Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Blurb (on back of book): 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 ag
e 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.
MY OPINION: ***
This month, I made a list of about five "shorter" books that I wanted to blow through and finish before the end of May. I was super busy with AP exams, finals, and figuring out my college stuff for next year so I wanted to have some short books to read. I ended up really enjoying this one and found it to be unique, interesting, and fun.
This book is translated from Japanese into English, which is something I've wanted to explore more (translated books). I haven't read many and I definitely haven't read any translated books from Asia and I think it could be fun to binge read a bunch of them. I don't know a lot about modern Japanese culture and this book helped open my eyes to the world of one woman living and existing in a specific sector of Japan (convenience stores).
Keiko has always been a bit "different" from everyone else, much to her family's dismay. She doesn't seem to pick up on social cues like others do and she is very blunt. I really liked that her differences never received a clear label and instead we just get to watch this character try to navigate a world that seems to be against her. I think labelling characters can oftentimes force stereotypes and preconceived notions upon someone that changes the overarching themes and plots of a book and I liked how this one remained more ambiguous.
Keiko has learned to fit in with others through mimicry. She has worked at a convenience store for eighteen years and has spent those years forming and shaping her "personality" based on the workers and people around her. I thought this was an incredibly interesting idea and it was told in a way that I'd never read about before. I can't speak for people with the mental illness Keiko may have but I think that this is an interesting take on a possible path that some people may take in order to try to conform and fit in. We really get to see Keiko's struggle to be like the people around her, from copying their voices and inflections/tones to buying the same clothing as them. It was very sad and heartbreaking to see this journey because you just want Keiko to be loved for who she is; however, nobody knows who that is anymore since she's been so molded by the people around her.
Reading from Keiko's perspective is very interesting and I loved getting to see her "real" voice in comparison to the voice she puts on in the face of others. This short book packed in a lot of introspective and insightful thoughts about Keiko and her character that I really enjoyed reading.
The book also highlights the stigma that many women face when they are older, childless, unmarried, and working in a "non-professional" job. I know that this stigma is true in many cultures but I liked how the author really highlighted the specific Japanese traditions and gender norms that went against what Keiko's life was like. Keiko is encouraged to branch out, meet a man, get a "better" job, and she even tries that lifestyle for a bit before realizing that her life is in the convenience store, no matter what the people around her say.
Keiko's misogynist "boyfriend" illustrates everything you DON'T want in a man. He is scathing, hating of women, and filled to the brim with toxic masculinity. However, as we read from Keiko's POV, we get to see how her brain manages to twist his words and actions into someone who resonates and sympathizes with her, rather than being full of resent and contempt. I hated seeing Keiko get manipulated like that but I also liked how the author managed to portray an example of a real struggle for someone who finds it hard to understand relationships and social cues. It provided a stunning narrative on the real difficulties that people in Keiko's situation can face.
I do think the writing in this book, which is translated, is very blase and emotionless-feeling. I felt very sad while reading this book mainly because of the extreme apathy and lack of feelings the book seems to portray. I don't know how to explain it and it may just be because it is translated and is much better in the original language. I read another book translated from Japanese that had a very similar overtone, so I think it may just be the translation and not the writing, though I would have to read more to find out.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was short and pithy but had strong messages and evoked strong feelings, despite the more monotone writing. I would recommend it to readers looking for a honest, real depiction of a woman struggling to fit in to a society who does not seem to want to accept her.
Main Character: Keiko
Sidekick(s): Workers, boss, etc
Villain(s): Bullying, manipulation, etc
Realistic Fiction Elements: This book was all very real to life.
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