Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by helhas3letters
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
dark
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
An interesting short story about an earnest, quirky, and utilitarian woman dealing with the baffling and unexplained expectations other people have of her in modern Japanese society. The narrator has a worldview which I related to greatly as an autistic woman.
I wasn’t entirely sure whether the author wanted us as the reader to relate to and respect or laugh at and deride Keiko. Seeing the other written reviews here, and reading Murata’s ‘Love Leteer To A Convenience Store’, I’m glad to see it’s the former. There’s something heartwarming about someone having found their life’s passion and who is happy dedicating themself to it, regardless of what others think.
Short and readable in a day. I wishthe main male character got some sort of comeuppance; he was vile.
I wasn’t entirely sure whether the author wanted us as the reader to relate to and respect or laugh at and deride Keiko. Seeing the other written reviews here, and reading Murata’s ‘Love Leteer To A Convenience Store’, I’m glad to see it’s the former. There’s something heartwarming about someone having found their life’s passion and who is happy dedicating themself to it, regardless of what others think.
Short and readable in a day. I wish
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking
Minor: Animal death, Rape, Pregnancy, Alcohol