ivyjeansy 's review for:

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
4.5
challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Okay, I’ve seen some people saying this book is like quirky and funny. And I’ve seen people saying that perception entirely misunderstands the book, and this book is tragic and devastating. 

I think it’s tragic,  fun, critical, and it’s hopeful. The main character is in a bad situation,
where she has no one who really understands her.
But also this book is so full of love that I can’t read it as a full tragedy.
And the book (afaik) ends with her picking to continue doing what she loves. 

The convenience store is described with such wonder and care and comfort. I mean come on the novel ends with a literal essay about the author considering the convenience store to be her significant other. In what world is this not a story about love and the joy that comes from accepting what you love. Obviously this joy doesn’t erase the struggles that she faces or the way society doesn’t accept her, but it didn’t read as a tragedy to me it read as a bittersweet mix. But that’s just my opinion!