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Convenience Store Woman
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
Keiko Furukura had always been considered a strange child, and her parents always worried how she would get on in the real world, so when she takes on a job in a convenience store while at university, they are delighted for her. For her part, in the convenience store she finds a predictable world mandated by the store manual, which dictates how the workers should act and what they should say, and she copies her coworkers style of dress and speech patterns so that she can play the part of a normal person. However, eighteen years later, at age 36, she is still in the same job, has never had a boyfriend, and has only few friends. She feels comfortable in her life, but is aware that she is not living up to societys expectations and causing her family to worry about her. When a similarly alienated but cynical and bitter young man comes to work in the store, he will upset Keikos contented stasisbut will it be for the better? Sayaka Murata brilliantly captures the atmosphere of the familiar convenience store that is so much part of life in Japan. With some laugh-out-loud moments prompted by the disconnect between Keikos thoughts and those of the people around her, she provides a sharp look at Japanese society and the pressure to conform, as well as penetrating insights into the female mind. Convenience Store Woman is a fresh, charming portrait of an unforgettable heroine that recalls Banana Yoshimoto, Han Kang, and Amlie.
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lumbricuslibri
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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Pickpick

🤯 OH MY GODS I love this. 😂

dabbe Look at da sleepy kitty! 🖤🐾🖤 2mo
58 likes1 comment
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MysticFaerie
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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Pickpick

4⭐️/5⭐️

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Acoleman
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
Pickpick

This was a quirky and sweet little novel.

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ReadingOver50
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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Pickpick

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.

108 likes1 stack add
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Scochrane26
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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Pickpick

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.

SamAnne Loved this book as well. My parents lived in Japan in the 60s before I was born. I‘ve always wanted to travel there. 4mo
35 likes1 comment
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TieDyeDude
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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Mehso-so

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

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ju.ca.no
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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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🌟

SamAnne I loved this one! 4mo
ju.ca.no @SamAnne it was so good!! 4mo
SamAnne @ju.ca.no I now want to read more women Japanese authors. I can‘t bear Murakami. 4mo
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ju.ca.no @SamAnne oh I love Murakami🙊 but I also loved: Hiromi Kawakami or Banana Yoshimoto :) and I‘ve just started (and am liking it so far): (edited) 4mo
E.Bolhafner That sounds so good! 4mo
ju.ca.no @E.Bolhafner it‘s a really quick and compelling read! 4mo
BiblioLitten I loved this one! 4mo
72 likes4 stack adds7 comments
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ju.ca.no
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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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!

SamAnne Loved it! 5mo
Megabooks Loved this! 5mo
65 likes1 stack add2 comments
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booksandsympathy
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
Mehso-so

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.

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Moll
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
Pickpick

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

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booksandsympathy
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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Started this audiobook on my way to work this morning. I already recognize certain things from my time in retail. Some things are universal.

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TheEllieMo
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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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

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readers_attic
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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Pickpick

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.

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JacintaMCarter
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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Pickpick

#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.

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Night_Reader
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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$1.89 on Kindle! What a bargain!!! Grab it if you have a Kindle! Great book.

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Kazzie
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
Pickpick

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

8 likes1 stack add
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Lieh
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
Mehso-so

I did not dislike this book.

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Bookworm54
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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Pickpick

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.

Bookworm54 I think you sent me this book @Mrs_B ? I‘m so behind on my tbr I am losing track 😂 13mo
Mrs_B @Bookworm54 possibly. I‘m glad you liked it! 13mo
50 likes2 comments
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ChaoticMissAdventures
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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Pickpick

#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.

28 likes1 stack add
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ChaoticMissAdventures
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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#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.

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underground_bks
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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Pickpick

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.

31 likes1 stack add
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Booksbymybed
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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Pickpick

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

melissajayne Read it a couple years ago and loved it as well. 1y
19 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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tjwill
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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Pickpick

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.

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Jilly6183
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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Pickpick

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.

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AbstractMonica
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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Pickpick

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.

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AbstractMonica
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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Diving right into this short novel I picked up at B&N today :)

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she.hearts.horror
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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🥳🥳🥳

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she.hearts.horror
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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Pickpick

So much said using so little. 🖤🖤🖤🖤

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unreal
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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Pickpick

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

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mija333
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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Pickpick

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.

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mija333
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata

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.

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mija333
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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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.

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Sydneypaige
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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Pickpick

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!

19 likes1 stack add
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Mirazzles
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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Pickpick

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

EvieBee Right?! Not the ending you expected? But kinda perfect? 2y
Mirazzles @EvieBee exactly! I wasn‘t disappointed at all. I‘m still thinking about it haha 🤔 2y
62 likes2 comments
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Shievad
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
Pickpick

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

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Mirazzles
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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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!

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FantasyChick
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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Pickpick

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

MaleficentBookDragon Yay! I‘m glad you liked one. I‘m way behind in books but hopefully I‘ll have some if yours read soon. 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2y
Andrew65 Great👏👏👏 2y
Clwojick Great match! 2y
50 likes4 comments
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MeatPiie
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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Pickpick

?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!

writerlibrarian C'est dans my pile à lire. ? 2y
13 likes1 comment
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broughtyoubooks
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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Pickpick

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

Pogue I liked this book. I thought that the book showed someone who is nurodivergent very will. 2y
MaleficentBookDragon This was one of my favorite books last year. 2y
75 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Flavius
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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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.

DrexEdit This is on my list also! Welcome to Litsy! 😊 2y
Flavius Thanks, Drex! 2y
11 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Nikki_E
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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I had three notable books in February, but this really stuck out.

DimeryRene I loved this book so much! 2y
42 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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TheLucindaLife
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata

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.

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Michael_Gee
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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Pickpick

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!

Reggie I got so sad when she couldn‘t hear the store anymore. 2y
Michael_Gee @Reggie I know! Everyone needed to leave Keiko alone! 2y
39 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Burpito
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
Panpan

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

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LostInSpace
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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Pickpick

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.

bthegood I loved this message as well - enjoy the holiday season with your little one! 🙂 2y
42 likes1 comment
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claudiuo
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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Pickpick

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!

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2y
claudiuo Have to share this quote: “The normal world has no room for exceptions and always quietly eliminates foreign objects. Anyone who is lacking is disposed of.“ 2y
thegreensofa I did enjoy this book, and it started me off on a bit of a Japanese novel bent for a bit 😁. I‘m so happy you enjoyed it too! 💞 2y
See All 6 Comments
Erin.Elizabeth10 @claudiuo I‘m so glad you read it and enjoyed it!! It definitely make me think about things a little different. 💞📚 2y
claudiuo I think it's gonna be the same for me, @thegreensofa .Already started a Haruki Murakami that I found at the library this weekend 2y
thegreensofa Oh wow, I just googled him and there‘s heaps! 🤳🏻🤩 2y
24 likes6 comments
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Caroline2
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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Thank you so much @rockpools These both sound so good and it‘s always so lovely receiving book post! 😃 👍

squirrelbrain I loved Convenience Store Woman 😁👍 2y
Crazeedi I want the oliver book! On my tbr! 2y
rockpools Hope you‘re having a lovely day (even with work!) 2y
Caroline2 @rockpools I have thank you! 😁 2y
88 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Augustdana
Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata
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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!!

24 likes1 stack add