Convenience Store Woman (Sayaka Murata)

Short but valuable read! I loved the attention to detail about the convenience store that the protagonist, Keiko, worked at. Definitely shows the experience the actual author had in that particular setting, and these details are added to showcase the dedication Keiko has in her job.

"A cold drink is often the last item customers take before coming to the checkout till, and my body responds automatically to the sound."

The book dives into Keiko's relationship with society, which is that she feels isolated from it. She grew up realizing her true self was an "illness", and she found comfort in being 'fixed' by her job in the convenience store. There, she learned societal mannerisms from her coworkers that help her blend in, and found her value in being the longest working and most dedicated employee.

"I was good at mimicking the trainer's examples and the model video he'd shown us in the back room. It was the first time anyone had ever taught me how to accomplish a normal facial expression and manner of speech."

But even with her accomplishments, she still faces judgement from her family and peers. A 30-year-old with no other job experience and no wishes to get married, she faces pity from everyone and faces the everlong struggle with trying to fit in. I like seeing that struggle, and find myself relating to a handful of her experiences.

There's a character in the book named Shiraha who plays a part in Keiko's life, and I got to say: Shiraha can suck my dick.