ElectricMari reviewed Convenience Store Woman by 村田沙耶香
Keiko Furukura had always been considered a strange child, and her parents always worried how …
Convenience Store Woman
4 stars
The book was frustrating to read, even though some parts were interesting. I liked our main character, someone who genuinely enjoys her job at a convenience store, even though most people don’t see it as a respectable or “normal” job for her age. Her personality feels honest, neutral.... She doesn’t seem to care much about what society expects, but still looks to others for clues on how to behave. I understand why many readers interpret her as autistic or having autistic traits. What I found frustrating was how the story itself feels unsure whether it wants to be a slice-of-life or a “find your purpose” type of book, and that lack of focus weakens it. The character Shiraha was especially frustrating. He comes across as an incel-type who also doesn’t fit into society, but he doesn’t bring anything meaningful to the story. His presence feels mostly negative, and he doesn’t …
The book was frustrating to read, even though some parts were interesting. I liked our main character, someone who genuinely enjoys her job at a convenience store, even though most people don’t see it as a respectable or “normal” job for her age. Her personality feels honest, neutral.... She doesn’t seem to care much about what society expects, but still looks to others for clues on how to behave. I understand why many readers interpret her as autistic or having autistic traits. What I found frustrating was how the story itself feels unsure whether it wants to be a slice-of-life or a “find your purpose” type of book, and that lack of focus weakens it. The character Shiraha was especially frustrating. He comes across as an incel-type who also doesn’t fit into society, but he doesn’t bring anything meaningful to the story. His presence feels mostly negative, and he doesn’t grow or contribute in a deep way. I guess he was there to push Keiko to discover her own purpose, but it felt flat and disappointing. I hoped that part of the story would go somewhere or have some resolution, but it didn’t.
