Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

[@cryingaboutbooks]

I loved convenience store woman but I agree is not funny and more depressing. I just wanted her to live her life the way she wanted (shes so happy at her store! everyone just leave her alone!)

[@pamallama]

Like others on here are sayin, the whole time while I read this I wondered if she’s on the spectrum or just neurodivergent in some way. Anyway, I just wanted for her to be happy and I kinda wish maybe she could have become a manager at the end of the book.

[@an01p95]

ahaha I read this book yesterday and I loved it! I think she is on the spectrum as well as I relate so much to her. I disagree that she should be a manager though, I think she's completely satisfied with her position and if she did want to be I think she would've already had the position of a manager. She thinks of herself as just a store worker that has to follow the orders of the manager I believe

[@anom3897]

I laughed so much because its exactly how society functions. It not depressing its actually refreshing to have someone be honest for once. About the truth of how are society functions and its a triumph that in the end she gives zero fucks what anyone things and live her life the way she wants. Really freeing actually.

[@aerouwid4624]

this was my take away from it. i think people that find it depressing are the ones that relate more to keikos friends/family perspective, like the reviewer says she thinks more like the friends. i definitely related more to keiko and felt the book was overall very reassuring and funny

[@sakshi2471997]

My favorite parts of this book were definitely when she talks about store. It puts such vivid image in your head and I honestly never though that you could put this much though in managing a store. Physical work yes but I didn't think stores required you think think so deeply and honestly that is why I love reading books, they always open new door for you with new lands full of ideas you never would have though. I loved this book but I agree with you it's not funny at all. It was my first book of 2020, first book of decade and it was nice

[@AndreaMoonMusic]

I can understand why you think it's not funny, it is definitely painful how horrible people treat Keiko. I loved the part when she thought the store was talking to her and realize that she was really a talented person who was unappreciated. I love the way she observes people's mannerisms and fashion choices. In a way, many of us are like Keiko to a lesser level. I grew up in a family where everyone got married, and several got divorced. I never knew older, single people and was influenced to think they were strange. I realize now that Keiko shows us that often society's norms are ridiculous.

[@anom3897]

Amen! Its the outsiders who question the status quo. Its actually when you become or are an outsider yourself. You realize how ridiculous some things are in society and rarely do people question why things are the way they are. Its actually people like keiko and in some ways I think the writer herself who change the world. Wether its trough art, politics, or religion. But I think creating is actually the best way.

[@workingpeon9316]

I found it very amusing that she thought of the man living with her as more of a pet and needing to "feed it". Though at times I think keiko is just a full on psychopath with how she thinks of silencing his baby nephew with a knife.

[@agnesjohnson-jones6690]

I enjoyed seeing the world through Keiko's eyes, but I absolutely got a personality disorder vibe.

[@atchrln]

Couldn’t agree more.

[@HoneysuckleLane]

I really loved this book. It is a great reminder to be yourself.

[@fairy7101]

Exactly

[@Pookahantas]

I did read it and wrote academic paper about alienation in this book. I like it. Never thought the convenient store could be presented this way. Very creative.

[@sarahunter7974]

Loved it.

[@user-en9ns7lq2b]

I just finished this book a few seconds ago. It was definitely something that I didn’t expect. Keiko was strange but I liked her unique personality. I kind of hoped that she would change a bit and maybe find a life outside of the convenience store.

[@anom3897]

YEs I hoped shirara and she would fall in love and better their lives together!! Lol thats the romantic in me.

[@user-en9ns7lq2b]

@@anom3897 yeah I really thought that would happen when they introduced him haha I thought they’d change together but that obviously wasn’t the case. I feel like she wrote it like that on purpose maybe to surprise us a little ?

[@anom3897]

@@user-en9ns7lq2b Yes, she probably did write that on purpose. Because in our culture your somewhat "cured" if you can prove someone of the opposite sex is willing to live with you. Every hollywood movie uses this trope. Doesnt matter how succesfull a person is. Especially for women the message is Marriage and children is the ultimate goal. It was very brave of the writer to "expose"' this expectation. And thats why I love the ending so much. She basically says F*ck you to the convention and keeps doing what makes her happy. Which for her is working at a convience store. Which society at large wouldnt understand why someone would be happy with that. But she doesnt OWN an explanation to ANYONE. She is a FREE person and can do what she wants because she isnt hurting anyone in the proces. But at some level they claim she is "emotionally" hurting does around her because she doesnt want to conform and they dont understand her choices. But is that her problem? NO,They rather see her unhappy and conventional. Then happy and uncoventional. And it is really concerning that I do think the majority of society lives& thinks that way. Can you imagine the writer working in a convenience store for 20 yrs and saying she writes? And everyone is like yeah yeah yeah? Can you imagine all the people now that she is succesfull? Human behaviour can be very strange. But this book inspires a message of hope no matter what anyone else things no matter your route in life if you feel that is the right path for you follow it. - end off essay. Thank you Ms Murata for following your dream and staying the course. And inspiring millions of others in small & big ways.

