Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

If you are reading this on Friday, then it means I have made it to Tokyo to celebrate my 60th birthday. Hopefully I am eating a lot of sushi, getting thousands of steps each day, and checking out a lot of convenience stores. "Convenience Store Woman" was a big hit in Japan, and a lovely little book you can read in a day. It is the story of 36-year-old Keiko Furukura, who lives in Tokyo, and works as a clerk in a store. By the time she was 18, and about to start working at the store, she knew she was different. As a child she described herself as "lacking" and "an exception." She missed social cues, felt awkward around people and never fit in. But when she started working at the "Smart Mart," suddenly it gave her life purpose. Within the walls of the store, she followed the employee manual and knew how to act, what to wear, and what to say to customers and colleagues. The job made her feel like a "normal person." But despite her contentment, her family and friends begin to pressure her to find a husband and a career beyond the convenience store. Keiko hatches a plan to let a man move into her apartment to get her friends and family off her back. Think of this as the Japanese version of Eleanor Oliphant. Keiko's quirky view of the world is heartwarming and defiant in the face of people who just want her to conform. The order and clarity inside of her convenient store helps keep her calm, and makes sense of the chaos in the outside world. I found this book witty, poignant and delightful from beginning to end. To buy this book on Amazon click here.