A review by anisyrah
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

funny reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This was a very interesting short story!! Despite its short run time, Murata tackles several large, heavy themes like otherness, societal expectations, gendered & misogynistic views, and community & an individual’s role in it. 

However, I found myself knowing where the plot was going to go beat for beat. That can be a testament to how established Murata’s characters were and a feat for doing so in such a short period of time, but it left me feeling overall underwhelmed. I guess I was expecting some “big twist” to come at the end but one never really came. 

Nevertheless, I still enjoyed myself in the circular plot with how immersive the setting was and just how close of a look we got at the main character’s voice, feelings, and perspective.