[@user-en9ns7lq2b]

@@anom3897 YES !! I couldn’t have said it better I completely agree with you. For me the thought of staying in one place for my entire life kind of scared me at first, which is why I thought the ending was strange as soon as I finished it. But when I really thought about it I realized that for the first time in her life she really made a decision for herself. Instead of wearing what her coworkers are wearing or behaving how everyone else around her is behaving to fit it she said F#CK YOU to everyone and went back to her happy place. That’s why I loved it so much. Her whole life was spent trying to fit in and make up excuses for her somewhat odd personality but then towards the end she finally did what actually makes her happy.

[@user-en9ns7lq2b]

@@anom3897 and yeah it’s unfortunate that our society thinks this way but as you said this book is a great way to send a message out there and just basically telling people to do what ever the fck makes them happy, even if it’s strange for some people

[@JackDangles]

You know what is so fascinating about it is that it's a story about the many people out there who stay working in low wage entry level jobs forever for one reason or another. Either because of strange personality quirks or difficulty fitting into any particular career in society or just because it actually fits their personality somehow and they love it. You never even think of it but people like that are all over the place and they're mostly good people. The whole story is about people who don't quite fit society's mold or expectations. It's excellent.

[@jayconvo]

I'm not sure if one has to be neurodiverse to find this book, funny, entertaining, and relatable. It really is a commentary on life, and how it is to be a different person in a world with all these unspoken rules. It's nice to have things being clear cut. The fact that you found this story very depressing shows how is very depressing to be putting this person down for being really happy with her life.

[@18catsinacorduroydufflebag]

I loved this book so much. To me it was hilarious, a bit strange and uncomfortable, but surprisingly very uplifting.

[@gracemm5922]

I thought it was hilarious too! One of my favourite books this year 😊

[@eran9126]

It's funny and weird... I noticed that Japanese lit is great at depicting a story that is new and quite weird for us to read -- like Murakami and Kawakami. But its surrealism made us heed on another perspective of life, especially at the psychology of a person.

[@notconvinced2204]

I laughed out loud at this book a few times. It was funny.

[@jonathonglover6488]

It is always nice when I read a novel and see that you have a review up for it! We tend to have similar tastes in books!! Keep up the great reviews!!

[@lapin96]

i liked this book so much, it was one of my favorite reads of 2019. i related to keiko a lot and that made me appreciate her and her story even more :')

[@subliminalshades5990]

Keiko (adult) is perfectly reasonable . Just the world around her couldn't keep their noses off.

[@nonfictionfeminist]

I see this book going around so much! I've been thinking I should pick it up eventually. Great discussion! I think I would really appreciate all the themes of this

[@Zikoniss]

Only the first part is funny, where she talks about her memories childhood. The book isn't funny.

[@Maryjane022]

I've been eyeing that book for a while now ever since Kat mention it to her channel. It seems a nice and an easy book to read specially after reading some tough books, its a nice breather. 😊

[@EuSeiMas]

I so agree with you.. But i assumed she was autistic for thw way she couldnt understand the world

[@Chareads]

I hadn't thought of it that way but yeah, that would totally make sense.

[@KarmicWealth]

Have you read Klara And The Sun. I thought of Klara the whole time. And you’re just… lovely. Thank you.

[@Chareads]

I have not! But it's on the shelf and I would love to some day

[@helenkelly6649]

I could not agree more with everything you said!

[@seeCHOsmile]

I've seen this around for a few years and have been meaning to read it, after watching you're review I really am convinced to pick it up! It sounds like a cute read with a sad undertone :)

[@steveneardley7541]

Very good review.

[@brookemercer2886]

Picking this book up this month for the Asian Readathon- I’m really excited about it.

[@RovingReader]

I just finished this... oh so good! I gave it 4.5 stars :)

[@xNatTheDayDreamerx]

I’m glad I’m not the only one who didn’t think it was funny but I still really enjoyed this book

[@chetanareads]

I really liked this book..It got me out of a reading slump.. Yes, agree with you that this isn't a funny book.

[@nona7623]

Hi, Do you think the book needs a trigger warning? I'm debating reading it?

[@Chareads]

Depression, emotionally manipulative relationships, but I don't think it's a very triggering book.

[@nona7623]

@@Chareads i read the books and you summed it up perfectly. thank you i appreciate your review and response.

[@LifeisthebigO]

You said it so well!! 👏👏👏

[@troyhayder6986]

When convienence has reached the point where we can all just stay in bed for infinity...you all know we will...

[@hypnotechno]

i am afraid I don't think I can finish the book I love Japan but I cannot identify with this character at all she's very two dimensional it feels like she's a character in a computer game. Shame. I don't think Earthlings will fair better for me (sigh).

[@Ranchitup69]

B@B3 @L3Rt 😊

[@aerouwid4624]

cant believe we still live in the stone age

[@08KiiKii]

Quite strange and stressful for me :/

[@orangeyellow9695]

Yea, the book is not funny. But it is disturbing. I stopped reading halfway and took a break after realising the implications of many of keiko's words and experiences. I continued later, and the ending is very ambivalent. It is a good book. I wouldn't call it a light read, however.

[@user-xz6zc8wy9z]

The book is very repetitive, the story revolves around one concept and that's it. But I'm happy that she choose being exploited only by capitalism and not putting up with this man's BS :D