Sayaka Murata – Convenience Store Woman | Books in Bytes Podcast

Описание: In this quietly subversive podcast episode, our AI hosts explore Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata, a brilliantly offbeat novel that challenges norms around work, identity, and societal expectations. The story follows Keiko Furukura, a 36-year-old woman who has worked at the same Tokyo convenience store for 18 years—not out of ambition or failure, but because the structured routine gives her a sense of peace and purpose. As friends and family pressure her to conform—get a “real” job, find a partner—Keiko’s fierce loyalty to her role as a “cog in the machine” becomes a quiet act of rebellion. With deadpan humor and disarming clarity, Murata explores alienation, neurodivergence, and the invisible rules that shape modern life in capitalist societies. It's a short but deeply resonant meditation on what it means to live authentically in a world obsessed with fitting in.

Perfect for fans of literary fiction, social satire, and anyone who’s ever questioned the so-called normal path in life.

Join us as we unpack Murata’s quietly radical narrative and discuss why Keiko Furukura’s strange, steadfast world leaves such a lasting impression.

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Book Information
Title: Convenience Store Woman
Author: Sayaka Murata
Year of First Publication: 2016 (Japanese), 2018 (English translation)
Publisher: Bungeishunjū (Japan), Grove Press (English edition)
Genre: Literary Fiction, Social Commentary, Contemporary Japanese Literature

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