I had just finished reading this book and was looking for reviews to wrap my mind around this weird novel. Your review was rlly helpful and interesting! I’ve been studying in Japan for only about 2 years now but I completely relate to Keiko’s struggle to fit in. Living in Japan, especially during Covid-times, you feel the pressure of society to fit in and follow societal codes/ prescribed behaviors. All my univesity colleagues are in “shuukatsu “, that is in their job hunting season. You can literally feel the pressure in the air: everyone has to have black hair, wear black suits, and job hunting is all that everyone talks about. And I think for Japanese women the pressure to conform is even greater. “Do you have a boyfriend” “are you planning on dating” or “are you more of a career woman” I keep hearing these over and over. There seems to be only 2 paths for women: either finish university, get a job in a good company, find husband there and marry/ leave job/ have children or to keep your job and become a career woman. I love Japan and its culture but I don’t think I could ever manage to live here for work. Like Keiko, I don’t get why we have to try so hard just to please others and fit in.
I just read this book for my Book Club in Brisbane Australia. I enjoyed your review. I loved the fact that you quoted directly from the book and how entertained you were by the quotes as you read them during the video. I enjoyed your research and information you brought to the video and not just giving a synopsis of the story. I will definitely watch more of your videos.
im a big fan of these types of books, and it was a small easy read book. im asexual and demi and i love how she mentioned that! I brought this book up to my father and me, my mother, my father, and both of my brothers are autistic & the more i think about it the more i realize all of these feeling she doesnt feel, not understand others feelings, why they do certain things its autistic behaviors. also not liking change and matching eachothers energy to make them like her. she masks, and i love it so much because i relate to it! i just got her newer book and cant wait to read it !!
Hello AG 👋🏾 Just came back to this review after finishing this book. I picked this up based off of your review and I was so happy I did! It was such a great read and I really enjoyed reading about Keiko. It was a short read and only took me a day to finish the book. I’ve been trying to get back into reading now that I have a job that allows me to read at work . Your reviews have been so helpful in my journey to rediscovering reading. I’m so happy I stumbled upon your channel!
Great review. I just finished the book and loved it, although couldn't exactly puts words to why. You're right that the events throughout the book are a bit mundane, so when describing it to my husband it was difficult to grasp his interest. Even so, I loved Keiko's unique point of view and complete satisfaction with her simple life. Seems like we all strive to be "good enough" and I really admired that Keiko just flat out didn't care about it. She was good enough in her own eyes.... as long as the barley teas and best selling rice balls were stocked. Thank you for the review and giggle-filled reading.
lately i've been trying to diversify my reading selection and read more books from around the world, and your videos have been a huge help in finding titles, so thank you! convenience store woman is definitely going on my tbr :)
Thank you for the review! What I like most about the book is something you also mentioned: it's not persuasive in any sense. So there's a lot of ways to interact with it. Is the main character likeable? Autistic? A sociopath? Is she unintelligent or very wise? Is there a problem with her? Japanese society's expectations of women? Or any society since the Stone Age? Is it a disturbing novel? Or is it funny? Or both? It raises all these questions without the pretense of answering them, and does so while being very concise and easy to read.
@@nona7623 i absolutely do not, its a very even paced book where nothing actually disturbing happens its more about the way the main character sees the world
The Artisan Geek It was so weird, but I kind of loved it! Ha ha. I was so relieved at the end when she stood up to Shiraha and got her life back the way she wanted it.
I've heard so much about this book but none that have mentioned that the main character is ace! I can't wait to read it now, there's so little ace rep out there and I'm on that spectrum too. Thanks for this video!
Oh I didn't know that a lot of people didn't mention she was ace!! I felt that it was quite an intrinsic part of the book! Either way, you are totally right! There aren't a lot of book with ace (main)characters, so it's nice to see some representation. :D Also, thank you for watching! :D
Your review is the first I've heard. Just read the whole book in one day. I found the book fascinating because I've met other people on the spectrum and have realized that they need to be accepted as they are (although there was one part in the book that was a bit disturbing...baby crying and her thoughts). The style is not like Anne Tyler's, but it reminds me of her because through reading these books, we learn to respect and have a better understanding of people that seem weird to us.
I loved your review! I just read this book in a couple hours and was totally engrossed the whole time. I love Keiko and I love the ending. I despised Shiraha and also didn't like Keiko's sister. I have to read more by this author, the book was totally genius!
This sounds so lovely! I've seen this a few times, but I never knew about the ace rep! Amazing review, love! And you intimidating the rude ass judgmental side characters? Added five years to my life every time!💗xx
I really liked the book, it was kinda different to other books i had read but i enjoyed it a lot, it made me laugh and at the same time question and accept parts of myself that is hadn’t even realize were different than others. Definitely r,eading more stuff from this author!
