This is a short contemporary read by Japanese author Sayaka Murata starring 36 year old shop-worker Keiko Furukura. Keiko has worked part-time in the convenience store since she was 18. She feels very acutely the disappointment of her family that she has not made anything more of her life, but the store is the one place where she understands the rules of engagement and is genuinely happy. Keiko keenly observes her fellow store workers and copies their dress style and speech mannerisms.

Everyone around her seems to want to “fix” Keiko, and everyone except Keiko herself finds her childless, single and part time employed status problematic. Finally, in attempt to shrug off the criticism and scrutiny, Keiko shares her life with a male employee, with surprising results.

I enjoyed this short pithy read featuring an interesting neurodivergent character. ( )

Written in the first person by a woman who finds her place as a convenience store worker, this short, satirical novel is full of wit and brings the reader a unique character. Keiko has found home in her employment, where the rules are laid out in a manual, whereas she has found the expectations of behavior in the wider world bewildering. Comical, dark, and poignant, it is well worth a read. ( )

A quirky novel about a young Japanese woman who doesn't quite meet with anyone's expectations of the norm (we would probably describe her as 'on the spectrum') until she finds herself working in a a local convenience store, where she does everything to the highest order. But 18 years on and still working there her family and friends still perceive her behaviours as strange, and in a bid to become more acceptable she gets caught up with an even stranger young man who wishes to manipulate her for his own, lazy, ends.

Read for my local RL book group. I've read a couple of other younger generation Japanese authors, but haven't found them especially engaging, but then I don't read many comedic books, which generally they are. This one worked a little better for me. ( )

Quirky account of Keiko, a young woman who has tried (andfailed) to fit in all her life. She finds purpose working in the convenience store, but for friends and family this makes her a "social dropout". Friends and family pressure her to strive for more...a career, husband, and family. Will these changes make her feel more useful? Can she give up the convenience store? ( )

I think I personally found this more sad than funny, although I was pleased with the ending! The setting of the convenience store is definitely charming at times, with all its quirky people and snacks and orderliness. At other times I was just taken back to my times working at similar jobs (retail positions where employees are expected to do so much without any thanks) and just wanted the characters to actually show appreciation for Keiko and not just focus on what they thought was wrong with her. I suppose the commentary pointing out the expectations held for what counts as a "real" job, getting married, and how those are different for men and women in Japan is interesting, but also a bit flat/surface-level. Finally, it's just a bit unnerving to find threads of actual mental unrest go so unaddressed? Keiko obviously needs a little help (the part of her thinking about silencing the baby is the biggest standout) but the author just seemed to use this to mark her as "odd" and then take the story in another direction. All together it just felt a little jumbled. ( )