Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

I can’t believe I hadn’t read this one before! It’s a surreal and though-provoking gem.

I really enjoyed this book and the premise: one woman’s journey to her own kind of fulfilment and independence. Keiko has always had trouble fitting in and finding her place, having interactions with others that are confusing, funny, and almost terrifying. However, her work at the convenience store is something Keiko has used to give her life meaning over the years. It’s her haven. The convenience store is the place she can be herself.

Will she be pushed to do something else with her life?

Will a relationship “fix” her like everyone seems to assume? Is it time to “face facts”?

I think we can all relate to some of the social dynamics described, the ways in which sometimes we are forced to play a certain role in society. The awkward “friend” interactions are very poignant. As is the sense of societal pressure: a society obsessed with “what’s the next step” and the optics, rather than the well-being of individuals.

I didn’t necessarily expect the more dark and sinister sides of this book, but I think it has a healthy amount of cynicism. I liked the way it was able to dissect things and analyse motivations.

It also really made me appreciate convenience stores and the important role they play in communities!