“A convenience store is a world of sound. From the tinkle of the door chime to the voices of TV celebrities advertising new products over the instore cable network, to the calls of the store workers, the beeps of the bar code scanner, the rustle of customers picking up items and placing them in baskets, and the clacking of heels walking around the store. It all blends into the convenience store sound that ceaselessly caresses my eardrums.”
Convenience Store Woman
By Sayaka Murata, Translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori
Source: Advance review copy
Keiko Furukura has always been a bit different. She doesn’t quite get the social clues to navigate being around others, even though her family tries to help her understand how relationships work. It isn’t until she finds a job at the Smile Mart convenience store when she’s eighteen that she finally feels like she’s found her place.
Following a manual that tells you how to deal with the different type of customer interactions makes life much easier for Keiko. She starts to emulate the phrases and dress of other workers and now daily interactions aren’t the landmines of the interactions she’s had in the past where people have always found her to be odd.
The years pass though and now she’s been working at the Smile Mart for 18 years and when she gathers with some family friends she realizes that everyone is moving on with their life but she’s still at Smile Mart. She hasn’t gotten married, she’s still a cashier but those are questions it seems others have for her. She’s been content with her life so far right?
Her life does end up going a bit topsy turvy when a co-worker, Shiraha, moves in with her after having been fired. His character is in you face and frankly intimidating but at times it felt like he was just rebelling against what people expected him to be like.
At first the novel can come off as light and breezy but the more I think about it, the more I found myself thinking about the effects of social pressures and what it means to be normal. I found the setting to be unique and so vividly described that I also wanted to wander around the aisles looking at the specials and different offerings from what we have in the States. I loved the observations and thought this book was a great addition to my shelves.
I first heard about this book on Bellezza’s blog and finally decided to get a copy last week when I was at the library. It’s at the top of my TBR stack, so as soon as I finish a re-read of The Bean Trees (Barbara Kingsolver), I’ll dive in. I’m glad to know you enjoyed it!
I’ve got this one on audio – think it was a daily deal or something. It’s not very long. I need to go ahead and download it so I’ll remember to try it. Sounds a little like Eleanor Oliphant in some ways and I’m leading a book discussion of that one in June for our afternoon book group. I also read about it on Bellezza’s blog.
This is already on my wish list (thanks to Bellezza too), but I’m bumping it up. Sounds really good!
I really like the sound of this one and it’s been on my TBR list.
It sounds interesting. I’m curious about how the novel changes from light and breezy to more complicated. I love the idea of the book on how to deal with different customer situations being what Keiko needed. 🙂
I’m embarrassed to admit that I picked a copy of this book at a bookstore last year and it still lay on my shelves conveniently forgotten. (Unfortunately, that’s the story of my many books haha.) I like your description of this book – sounds like it is quick and light enough, at least on surface, to make a good read, but can make you think afterwords.
This one sounds interesting! I’ll have to look out for it. 🙂
This sounds like food for thought. I’m intrigued.