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🤯 OH MY GODS I love this. 😂

4⭐️/5⭐️

This was a quirky and sweet little novel.

A really cute novella following the life of Keiko and she works at the Smile Mart near her home. Everyone thinks she is weird because she is 36 and unmarried.

This is a story of how Keiko tried to fit in, but eventually learns how to live as she pleases. It was sad how Keiko knows she doesn't fit in, but doesn't exactly know why. Her personality is just different from the norm, and society has a hard time accepting this. I enjoyed reading this.

I didn‘t read this when it was first released. Now, I‘m pretty sure I‘m going on a trip to Japan in 2025, which is a place I never thought I would go, but I always want to travel if I have an opportunity. I listened to a podcast (Strong Sense of Place) about Japan, & this book was recommended.
I loved this book, did the audio version. I kept rooting for the MC to keep working at the store & ignore all the traditional roles.

This is tough to rate. The story overall was good. A middle aged woman just wants to be left alone living her life as a low-level convenience store worker, but her community keeps trying to force her to wed or get a "real" job. There were a few points, though, where it got weird. Like when she imagines killing a crying baby to keep it quiet. I could almost see this adapted as a very quiet, slow burn monster movie. Very strange, but well written

I have enjoyed this one a lot! I found the main character very likable and felt sorry for her and and angry with everyone else for the way they treated her. It‘s about Keiko, who has been working in a convenience store every since school and absolutely loves it. There she understands how to behave, how to act, while outside the store‘s manual she doesn‘t know how to be „normal“ (as everone else calls it). 5/5🌟

The next one of the way too many books I have ordered before book depository closed down has arrived🥰 and I‘m starting it right away🫶🏽 I had my eyes on this one for so long!

There were definitely some things I enjoyed about this book. I liked the main character and the commentary about society and the way it looks at people who are different. Also how it looks at retail workers. I was annoyed with everyone else in the book and the main character's "solution" to how to fit in better was horrible. I'm glad she decided to stay true to herself in the end. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

I loved this; I wasn't expecting to love it as much as I did to be honest! Keiko is such a lush character - I really valued getting a little insight into her brain & she is the most perfect convenience store woman

Started this audiobook on my way to work this morning. I already recognize certain things from my time in retail. Some things are universal.

I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join in if you want!

#ABookADay2023

Life has a manual & it's engrained in all our brains. But if we choose not to follow those instructions & decide to lead life on your own terms you become "abnormal". Story of such an abnormal lady.

#2023Book3
I really got into this story and my heart broke for the main female character. But I was furious at the main male character and the other characters who encouraged his behavior. I know this story is fiction, but the way he treated her felt way too real to life.

$1.89 on Kindle! What a bargain!!! Grab it if you have a Kindle! Great book.

What a strange book! I was so delighted by the ending - she shook of the nasty lazy man and lived her truth!

I did not dislike this book.

This was a quick read about a 36 yr old woman, who has been working in a convenience store for 18 years. Friends and family begin to worry because she is in a part time job, isn‘t married, and hasn‘t even dated.

Overall I enjoyed this, despite not really liking any characters! I have a lot of jumbled thoughts I won‘t bore you with 😂
I think the main message for me is living the life you want even if it doesn‘t fit with societal norms.

#WomenInTranslation
An interesting look at societal norms and how one woman tries to fit in and what she would lose and gain.
The overall writing was a bit too sparse for me, and I had some anxiety with her new friend but I appreciate how the book takes on expectations.

#lettergame #letterC @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

One of the many books I am reading this month for Women in Translation, I just started today and am already in love with the writing.

This brief, quirky, and potent novella about a woman who doesn‘t fit in anywhere but at the convenience store she‘s worked part time at for 18 years had me alternately laughing, cringing, and cheering, and ultimately left me reflecting on how radical it is to live authentically and the beauty of the vast array of ways living authentically can look like.

I loved this story of an unconventional life, honest choices and ultimate belonging. It was absolutely charming.

Keiko Furukura has never felt like she fit in, except in her job as a convenience store worker. In the store, she knows the cues and feels the rhythm. In all other aspects of life, she just does what she thinks people expect of her. This is a quick read that makes human interaction into a satire.

I lived in Japan for 2 years so I am very familiar with the “konbini” and it made me homesick (if you can be homesick for a place you only lived briefly). Anyway, I loved this little novella about finding where you belong despite societal expectation.

