Review: Convenience Store Woman

        Murata, Sayaka. Convenience Store Woman. New York: Grove Press, 2019. 

I learned of this book through Chris Arnade's substack.  He had just visited and walked Tapei (https://walkingtheworld.substack.com/p/some-thing-i-really-like-about-taipei) He was struck by the ubiquitous presence of 7-11’s in that city. And, by the near ritual behavior of the (mostly) women who worked there.  7-11’s in Taipei are a different experience than in America.  In Taipei, they also include tables and chairs for people eat, drink, and visit.  And, the staff clearly work from some kind of manual or script as they relate to the customers.  After visiting Taipei, he read Convenience Store Woman and was struck by the similarities. 

I found that the Convenience Store Woman to be a fascinating reflection on the force of cultural expectations.  The author is Japanese, living in Japan, and writing originally in Japanese, but I think there are some interesting connections with western culture.  

For example, how should you respond if you learn that you think differently than others around you? If you go to university, must you pursue and be satisfied only with the work that university prepares you for?  How does work provide meaning and status in a person’s life? What is the expectation for men and women as they grow older? Must they marry and have children? 

The Convenience Store Woman, Keiko, tells her own story.  She is the narrator.  She goes to university, starts working at the convenience store while a student and remains there for the next 18 years. She does not date, nor does she marry. Through an interesting and sometimes comedic set of circumstances and conversations, Keiko grapples with what culture expects and what she wants to do.  

It is a quick and thoughtful read.   

The translator provides a lively, smooth, rendition of Murata’s story.