"In Sayaka Murata's Convenience Store Woman, a small, elegant and deadpan novel, a woman senses that society finds her strange, so she culls herself from the herd before anyone else can do it. A fun way to vicariously experience Japanese society! Whatever opinions we may draw about Japanese society, especially in comparison to American individualism, you have to give the Japanese credit for their meticulous care and attention to detail. The convenience store culture reminded me how even the most mundane experience in Japan can somehow supersede in quality than anywhere else-I still remember how amazing a drip coffee, or to-go bento, tasted so delicious than whatever I’ve bought at a 7-Eleven. Its quirky protagonist provides an entertaining, light read while lending insight to Japan’s unique cultural mindset. Named a Best Book of the Year by the New Yorker, BuzzFeed, Boston Globe, Literary Hub, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Electric Literature, Library Journal, Shelf Awareness, WBUR, Hudson, Bustle, Chatelaine, and Globe and MailĬonvenience Store Woman is the perfect book to start with if you’re new to Japanese fiction. Shortlisted for the Best Translated Book Award Keiko is very happy, but those close to her pressure her to find a husband and a proper career, prompting her to take desperate action.Ī sharp-eyed look at contemporary work culture and the pressures we all feel to conform, Convenience Store Woman offers a brilliant depiction of a world hidden from view and a charming and fresh portrait of an unforgettable heroine. She plays the part of a "normal person" excellently-more or less. Keiko has never fit in, neither in her family, nor in school, but in her convenience store, she is able to find peace and purpose with rules clearly delineated clearly by the store's manual, and copying her colleagues' dress, mannerisms, and speech. The surprise hit of the summer and winner of Japan's prestigious Akutagawa Prize, Convenience Store Woman is the incomparable story of Keiko Furukura, a thirty-six-year-old Tokyo resident who has been working at the Hiiromachi "Smile Mart" for the past eighteen years. Author: Sayaka Murata | Translator: Tapley Takemori | Paperback
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