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I'm not sure how I came across this book but I'm glad I did. Sinisalo invents a uchronic Finland where a human female sub-species has been bred. Known as Eloi, they are submissive, receptive and bred for sex and procreation. Intelligent, independent women, Morlocks, are not permitted to reproduce and are doomed to a life of menial labour. The Eusistocratic Republic of Finland benefits and strengthens the patriarchy.

Vana looks like an Eloi but isn't. She wants to rescue her Eloi sister Manna. To do it she needs the money and teams up with a male friend, Jare, to sell chilli. Chilli is considered to be an extremely dangerous stimulant by the Finnish Health authority and the growing or possession of it is illegal. To complicate matters, Vana is an addict and her addiction is getting worse.

Sinisalo tells a truly twisted tale through multiple viewpoints (Vana's and Jare's), letters that Vana writes to Manna that provide the backstory for their current predicament, snatches of government publications, education publications, and excerpts from magazines. The result is an unapologetic social commentary. Sinisalo's satire kicks the patriarchy, and the mechanisms that support it, where it's needed. A highly recommended read from the queen of 'Finnish Weird'.

This is one of the most delightful and quirky books I've read in some time. The protagonist of the novel, Keiko, is neurodivergent, 36 years old, has never had a physical relationship with anyone, has been working at the same convenience store since she was 18 and has a sister who hopes that one day Keiko will be 'cured'. Her relationship with the convenience store is everything. It regulates her sleeping patterns, the food she eats and her personal appearance. It even provides her with a script on interacting with the customers.

However, working in a convenience store is not seen as a real job and besides, at her age, Keiko should be considering marriage and children. These things mean nothing to Keiko. Instead, she spends her days copying mannerisms, expressions and dress styles from her coworkers to build a repertoire of social normality so that her circle of friends continue to suspect nothing.

Convenience Store Woman is told through Kekio's eyes and so we see the world as she sees it, in all its confusing glory. The writing style is, like Keiko herself, honest and to the point. I read this book as a humorous commentary, if not satire, regarding Japanese working culture. On another level, it serves as a general critique of Japanese society and those, particularly women, through no fault of their own are doomed never to fit in. For someone like Keiko, not fitting in could be perceived as real freedom. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to those who like a bit of quirk with their fiction.

Through the lives of four of its citizens, Masha Gessen shows the reader the political morphing of modern Russia. The book begins with the fall of the Soviet Bloc, meanders through the country’s brief flirtation with a more liberal political system before finally falling into step with the totalitarian methods of its current leaders. This is more than a modern history lesson. Gessen makes good use of her characters allowing the reader to see how universalities such as personal relationships, employment, accommodation, personal liberties, and the availability of common commodities are affected as the structure of government changes. Through the lives of her four central characters, their families, friends, and associates, Gessen also examines the Russian psyche during the post-Soviet era, the use of disinformation and propaganda, corruption, and the legal system. This is not a book that I wished to finish quickly. I found greater satisfaction in reading a section and then spending a bit of time digesting and reflecting upon what I’d read. Overall, I quite enjoyed Gessen’s book as her real characters allow the reader to peer into a society which defines Kafkaesque. Not only did I find it illuminating, but the book also made me reflect upon the use of disinformation and propaganda (particularly in relation to social media) by not just Russia, but also western governments. If you are interested in the history and politics of Russia then I would consider reading The Future Is History.