Federico DN's Reviews > Convenience Store Woman
Convenience Store Woman
by
by
Irasshaimase!
Keiko Furukura is the perfect convenience store worker. Ever since she read the employee manual she knows exactly what she needs to do, how to behave, what to say, and when. Sadly life doesn’t come with a manual, and Furukura outside of work doesn’t know what to do with her life. Never knowing how to behave, she survives by mimicking others to blend in, but when she meets someone as broken as she is, she is at a loss. Relationships neither come with a manual.
Boy this was weird! A quirky story about the pressures of society, norms, traditions, and how they weight on everyone’s shoulders. A biting critique on job employment, marriage, procreation, and everything that is 'expected' to happen in one’s life, especially in Japan. I didn’t love Furukura, but could certainly relate to some of her struggles. Been there and still am in a way. Fortunately I’ve been blessed with the gift of indifference regarding what people may think of me, yet you still feel the weight sometimes. And man I HATED Shiraha! What an insufferable parasite. Sometimes two wrongs don't make a right.
Weirdest book ever, but wildly original, refreshing, darkly amusing and memorable. Recommendable. Wouldn’t mind being a convenience store worker for a time.
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PERSONAL NOTE :
[2016] [176p] [Fiction] [3.5] [Recommendable] [Sublimely weird]
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¡Irasshaimase!
Keiko Furukura es la perfecta trabajadora de tienda de conveniencia. Desde que leyó el manual del empleado sabe exactamente que tiene que hacer, como comportarse, que decir, y cuando. Lamentablemente la vida no viene con un manual, y Furukura fuera del trabajo no sabe qué hacer con su vida. Sin saber cómo comportase, sobrevive imitando a otros para pasar desapercibida, pero cuando conoce a alguien tan roto como ella, se siente perdida. Las relaciones tampoco vienen con un manual.
¡Vaya que esto fue raro! Una historia muy peculiar sobre las presiones de la sociedad, normas, tradiciones, y como pesan sobre los hombros de todos. Una mordaz crítica sobre la vida laboral, casamiento, procreación, y todo lo que se espera que debe suceder en la vida de uno, especialmente en Japón. No amé a Furukura, pero pude empatizar con varios de sus problemas. Estuve ahí y sigo estando en cierta forma. Afortunadamente fui bendecido con el don de la indiferencia con respecto a lo que la gente puede pensar de mí, pero aun así se siente el peso a veces. ¡Y dios cómo ODIE a Shiraha! Qué parásito insufrible. A veces dos errores no hacen un acierto.
Uno de los libros más raros que leí jamás, pero alocadamente original, refrescante, oscuramente divertido y memorable. Recomendable. No me importaría ser un trabajador de tienda de conveniencia por un tiempo.
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NOTA PERSONAL :
[2016] [176p] [Ficción] [3.5] [Recomendable] [Sublimemente raro]
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Keiko Furukura is the perfect convenience store worker. Ever since she read the employee manual she knows exactly what she needs to do, how to behave, what to say, and when. Sadly life doesn’t come with a manual, and Furukura outside of work doesn’t know what to do with her life. Never knowing how to behave, she survives by mimicking others to blend in, but when she meets someone as broken as she is, she is at a loss. Relationships neither come with a manual.
Boy this was weird! A quirky story about the pressures of society, norms, traditions, and how they weight on everyone’s shoulders. A biting critique on job employment, marriage, procreation, and everything that is 'expected' to happen in one’s life, especially in Japan. I didn’t love Furukura, but could certainly relate to some of her struggles. Been there and still am in a way. Fortunately I’ve been blessed with the gift of indifference regarding what people may think of me, yet you still feel the weight sometimes. And man I HATED Shiraha! What an insufferable parasite. Sometimes two wrongs don't make a right.
Weirdest book ever, but wildly original, refreshing, darkly amusing and memorable. Recommendable. Wouldn’t mind being a convenience store worker for a time.
-----------------------------------------------
PERSONAL NOTE :
[2016] [176p] [Fiction] [3.5] [Recommendable] [Sublimely weird]
-----------------------------------------------
¡Irasshaimase!
Keiko Furukura es la perfecta trabajadora de tienda de conveniencia. Desde que leyó el manual del empleado sabe exactamente que tiene que hacer, como comportarse, que decir, y cuando. Lamentablemente la vida no viene con un manual, y Furukura fuera del trabajo no sabe qué hacer con su vida. Sin saber cómo comportase, sobrevive imitando a otros para pasar desapercibida, pero cuando conoce a alguien tan roto como ella, se siente perdida. Las relaciones tampoco vienen con un manual.
