. Thus, the book’s length is suitable.
It becomes very apparent early on that Furukura is likely on the spectrum and has no desire for marriage or career goals. She’s comfortable with the convenience store as it stimulates her.
She then goes on about how she does masking to seem neurotypical and is pretty good at it. The little stories from this era are fun, and a little sad because she’s chill with her life but no one sees that. She also has some astute observations, especially on how people mimic the people around them.
The scariest thing of all, though, was the newest employee, Tuan. He was rapidly absorbing the store and beginning to resemble all the other workers.
Shiraha comes in and rock the boat with 4Chan commentary and then they’re getting married. He’s not wrong but maybe calling the lady who is housing you an expired virgin multiple times is not a nice thing to do.
Shiraha is interesting because he keeps spewing non-conformist talk due to others mistreating him but then turns around and forces those ideologies on Furukura, perhaps in a bid to maintain his parasitic position.
Furukura cannot rationalise society’s accepted milestones. Her coworker’s reaction to Shirahara living with her overwhelmed her to tears.
"After all, we're animals, so isn't it better for our species if we multiply? Do you think it would be best for me and Shiraha to quickly get on with mating and play our part in making humanity prosper?"
For her, normality—however messy—is far more comprehensible.
In a way, you kind of get it too, her sister would rather her get cheated on than have no desire to get into a relationship. That whole scene with her sister breaking down and Furukura asking for specific instructions on how to behave and Shiraha swooping in with the infidelity lie was the culmination of the book.
The sister revealing that she had been putting up with Furukura who had always loved and trusted her with her most abnormal thoughts really dismisses her as “one of the good ones”.
Then at the end when she goes to the convenience store where she has her homecoming and goes HAM.
It was nice to see her realise what she actually wanted and fully reject all of Shiraha’s exploitation veiled as conforming to society.
I genuinely wish her the best.
It is about a woman who works in a convenience store, and I enjoy the monotony of it. When she describes the tasks that she has to do you can really see that she’s in her element.
She also talks about her purpose BEING the convenience store, not necessarily in a bad way, which brings back memories of old, similar occupations.
The book summarised in a sentence would be “we live in a SOCIETY”. Some characters in the book pose interesting points. There was one moment where I was on the edge of my seat
Otherwise, the rest of the book is pretty monotonous, maybe in a way that mimics the convenience store. Thus, the book’s length is suitable.
She then goes on about how she does masking to seem neurotypical and is pretty good at it. The little stories from this era are fun, and a little sad because she’s chill with her life but no one sees that. She also has some astute observations, especially on how people mimic the people around them.
The scariest thing of all, though, was the newest employee, Tuan. He was rapidly absorbing the store and beginning to resemble all the other workers.
Shiraha comes in and rock the boat with 4Chan commentary and then they’re getting married. He’s not wrong but maybe calling the lady who is housing you an expired virgin multiple times is not a nice thing to do.
Shiraha is interesting because he keeps spewing non-conformist talk due to others mistreating him but then turns around and forces those ideologies on Furukura, perhaps in a bid to maintain his parasitic position.
Furukura cannot rationalise society’s accepted milestones. Her coworker’s reaction to Shirahara living with her overwhelmed her to tears.
"After all, we're animals, so isn't it better for our species if we multiply? Do you think it would be best for me and Shiraha to quickly get on with mating and play our part in making humanity prosper?"
For her, normality—however messy—is far more comprehensible.
In a way, you kind of get it too, her sister would rather her get cheated on than have no desire to get into a relationship. That whole scene with her sister breaking down and Furukura asking for specific instructions on how to behave and Shiraha swooping in with the infidelity lie was the culmination of the book.
The sister revealing that she had been putting up with Furukura who had always loved and trusted her with her most abnormal thoughts really dismisses her as “one of the good ones”.
Then at the end when she goes to the convenience store where she has her homecoming and goes HAM.
It was nice to see her realise what she actually wanted and fully reject all of Shiraha’s exploitation veiled as conforming to society.
I genuinely wish her the best.