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A review by _askthebookbug
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
5.0
| Book Review | Convenience Store Woman.
•
"When something was strange, everyone thought they had the right to come stomping in all over your life to figure out why. I found that arrogant and infuriating, not to mention a pain in the neck. Sometimes I even wanted to hit them with a shovel to shut them up, like I did that time in elementary school." - Sayaka Murata.
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Japanese novels are always like a breath of fresh air. The very plot of the book sets it apart from anything else I've ever read. This particular novel has received splendid reviews from the literary community so when I picked it up, I had very high expectations. By the time I finished reading it, I was relieved because not only did it meet my expectations but it also managed in making me view the world from a different perspective. Originally written in Japanese by Sayaka Murata and later translated to English by Ginny Takemori, this book scored a perfect five from me. The essence of a true book lies in the translation and it's safe to say Ginny has nailed it. Not even for a second did I feel that I was reading a translated work and this goes to show how beautifully the novel has been curated.
•
Ever since she can remember, Keiko Furukura has been different. While most of the world thought from heart, she found sense in being practical. She narrates couple of instances from her childhood which convinced her family that she is unique and not in a good way. Right after her graduation, she finds job at a convenience store and ends up working there for the next eighteen years. Keiko finds comfort in her monotonous routine having no need to marry or enter into a relationship. At thirty-six years, Keiko has made peace with the fact that she's not a human but merely an animal who just has to lead her life by a set of manual. Her days at the store are the same everyday but she enjoys being able to recite the standard greetings to the customers and knowing how the business works in and out.
•
Keiko feels comfortable in being alone but cooks up stories to fool her friends in thinking that she is normal while in reality she is nothing like them. At work, she meets a fellow colleague named Shiraha who feels exactly the way she does about societal rules. They come up with a mutually beneficial alliance in which Shiraha takes advantage of Keiko's naivety. But it soon falls apart when Keiko realises that her life is solely dedicated to the convenience store and nothing outside of it matters. It is important to understand why Keiko thinks the way she does. Even though her mind works in a different way, it does make sense when one tries to look at things from her perspective. She doesn't see a point in forming relationships while she is content in her own company. To me, Keiko made sense.
•
I love this novel and I'm going to recommend it to everyone who are willing to consider my suggestions. While Keiko's character is both humorous as well as tinged with a bit of sadness, it feels perfectly real. Sayaka herself worked in a convenience store for about eighteen years and perhaps this is why, this book carries a very intimate feel. It's beautiful and raw, all the while portraying how our society works in making people subject to rules and regulations. Please do read it. I enjoyed it thoroughly and I truly hope that you do too.
•
Rating - 5/5.
•
"When something was strange, everyone thought they had the right to come stomping in all over your life to figure out why. I found that arrogant and infuriating, not to mention a pain in the neck. Sometimes I even wanted to hit them with a shovel to shut them up, like I did that time in elementary school." - Sayaka Murata.
•
Japanese novels are always like a breath of fresh air. The very plot of the book sets it apart from anything else I've ever read. This particular novel has received splendid reviews from the literary community so when I picked it up, I had very high expectations. By the time I finished reading it, I was relieved because not only did it meet my expectations but it also managed in making me view the world from a different perspective. Originally written in Japanese by Sayaka Murata and later translated to English by Ginny Takemori, this book scored a perfect five from me. The essence of a true book lies in the translation and it's safe to say Ginny has nailed it. Not even for a second did I feel that I was reading a translated work and this goes to show how beautifully the novel has been curated.
•
Ever since she can remember, Keiko Furukura has been different. While most of the world thought from heart, she found sense in being practical. She narrates couple of instances from her childhood which convinced her family that she is unique and not in a good way. Right after her graduation, she finds job at a convenience store and ends up working there for the next eighteen years. Keiko finds comfort in her monotonous routine having no need to marry or enter into a relationship. At thirty-six years, Keiko has made peace with the fact that she's not a human but merely an animal who just has to lead her life by a set of manual. Her days at the store are the same everyday but she enjoys being able to recite the standard greetings to the customers and knowing how the business works in and out.
•
Keiko feels comfortable in being alone but cooks up stories to fool her friends in thinking that she is normal while in reality she is nothing like them. At work, she meets a fellow colleague named Shiraha who feels exactly the way she does about societal rules. They come up with a mutually beneficial alliance in which Shiraha takes advantage of Keiko's naivety. But it soon falls apart when Keiko realises that her life is solely dedicated to the convenience store and nothing outside of it matters. It is important to understand why Keiko thinks the way she does. Even though her mind works in a different way, it does make sense when one tries to look at things from her perspective. She doesn't see a point in forming relationships while she is content in her own company. To me, Keiko made sense.
•
I love this novel and I'm going to recommend it to everyone who are willing to consider my suggestions. While Keiko's character is both humorous as well as tinged with a bit of sadness, it feels perfectly real. Sayaka herself worked in a convenience store for about eighteen years and perhaps this is why, this book carries a very intimate feel. It's beautiful and raw, all the while portraying how our society works in making people subject to rules and regulations. Please do read it. I enjoyed it thoroughly and I truly hope that you do too.
•
Rating - 5/5.