¡Vaya que esto fue raro! Una historia muy peculiar sobre las presiones de la sociedad, normas, tradiciones, y como pesan sobre los hombros de todos. Una mordaz crítica sobre la vida laboral, casamiento, procreación, y todo lo que se espera que debe suceder en la vida de uno, especialmente en Japón. No amé a Furukura, pero pude empatizar con varios de sus problemas. Estuve ahí y sigo estando en cierta forma. Afortunadamente fui bendecido con el don de la indiferencia con respecto a lo que la gente puede pensar de mí, pero aun así se siente el peso a veces. ¡Y dios cómo ODIE a Shiraha! Qué parásito insufrible. A veces dos errores no hacen un acierto.
Uno de los libros más raros que leí jamás, pero alocadamente original, refrescante, oscuramente divertido y memorable. Recomendable. No me importaría ser un trabajador de tienda de conveniencia por un tiempo.
-----------------------------------------------
NOTA PERSONAL :
[2016] [176p] [Ficción] [3.5] [Recomendable] [Sublimemente raro]
-----------------------------------------------
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Reading Progress
March 26, 2023
–
Started Reading
March 26, 2023
– Shelved
March 29, 2023
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 88 (88 new)
message 1:
by
Diane
(new)
Mar 29, 2023 03:40AM
Another great review, Federico! ;)
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Liong wrote: "Good review. I like this book too, Federico. 😊"
Thank you Liong! Glad to see you enjoyed it too :D!
Thank you Liong! Glad to see you enjoyed it too :D!
Carol wrote: "Excellent review Federico. I admire your indifference to what people think of you."
Thank you Carol :D !
Thank you Carol :D !
Perfect review, Fede, I feel the same way. I didn't really relate to anyone in the book, but I really enjoyed reading it. Somebody was saying she would become a great manager for the store, but she's happy the way she is.
inciminci wrote: "Perfect review, Fede, I feel the same way. I didn't really relate to anyone in the book, but I really enjoyed reading it. Somebody was saying she would become a great manager for the store, but she..."
Thank you Inci! Sure could make a great manager, if she wants to be :) . Curious about other works of the author now!
Thank you Inci! Sure could make a great manager, if she wants to be :) . Curious about other works of the author now!
Dhara wrote: "Great review, Federico! So agree with you about Shiraha, he was absolutely riling and parasitic."
Thank you Dhana! Gosh Shiraha was so exasperating! I don't mind a weirdo, but he was a leech, worst of all, an extremely rude leech :/
Thank you Dhana! Gosh Shiraha was so exasperating! I don't mind a weirdo, but he was a leech, worst of all, an extremely rude leech :/
Great Review, Frederico. I actually had lots of sympathy for Furukura, but would probably agree with your feelings about Shiraha.
I thought I read this one. Nevermind. Some contemporary Japanese authors write abstract fiction (something I don't understand). Great review, Federico. Glad that you could connect with a few issues in the book. :)
Paul wrote: "Great Review, Frederico. I actually had lots of sympathy for Furukura, but would probably agree with your feelings about Shiraha."
Thank you Paul! I had some sympathy for Shiraha at first, clearly he had some issues. And some people are very bad with money, I get that, but the way he spoke about other people, and being obnoxiously rude to the people who helped him, that's crossing a no return line for me.
Thank you Paul! I had some sympathy for Shiraha at first, clearly he had some issues. And some people are very bad with money, I get that, but the way he spoke about other people, and being obnoxiously rude to the people who helped him, that's crossing a no return line for me.
Srivalli wrote: "I thought I read this one. Nevermind. Some contemporary Japanese authors write abstract fiction (something I don't understand). Great review, Federico. Glad that you could connect with a few issues..."
Thank you Srivalli! I wasn't even aware of abstract fiction. Guess this was my first? Wasn't that bad lol.
Thank you Srivalli! I wasn't even aware of abstract fiction. Guess this was my first? Wasn't that bad lol.
Federico wrote: "I wasn't even aware of abstract fiction. Guess this was my first? Wasn't that bad lol."
Umm... I named it that, lol. :)
Umm... I named it that, lol. :)
Great review, Federico! 🙂 Weirdest book, ever, eh? That means I may read it! Haha, you made it sound intriguing.
Srivalli wrote: "Federico wrote: "I wasn't even aware of abstract fiction. Guess this was my first? Wasn't that bad lol."
Umm... I named it that, lol. :)"
We can always use new genres lol.
Umm... I named it that, lol. :)"
We can always use new genres lol.
Karen wrote: "Great review, Federico! 🙂 Weirdest book, ever, eh? That means I may read it! Haha, you made it sound intriguing."
Thank you Karen. It's something else alright xD
Thank you Karen. It's something else alright xD
✘Paulette & Her Sexy Alphas❤️☾ ⋆ wrote: "Another Spectacular. review Federico"
Thank you Paulette :) !
Thank you Paulette :) !
Federico wrote: " ✘Paulette & Her Sexy Alphas❤️☾ ⋆ wrote: "Another Spectacular. review Federico"
Thank you Paulette :) !"
