45 pages • 1 hour read
Convenience Store Woman
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Book Brief
Convenience Store Woman
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2016163
Novel • Fiction
Tokyo, Japan • 2010s
2016
Grove Press
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
In Convenience Store Woman, 36-year-old Keiko Furukura has worked at a convenience store for her entire adult life, finding solace in the structure it offers to her otherwise unconventional and isolated existence. Despite societal pressure to conform and build a more "acceptable" life, Keiko struggles to reconcile her true self with the expectations of those around her.
Contemplative
Unnerving
Humorous
Serene
Reviews & Readership
322,489 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Sayaka Murata's Convenience Store Woman, translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori, is praised for its unique narrative and deep exploration of social conformity through the life of a convenience store worker. Reviewers commend its humor and keen societal observations. Criticisms include a perceived lack of character development and a sometimes unnervingly detached tone.
Who Should Read Convenience Store Woman?
Readers who relish quirky, introspective narratives like those in Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman or The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz will find Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata captivating. It appeals to fans of outsider perspectives, societal critique, and character-driven stories.
322,489 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Shiraha
Shiraha
A man in his mid-30s who briefly works at Smile Mart with Keiko, harboring misogynistic views and a parasitic attitude, whose presence influences Keiko's personal journey.
Keiko’s Sister
Keiko’s Sister
A conventional woman with a husband and child who attempts to help Keiko navigate societal norms by offering her plausible explanations for her unconventional lifestyle.
The Other Convenience Store Workers
The Other Convenience Store Workers
Keiko's various coworkers at Smile Mart, whom she views as interchangeable components in the store's ecosystem, despite their connections outside work.
163
Novel • Fiction
Tokyo, Japan • 2010s
2016
Grove Press
Adult
18+ years
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