14 ratings • 3 reviews
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14 ratings • 3 reviews
The English-language debut of one of Japan's most talented contemporary writers, selling over 650,000 copies there, Convenience Store Woman is the heartwarming and surprising story of thirty-six-year-old Tokyo resident Keiko Furukura. Keiko has never fit in, neither in her family, nor in school, but when at the age of eighteen she begins working at the Hiiromachi branch of “Smile Mart,” she finds peace and purpose in her life. In the store, unlike anywhere else, she understands the rules of social interaction―many are laid out line by line in the store’s manual―and she does her best to copy the dress, mannerisms, and speech of her colleagues, playing the part of a “normal” person excellently, more or less. Keiko is very happy, but the people close to her, from her family to her coworkers, increasingly pressure her to find a husband, and to start a proper career, prompting her to take desperate action… A brilliant depiction of a world hidden from view, Convenience Store Woman is an ironic and sharp-eyed look at contemporary work culture and the pressures we all feel to conform, as well as a charming and completely fresh portrait of an unforgettable heroine.
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A great read! I love it. It’s so real life. And i agree, why do we constrain ourselves too much to heteronormative social construct
I'm not quite sure how I feel about this one... I liked the commentary on what your life is "supposed" to look like and the pressures of society, but at times, it felt too on-the-nose. However, that could've been a product of the translation, so I'm not sure. A review by Cindy says that "the simplicity of the story meant it didn't stick" and I think I agree with that personally. It didn't feel like there was much nuance to the lessons of capitalism and society.
Really cool to read a book that feels like a look into Japan’s societal expectations and norms from a character that doesn’t fit them. Just really unique and new to me.
Funny, interesting and left feeling like fuck society and who they think we should be and embrace what we ourselves know were meant to be.
For sure won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but I’m giving it a 5/5 because I think this author deserves it and excited to see what else she will accomplish.