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pingi444's reviews
85 reviews
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
5.0
i read this book in a couple hours since it’s pretty short, but also, because it was hard to put down!
the main character, although never explicitly stated, seems to be on the autism spectrum and generally has an incredibly difficult time “being normal” (she takes the way people speak and the way they contort their faces to express different emotions and memorizes them to make up her own blend of communicating). she’s been a worker at smile mart for 18 years and she’s Good at her job. scratch that, she’s pretty amazing at it.
this book deals with the way society belittles service workers and as someone who worked customer service during the height of the covid-19 pandemic AT WALMART. it was almost painful to read, relating to the way keiko (the main character) had every little detail of her 5 days at the convenience down to the T, even calling herself a cog in the system of the store.
she’s constantly questioned (even keeping track, 14 times…. 12 times….) about why she’s still “just a convenience store worker”, why she isn’t married and when she’ll be having kids. this book brings forward an important discussion to be had about the way society regards women’s importance, how it uses women and spits them out after. in its hierarchy of many gender roles, of course, being married and having kids is the most highly regarded, as if that’s what every woman aspires to, instead of supporting them in what makes them happy.
side note: shirahi should just choke and fall off a cliff. what an absurd & pathetic little man (literally).
in the end, i hope keiko ends up becoming the manager of the smile mart she’s worked at for so many years because she more than deserves it. she deserves it all!!!!! she always knows exactly what the convenience store wants, without a single second of hesitation, after all.
the main character, although never explicitly stated, seems to be on the autism spectrum and generally has an incredibly difficult time “being normal” (she takes the way people speak and the way they contort their faces to express different emotions and memorizes them to make up her own blend of communicating). she’s been a worker at smile mart for 18 years and she’s Good at her job. scratch that, she’s pretty amazing at it.
this book deals with the way society belittles service workers and as someone who worked customer service during the height of the covid-19 pandemic AT WALMART. it was almost painful to read, relating to the way keiko (the main character) had every little detail of her 5 days at the convenience down to the T, even calling herself a cog in the system of the store.
she’s constantly questioned (even keeping track, 14 times…. 12 times….) about why she’s still “just a convenience store worker”, why she isn’t married and when she’ll be having kids. this book brings forward an important discussion to be had about the way society regards women’s importance, how it uses women and spits them out after. in its hierarchy of many gender roles, of course, being married and having kids is the most highly regarded, as if that’s what every woman aspires to, instead of supporting them in what makes them happy.
side note: shirahi should just choke and fall off a cliff. what an absurd & pathetic little man (literally).
in the end, i hope keiko ends up becoming the manager of the smile mart she’s worked at for so many years because she more than deserves it. she deserves it all!!!!! she always knows exactly what the convenience store wants, without a single second of hesitation, after all.
The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena
4.0
i read this all in a few hours because the thrill, the drama was TOO MUCH!!! i HAD to know what happened
4/5 ⭐️ because the ending wasnt bad but i wish it had ended differently! really good lil thriller/suspense though!! definitely will have you wanting to read it all in one go. would make a really good book gift also!
4/5 ⭐️ because the ending wasnt bad but i wish it had ended differently! really good lil thriller/suspense though!! definitely will have you wanting to read it all in one go. would make a really good book gift also!
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
5.0
i’ve been wanting to read this book forever as japanese breakfast is one of my fav bands (i’m so lucky i’ve been able to see her perform live — she’s truly incredible) and was so excited i finally managed to get my hands on a digital copy.
this book was like a various punches to the stomach as i read. her grief throughout the whole process was so raw and honest. the way she wrote about her tumultuous relationship with her mom leading up to having to dress her for her cremation and the many sobs before, during and after hit so close to home. it offered such an intimate side to her and really makes me love her that much more.
it’s well-written but also easy-to-read, every anecdote dripping in specific details and emotion. so many times i wished i could send her a virtual hug but until the next time i’m able to see her live, i’ll just play my vinyl and let her soothing voice fill the air, an act of comfort and love for both of us.
this book was like a various punches to the stomach as i read. her grief throughout the whole process was so raw and honest. the way she wrote about her tumultuous relationship with her mom leading up to having to dress her for her cremation and the many sobs before, during and after hit so close to home. it offered such an intimate side to her and really makes me love her that much more.
it’s well-written but also easy-to-read, every anecdote dripping in specific details and emotion. so many times i wished i could send her a virtual hug but until the next time i’m able to see her live, i’ll just play my vinyl and let her soothing voice fill the air, an act of comfort and love for both of us.
Payback's a Witch by Lana Harper
5.0
sapphic love, witches & revenge? sign me uP! 5/5 so good! really enjoyed the setting of the book (i wish i could visit it in real life and be engulfed by warmth and beautiful sunsets
Love & Other Natural Disasters by Misa Sugiura
4.0
cute and funny! i really loved the main character, her family and the person she ends up with. just wish we got closure at the end about one of the other characters so 4/5!