A review by pm_me_book_recs
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

challenging informative sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Eeehhhh, very mixed feelings on this one. An important critique, but as a neurodivergent it was extremely triggering to read? The lectures forced onto the obviously ASD main character Keiko by neurotypical society are so long and painful and FREQUENT. UGH. I mean, the constant masking to fit in and not be critiqued or othered is so real, the rude comments made at us are spot on, but it started to feel a lot like trauma porn. Don't even get me started with Shiraha, what the barf. I try to be empathetic -and maybe this was an origin story for incel ideology- it was very difficult to read something trying to humanize his mindset without reaaaally pushing back on it. I do also catch these prejudice, ableist, and misogynist undertones in A LOT of Japanese media I consume, so this novella did a great job of showing the cultural context from the reciever of abuses' view?

Idk, hmm... maybe stay away from this one if you've received bullying or abuse due to neurodivergence? 
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