Book Review: Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

Keiko Furukura had always been considered a strange child, and her parents always worried how she would get on in the real world, so when she takes on a job in a convenience store while at university, they are delighted for her. For her part, in the convenience store she finds a predictable world mandated by the store manual, which dictates how the workers should act and what they should say, and she copies her coworkers’ style of dress and speech patterns so that she can play the part of a normal person. However, eighteen years later, at age 36, she is still in the same job, has never had a boyfriend, and has only few friends. She feels comfortable in her life, but is aware that she is not living up to society’s expectations and causing her family to worry about her. When a similarly alienated but cynical and bitter young man comes to work in the store, he will upset Keiko’s contented stasis—but will it be for the better?
Sayaka Murata brilliantly captures the atmosphere of the familiar convenience store that is so much part of life in Japan. With some laugh-out-loud moments prompted by the disconnect between Keiko’s thoughts and those of the people around her, she provides a sharp look at Japanese society and the pressure to conform, as well as penetrating insights into the female mind. Convenience Store Woman is a fresh, charming portrait of an unforgettable heroine that recalls Banana Yoshimoto, Han Kang, and Amélie.

This book had been on my TBR pile for a long time, but I first read Earthlings, which was published after this one. I found Earthlings to be a much edgier and more powerful book. If I’d read Convenience Store Woman first, I’m convinced I would have enjoyed a lot more, but somehow Earthlings was so good that it kind of spoiled Convenience Store Woman for me. It deals with similar topics: being othered, fitting in, and what happens to you when you no longer fit in. When thinking about both books, Earthlings is much more present in my memory, not only due to the gore scenes. It just had more impact. I would probably recommend both books to anyone who has felt different in their lives. Earthings may not be the right book for sensitive readers, but if you decide to read both, start with this one. After reading Earthlings, this just feels like a watered-down version of similar topics.

I love getting fresh perspectives in literature, and Sayaka Murata isn’t afraid to create quirky and problematic characters who reflect our fears and aren’t afraid to speak about them out loud.

lomeraniel

My name is Elena. Since I was a little child I loved science fiction and fantasy, and I can’t resist a good novel. In 2015, while wait I started to listen to audiobooks and I discovered the pleasure in being able to read while doing my daily tasks, so there’s always an audiobook playing on my phone. If you see me with my Bluetooth headphones on, please be gentle, I get easily startled.

I live with my boyfriend, which I met during my six-year stay in Belgium, four cockatiels, eight lovebirds, and a hamster in Madrid, Spain; and I like to spend my free time knitting and sewing while listening to audiobooks.