J's Musings

Review by Janhavi

I read this book a month or so ago. I finished it in one day. Not 24 hours. One day, with food breaks and all. All I know is, it has been very, actually too, long since that happened.

After way too many thrillers and dark books, I decided to pick up a cozy and light hearted Japanese slice of life novel. 

Safe to say, I regret none of it. The thrillers or the slice of life.

Machida’s newest novel follows a 24-hour convenience store in a senior citizen apartment complex. 6 chapters, each following a story taking place around the konbini.

The stories range from that of teenagers to retired men. Each chapter is titled with the name of a convenience store dish. The book follows a mother in her mid-forties, trying to combine her passion and earn a sense of identity, a student dealing with loosing control of her life, a cram school teacher trying to navigate his own passion and an old man coming to terms with the new world. The last two chapters see a boy dealing with his identity and emotions, and a girl trying to find her way into the world the people she trusted left her for.

The writing is simply wonderful, with no jargon and plenty of situations we can all relate to, Machida keeps it simple and lets us truly connect with the purpose of her book. In the daily lives of normal people, things often go unacknowledged. This book addresses every concern you thought no one got.

The friend who bosses you around just a bit too much, the crush who likes your friend, the dynamic that changed too much too suddenly, the taunts about your hobbies; those are the stories we can connect to. As readers and as people. And those are the stories “The Convenience Store by the Sea” shares.

I believe my description can make both the plot and writing sound a bit pale. But that’s far from the case, Sonoko Machida’s writing is witty, calm, and irresistible. Her story weaves itself around the reader and feels like a sip of iced tea in the summer.

The narrative was refreshing and fun, perfect for a seaside vacation. If you like slice of life books that can be both lighthearted and warm, this book is perfect for you!

8/10

Wishing you a happy Wednesday,

Janhavi ❤

Picture credits: fracturedmuse on Pinterest