This was a unique, little story of Keiko Furukura- A woman who worked at a convenience store for over 18 years, only to appear as a functioning member of society. It was an interesting and quirky read that I devoured in one sitting.

Diving right into this short novel I picked up at B&N today :)

🥳🥳🥳

So much said using so little. 🖤🖤🖤🖤

A great short book about the pressure to conform and self-discovery and having the strength to choose what makes you happy.

As a 35 year old unmarried woman with no children I felt a deep sense of connection with Keiko. Repelling against all of society‘s expectations of us. And not by choice. For me, no matter how hard I tried I could never find a partner. Now of course I am too old. It is too late for her and for me.

She‘s far happier thinking her sister is normal, even if she has a lot of problems, than she is having an abnormal sister for whom everything is fine.

It is the start of another day, the time when the world wakes up and the cogs of society begin to move. I am one of those cogs, going round and round.

As a commentary on work culture, relationships, and capitalist society as a whole, this is brilliant. The characters felt uncomfortable to me at times and cringy, but I imagine that‘s intentional by the author to support the commentary. Main character is brilliant and aware and so literal it hurt sometimes but I still adored her!

Wow. I don‘t quite know what to think about this one. I guess that‘s a sign of a good story.

Very fast read. Shows the absurdity of society‘s rules and norms.

I can‘t seem to choose just one book lately. Ive had several library holds come in on Libby, and I just can‘t make up my mind. So far, this one is quite interesting!

I liked this. It was very interesting to hear the cultural expectations on marriage, family and career but also the routine measures Keiko went into daily to create an appearance of "normalcy" in society while knowing that she is perfectly happy where she is in life.

#NYWD2022 #jumpstart2022 #bookspinbingo #20in4 #aestheticallymatched
@TheAromaofBooks @MaleficentBookDragon @monalyisha @Clwojick @Andrew65

?Octobre 2021
Court, simple, direct.
C'est comme une ode au non-conformisme aux règles de la société :)
Depuis que j'ai lu le résumé, je savais que j'allais apprécier de lire un point de vue et une vision du monde différente à celle qu'on essaie de nous vendre: avoir un travail "respectable"? Se marier? L'homme travaille et la femme reste à la maison? Non aux 3!

Definitely enjoyed this one more than Earthlings, the sense of alienation is more grounded(?)

I had no idea it was such a short book! I've started it this morning and I've finished it already.
I enjoyed it from the first page.

I had three notable books in February, but this really stuck out.

I expected this novel to be encouraging, as someone who just quit their “career” to work a more mundane job. I liked this book for a different reason though, as it was completely weird. It took you through Kieko‘s oddball thoughts that felt both familiar-as you catch yourself thinking strange things- and off-the-wall- as you see Kieko take in a loser of a man. Felt like reading the script of an A24 film.

A breezy, satisfying love letter to the konbini, rote tasks, & purposeful living, in whatever way brings fulfillment. Loved it.

For Christmas, our friend got us a Japanese snacks subscription box. Had these delicious Hanami dango tonight. I love the packaging!

I know folks who relate real good to this one and enjoyed it, but count me as a folk who relate real good to this one and not really enjoyed it

I loved this.

Keiko has always been a store worker, she lives and breathes her convenience store life and that‘s where she is happiest.

As she struggles with the shackles of society that are imposed on her by her friends and family such as getting a ‘real‘ job or getting married, she realises that she doesn‘t care for that, she is who she is and that‘s that. A convenience store worker.

We could all learn from Keiko.

Another book I found out about on #Litsy that was a good read. Beautifully written, maddening in parts when so aptly presenting the “shackles“ society sometime imposes on all of us. Don't remember who I have to thank for finding about it, either @Erin.Elizabeth10 or @thegreensofa so thank you both! A pick!

@TheAromaOfBooks: this was my #DoubleSpin for this month: it's been a while since I had one! Also making progress towards a bingo. Thank you!

Thank you so much @rockpools These both sound so good and it‘s always so lovely receiving book post! 😃 👍

Hello I‘ve been MIA for a bit but happy to be back! I did some cleaning this morning and now I‘ve got my guac and the hockey game on. I‘m ready to put a real dent in this. Happy Saturday friends!!