With all due respect, the character portrayed in this book is not simply some misunderstood innocent "outsider" who is persecuted by "Society" because she won't meet its expectations. She is basically a nihilist. Her saving grace is that she does find a place for herself (the convenience store) which promises that she won't wind up actually murdering people because they simply get in her way. Proof of my reasoning? Page 57: our "heroine" is visiting her sister and her new-born child, who starts to cry. This is Keiko's reaction... "My sister hurriedly picked him up and and tried to soothe him. What a lot of hassle I thought. I looked at the small knife... lying on the table: if it was just a matter of making him quiet, it would be easy enough."
I had just finished reading this book and was looking for reviews to wrap my mind around this weird novel. Your review was rlly helpful and interesting!
I’ve been studying in Japan for only about 2 years now but I completely relate to Keiko’s struggle to fit in. Living in Japan, especially during Covid-times, you feel the pressure of society to fit in and follow societal codes/ prescribed behaviors. All my univesity colleagues are in “shuukatsu “, that is in their job hunting season. You can literally feel the pressure in the air: everyone has to have black hair, wear black suits, and job hunting is all that everyone talks about.
And I think for Japanese women the pressure to conform is even greater. “Do you have a boyfriend” “are you planning on dating” or “are you more of a career woman” I keep hearing these over and over. There seems to be only 2 paths for women: either finish university, get a job in a good company, find husband there and marry/ leave job/ have children or to keep your job and become a career woman.
I love Japan and its culture but I don’t think I could ever manage to live here for work. Like Keiko, I don’t get why we have to try so hard just to please others and fit in.
I just read this book for my Book Club in Brisbane Australia. I enjoyed your review. I loved the fact that you quoted directly from the book and how entertained you were by the quotes as you read them during the video. I enjoyed your research and information you brought to the video and not just giving a synopsis of the story. I will definitely watch more of your videos.
I just read this whole book in a day and absolutely loved it. I’m so happy to see a video about it and such an in depth one at that.
im a big fan of these types of books, and it was a small easy read book. im asexual and demi and i love how she mentioned that! I brought this book up to my father and me, my mother, my father, and both of my brothers are autistic & the more i think about it the more i realize all of these feeling she doesnt feel, not understand others feelings, why they do certain things its autistic behaviors. also not liking change and matching eachothers energy to make them like her. she masks, and i love it so much because i relate to it! i just got her newer book and cant wait to read it !!
I think I actually said something out-loud along the lines of "Jesus !!" when I first read the paragraph about the baby and the cake-knife., hahahaha
lmaooo I know right?! That was wild haha!
I’ve been looking for books with good Ace representation! Excited to check this one out!
Yeah they're a bit hard to find huh! Yeey! I hope you'll like it :D
By far the BEST book review of Convenience Store Woman! :)
Hello AG 👋🏾 Just came back to this review after finishing this book. I picked this up based off of your review and I was so happy I did! It was such a great read and I really enjoyed reading about Keiko. It was a short read and only took me a day to finish the book. I’ve been trying to get back into reading now that I have a job that allows me to read at work . Your reviews have been so helpful in my journey to rediscovering reading. I’m so happy I stumbled upon your channel!
Great review. I just finished the book and loved it, although couldn't exactly puts words to why. You're right that the events throughout the book are a bit mundane, so when describing it to my husband it was difficult to grasp his interest. Even so, I loved Keiko's unique point of view and complete satisfaction with her simple life. Seems like we all strive to be "good enough" and I really admired that Keiko just flat out didn't care about it. She was good enough in her own eyes.... as long as the barley teas and best selling rice balls were stocked.
Thank you for the review and giggle-filled reading.
Hi, Do you think the book needs a trigger warning? I'm debating reading it?
lately i've been trying to diversify my reading selection and read more books from around the world, and your videos have been a huge help in finding titles, so thank you! convenience store woman is definitely going on my tbr :)
Such a great review. I loved it
This was a wonderful review!! I just finished this book and I love how you pointed out a lot of those little moments I found funny as well!!
Thank you very much for watching! So glad you enjoyed the book as well, it was great!! :D
Great review! I just finished reading it a few days ago and its probably my favorite book of the year so far.
Great review! I believe that after hearing you I like the book even more. Well done!
I love your review. So heart touching and really makes me pick this book up.
