*spoiler-free*
Convenience Store Woman is a popular short book originally written in Japanese by Sayaka Murata and later translated by Ginny Talley Takemori. It focuses on Keiko, a 36-year-old woman who has never had a boyfriend and has worked in the same supermarket for 18 years. Her family and friends wish her to move on with her life, however, Keiko knows what makes her happy and won’t let anyone get in the way of her and her convenience store.
This is quite a simple plot but one that is still gripping. I felt for Keiko, even as a child she was a very odd character, not conforming to social norms and striving to be independent. Usually, I need a book to be fast-paced but this book was a slower read, and still enjoyable.
There is a lot of discussion around traditional male and female roles in society and the expectations others have of them. It was nice to see an Eastern opinion on these matters and how this changed generationally. Having worked in retail I also related to being comforted with the routine and organisation of retail life. Whilst customers can be difficult, when you are left with your day-to-day tasks, it can be satisfying to see the result of your work. On the other hand, the book showed how work can become your whole life, picking up shifts for others and working to a retail clock even on your day off. The book also revealed how often people can judge those who work in a supermarket, despite it being a reliable job that offers pay and structure.
Overall, this is one of the best translated books I’ve read. Its simplicity made it very quick and easy to read, which did surprise me when most of the setting is based in a convenience store. This a great book to pick up if you are looking to read more translated books, or if you want a short book to read.
4/5 stars
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