You're very welcome Federico ツ
Thank you Paulette :) !"
You're very welcome Federico ツ
Meg wrote: "I've never wanted to slap someone as much as I wanted to slap Shiraha while reading this."
Gosh! Me too. The way he spoke to Furukura was appalling! It's one thing to have your ideas, wrong as they are, but to blurt them out like they were truths, and to someone like Furukura who was only helping him. Ten slaps in a row and a kick in the butt.
Gosh! Me too. The way he spoke to Furukura was appalling! It's one thing to have your ideas, wrong as they are, but to blurt them out like they were truths, and to someone like Furukura who was only helping him. Ten slaps in a row and a kick in the butt.
Tina wrote: "Weried is good sometimes! Great review Federico!!"
Very weird and very good :) . Thank you Tina!
Very weird and very good :) . Thank you Tina!
Debra wrote: "Gotta love weird from time to time. Great review, Federico!"
It does bring a nice change :) . Thank you Debra !
It does bring a nice change :) . Thank you Debra !
¡Me interesó el libro por tu reseña! Probablemente lo busqué para salir del bloqueo lector que estoy pasando. Saludos!
Nika wrote: "Oh, this was one of the weirdest stories I've ever read. Glad you too enjoyed it, Federico!"
SO weird lol. Looking forward to reading more of the author to see if her other works are like this one xD. Thank you Nika! Glad you enjoyed it too :D
SO weird lol. Looking forward to reading more of the author to see if her other works are like this one xD. Thank you Nika! Glad you enjoyed it too :D
Pablo wrote: "¡Me interesó el libro por tu reseña! Probablemente lo busqué para salir del bloqueo lector que estoy pasando. Saludos!"
Espero que lo disfrutes Pablo! Para romper el bloqueo siempre sirve salir de la zona de comfort, probar autores desconocidos, otros géneros, audiolibros, o incluso tomarse un descanso. Creo que lo importante es romper el molde un poquito para volver a crear un nuevo equilibrio después :)
Espero que lo disfrutes Pablo! Para romper el bloqueo siempre sirve salir de la zona de comfort, probar autores desconocidos, otros géneros, audiolibros, o incluso tomarse un descanso. Creo que lo importante es romper el molde un poquito para volver a crear un nuevo equilibrio después :)
cryingaboutbooks wrote: "I looooved this book - I’m so happy that you enjoyed it too!"
Thank you C.! Happy to see you loved it too :D
Thank you C.! Happy to see you loved it too :D
The social pressure in Japan is quite high, so it can definitely seem quite weird looking at it from the outside. Seems like a great critique on a very important problem. Good review, Federico.
Thibault wrote: "The social pressure in Japan is quite high, so it can definitely seem quite weird looking at it from the outside. Seems like a great critique on a very important problem. Good review, Federico."
Always fascinating to learn japanese culture. Thank you Thibault :) !
Always fascinating to learn japanese culture. Thank you Thibault :) !
Alexandra wrote: "I am very happy that you liked it! It's a weird book, but in a good way. Awesome review :)"
Weirdly fantastic <3. Thank you Alexandra :D !
Weirdly fantastic <3. Thank you Alexandra :D !
Enjoyed this review Fede...when I was fifteen I was a convenience clerk too....ate too much candy and smoked way too many cigarettes lol !
Jaidee wrote: "Enjoyed this review Fede...when I was fifteen I was a convenience clerk too....ate too much candy and smoked way too many cigarettes lol !"
Thank you Jaidee! Furukura also ate a lot of things from the store, dented cans, near expired food and more! Hope you like it if you go for it :)
Thank you Jaidee! Furukura also ate a lot of things from the store, dented cans, near expired food and more! Hope you like it if you go for it :)
Me ha gustado mucho que te pareciera "oscuramente divertida". me han entrado ganas de releerla, estupenda reseña.
EmeJota wrote: "Me ha gustado mucho que te pareciera "oscuramente divertida". me han entrado ganas de releerla, estupenda reseña."
Gracias EmeJota! A muchos les pareció graciosa, a mí apenas "oscuramente divertida" xD
Gracias EmeJota! A muchos les pareció graciosa, a mí apenas "oscuramente divertida" xD
Life Ceremony, her bundle of short stories, is even weirder! If you'd like this one I think you might want to check that one out as well :-)
Henk wrote: "Life Ceremony, her bundle of short stories, is even weirder! If you'd like this one I think you might want to check that one out as well :-)"
Oh yes I have that one already, and Earthlings. I had like this huge urge to read asian lit and downloaded a bunch of books lol. Thank you for the rec Henk :) !
Oh yes I have that one already, and Earthlings. I had like this huge urge to read asian lit and downloaded a bunch of books lol. Thank you for the rec Henk :) !