Thank you so much for watching!!
love this video queeeeen
Thank you!! :D
Thank you for the review! What I like most about the book is something you also mentioned: it's not persuasive in any sense. So there's a lot of ways to interact with it. Is the main character likeable? Autistic? A sociopath? Is she unintelligent or very wise? Is there a problem with her? Japanese society's expectations of women? Or any society since the Stone Age? Is it a disturbing novel? Or is it funny? Or both? It raises all these questions without the pretense of answering them, and does so while being very concise and easy to read.
Hi, Do you think the book needs a trigger warning? I'm debating reading it.
@@nona7623 i absolutely do not, its a very even paced book where nothing actually disturbing happens its more about the way the main character sees the world
I've been wanting to pick up this book for a while now! SO good to hear someone else's thoughts on it!
Yeah it's a great quick quirky read!! I hope you'll be able to pick it up some time soon :D
@@TheArtisanGeek It's definitely one I wanna get to!
This book sounds so interesting! Great review!
Yeah I absolutely loved the book!! Thank you!! :D
just finished this book and resonated a lot with your review, thanks for sharing :)
This sounds so good. I've just checked out the audiobook from the library. Your review was great!
Oooh that's great!! I hope you enjoy the book and thank you very much!! :D
The Artisan Geek It was so weird, but I kind of loved it! Ha ha. I was so relieved at the end when she stood up to Shiraha and got her life back the way she wanted it.
@@owdy119 Oh yeey I'm happy to hear you enjoyed it!! Also me too!! I was like 'YOU GO GIRL!' :)
This book sounds amazing! Going to have to check it out! Great review
Yeah it's a really nice book and very nice if you're looking for a short read! :D Also thank you!! :)
lovely review!!!! :)
That plastic badge on the cover looks real! Haha! Can't decide if I like that cover or the riceball one more
I've heard so much about this book but none that have mentioned that the main character is ace! I can't wait to read it now, there's so little ace rep out there and I'm on that spectrum too. Thanks for this video!
Oh I didn't know that a lot of people didn't mention she was ace!! I felt that it was quite an intrinsic part of the book! Either way, you are totally right! There aren't a lot of book with ace (main)characters, so it's nice to see some representation. :D Also, thank you for watching! :D
I just finished this! It was a really quick read, even with me really trying to absorb the book. It is like nothing I have read before.
Your review is the first I've heard. Just read the whole book in one day. I found the book fascinating because I've met other people on the spectrum and have realized that they need to be accepted as they are (although there was one part in the book that was a bit disturbing...baby crying and her thoughts). The style is not like Anne Tyler's, but it reminds me of her because through reading these books, we learn to respect and have a better understanding of people that seem weird to us.
Hi, Do you think the book needs a trigger warning? I'm debating reading it?
I love the way you read! "What a hassle" lolllll damn Keiko... I write things like "jesus" in my books too 😆
Hahah thank you!! Yeah Keiko might have been a bit too practical at times XD Also I love that you write in your books as well hahah!
I loved your review! I just read this book in a couple hours and was totally engrossed the whole time. I love Keiko and I love the ending. I despised Shiraha and also didn't like Keiko's sister. I have to read more by this author, the book was totally genius!
This sounds so lovely! I've seen this a few times, but I never knew about the ace rep! Amazing review, love! And you intimidating the rude ass judgmental side characters? Added five years to my life every time!💗xx
Yeah it was a very refreshing read, I really liked the ace rep :D Also thank you and lmaoo that comment killed me XD
I really liked this book, but idk if it's a good thing that I could relate so much lol. Great review!💕
Murdering flowers:)
I really liked the book, it was kinda different to other books i had read but i enjoyed it a lot, it made me laugh and at the same time question and accept parts of myself that is hadn’t even realize were different than others. Definitely r,eading more stuff from this author!
Great review! Thanks. What is the other Japanese book you read?
I need to read this! Have you read Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine? :) It sounds quite similar! Great review by the way!!
I have heard of that book, but never read it. Did you? :) I will put it on my Goodreads :D Also thank you very much!! :)
@@TheArtisanGeek I have read it and I really enjoyed it! Hopefully you will too if you enjoyed this read! :D
Awh cool! Thank you for the recommendation!! :D
💛
:))))
With all due respect, the character portrayed in this book is not simply some misunderstood innocent "outsider" who is persecuted by "Society" because she won't meet its expectations.
She is basically a nihilist. Her saving grace is that she does find a place for herself (the convenience store) which promises that she won't wind up actually murdering people because they simply get in her way.
Proof of my reasoning? Page 57: our "heroine" is visiting her sister and her new-born child, who starts to cry. This is Keiko's reaction... "My sister hurriedly picked him up and and tried to soothe him. What a lot of hassle I thought. I looked at the small knife... lying on the table: if it was just a matter of making him quiet, it would be easy enough."