Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

This book is a short read. Murata did a good job maintaining the tempo of the story, mostly in the form of the thoughts of store worker, Keiko.

Keiko does not think like the typical Japanese person and has her own interpretation of her role in society. But to fit in the mould of a rigid society, she found that she conformed best as a store worker in a convenience store. For 18 years, she was a cog in the human network and blended in.

But when Shiraha, a good for nothing male, joins the store with his useless lofty ideas and Keiko's self worth is questioned, she made a decision to change so that she can be accepted by all.

When she make the decision to 'house' the bum like a pet and quit her job, it was accepted by family and friends, thinking that she is finally 'one' of them.

Life lost meaning and direction as she grapples with too much free time after she quit so that she could look for a 'proper' job. Meanwhile, Shiraha pressured her to look for a job so that she could upkeep him while he continues his pipe dreams.

At the end of the story, while on the way to her job interview, she got herself immersed in the functioning of a convenience store she happens to stop by. By now, she discovers that she happiest doing what everyone thought was futile and meaningless.

The reader would infer from Shiraha's fear at Keiko's self discovery that the parasitic relationship will end. 

The story has the typical twisted values of a dysfunctional society. It questions the reader what is most fulfilling to a person. Should the opinion of the crowd direct our lives or should one map out a life that is purposeful though it is deemed futile to others. The story was 'polished up' in a couple of hours, totally a good read!