New podcast episode: Convenience Store Woman By Sayaka Murata | Novel review episode 133
The Review
This is a famous Japanese novel and is highly recommended to read in Japanese literature. I watched and listen to a few book reviewers on this novel and it did sound interesting. So I borrow a copy from my local library.
I read the book within a day. It is very short and easy to read. I was hooked from the start. The writing and story are unique. As a reader, you get to understand and empathise with Keiko (protagonist).
My interpretation of the story is that Keiko safe place is the convenience store. The convenience store for her is a controlled environment, it gives her purpose and routine. She becomes institutionalised, and she becomes part of the store. She has been pressured to follow Japanese society by getting married and having children. But it didn’t feel right for her.
I also thought perhaps Keiko may have an autism Spectrum. The artist didn’t specify that Keiko has autism. But in the story, Keiko describes her childhood and how she finds difficulties in social interaction. In Japan, mental/social disorders are not aware of nor get much support as in western society.
Japan is on the extreme end, is about keeping the society going and a lot of time neglecting oneself to help the greater society. There is a huge pressure to follow the high expectation in Japanese society by getting good grades, finding work, performing well, and getting married. And that could lead to breakdown and even tragic events.
So for Keiko, the Convenience store is a better environment for her, without too much of Japanese society’s expectations of her.
I can relate to this character a lot because I have social issues and empathise with the struggle she goes through.
Shieaha was the new employee but got fired for not doing the work and messing about. He is a wild character and his Philosophy about society is extreme. He becomes a shut-in and checks out society. Keiko takes Shieaha in and considers him a pet. But I wonder how long that would last. But Keiko uses this as a way to up her status by saying she has a man living with her.
I really enjoyed reading Convenience Store Woman, after I finished reading and I bought the book straight away online and now got a fresh copy. (I got the purple copy) I can feel myself reading it again. It is such a short read and I like that. Most novels are thicker but this book is thin yet has a lot of content.
It is thought-provoking, and it makes you think and question a lot of aspects. That would make this story brilliant.
The translator did fantastic work in conveying the Essen of the story and language from Japanese to English.
The author is talented and unique. I watched one of the interviews on Japan Society NY and it was fascinating how the author think and the weird story idea she come up with.
I am interested in reading Earthlings next. I have done a bit of research and heard it is a disturbing/twisted story. Similar to earthling but much darker. A lot of readers felt disturbed by some parts and warn to have the right mindset when reading Earthlings. I’ll see how far I would read Earthling and see if I can go through the book.
Summary
At school and university, people find Keiko odd, and her family worries she will never fit in. To make them happy, Keiko takes a job at a newly opened convenience store where she finds peace and purpose in simple daily tasks.
But in Keiko’s circle, it just won’t do for an unmarried woman to spend her time stacking shelves and ordering green tea. As the pressure to find a new job – or worse, a husband – increases, Keiko is forced to take desperate action… A cult hit around the world, Convenience Store Woman is both feminist rallying cry and must-read oddball comedy.
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