- Started: February 21, 2021
- Finished: February 21, 2021
- Pages: 163
- Fiction (Translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori)
- Rating: 5/5
REVIEW + SUMMARY
This was such a strange little book. Quite literally as it is under 200 pages and about 5×7 inches. It was such a fast read, it probably took me under an hour. And it was laugh out loud funny! Convenience Store Woman follows Keiko, a bit of a quirky outsider who works at a convenience store. There she finds purpose and order; she finally understands how she is supposed to interact with the people around her. Outside the store, she is lost, not at all on board with the idea of falling in love or an ambitious career, both of which seem like the only two possible options to her friends and family. Keiko turns her life around a bit when she runs into a former co-worker, Shiraha. He was quickly fired because he felt the job was beneath him and he paid too much attention to the female customers. He continually rails on about society’s expectation of men to be providers, and how only the most worthy men can mate. They form an unlikely alliance for the sake of societal norms and he moves in with Keiko. She regards him as a pet. He convinces her to look for a new job but on the way to her interview, she runs into a convenience store and once again feels at home in its surroundings and decides she will return to eschewing expectations and her role as a convenience store woman.
Keiko seemed a bit neuro-atypical. She was completely unable to read social cues and saw things in a very black and white manner. While her quirks could make for an uncomfortable colleague, she was a delightful narrator. She saw things so clearly, even if they were wildly unconventional (An example was in her childhood years when a teacher was sobbing; Keiko pulled down the teacher’s skirt and knickers because she thought it would make her stop. It did.) This clarity also allowed her to be the consummate convenience store worker; she took great pride in its cleanliness and success. Shiraha, on the other hand, was a complete incel (involuntary celibate). He would rant about how narrow minded success was viewed in society (not completely untrue) but also made zero attempts to achieve any sort of success – financial or otherwise. He, unlike Keiko, completely understood society and decided to thumb his nose at the whole affair. I suspect that this was more out of laziness than making a statement but it made him a good foil nonetheless.
As someone who spent the beginning of their career in administrative roles, I did understand Keiko’s love of the convenience store. There is something to be said about the order that it commands and the peace repetition bring. While you have responsibilities, they are often not serious (obviously administrative roles can carry much weight, but I am talking about entry level positions). Keiko took it to a completely different level, allowing the role to truly command her life and her being, but it made her happy so who am I to judge?
If you liked this book and are interested in another glimpse into an absurd life, I recommend Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson. It follows a woman who becomes the governess to twins who spontaneously combust when they are upset.
Books and Lewks 