Book reviews: Convenience Store Woman | The Stranger | Heart of Darkness

Title: Convenience Store Woman
Author: Sayaka Murata
Original title: コンビニ人間
First published: 2016
Genre: Contemporary, Adult
Series: --
Publisher: Granta
Format: Paperback
Pages: 163
Finished: 21/07/2020
Summary: Keiko has never really fitted in. At school and university people find her odd and her family worries she'll never be normal. To appease them, Keiko takes a job at a newly opened convenience store. Here, she finds peace and purpose in the simple, daily tasks and routine interactions. She is, she comes to understand, happiest as a convienience store worker. But in Keiko's social circle it just won't do for an unmarried woman to spend all her time stacking shelves and re-ordering green tea.

My thoughts: I read this for the 2020 Reading Rush, for the challenge to read a book set in another continent than the one you live on. I live in Europe and this is set in Japan in Asia.
I liked this book, though it won't leave a long lasting impression. Some books are like that. Keiko is a rather passive protagonist whose perspective at times seemed bizarre. I like that she's gone her own way in life, and I could sometimes see myself in her, though we are very different in most aspects. The male character she at a point gets involved with is infuriatingly annoying and rude, but in an almost comical way. Overall it's a fairly pleasant and quick read with a definitely unique atmosphere and narrative.

Rating: 3/5

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Title: The Stranger
Author: Albert Camus
Original title: L'Étranger
First published: 1942
Genre: Philosophy, Classic
Series: --
Publisher: Everyman's Library
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 117
Finished: 23/07/2020
Summary: Meursault will not pretend. After the death of his mother, everyone is shocked when he shows no sadness. And when he commits a random act of violence in Algiers, society is baffled. Why would this seemingly law-abiding bachelor do such a thing? And why does he show no remorse even when it could save his life? His refusal to satisfy the feelings of others only increases his guilt in the eyes of the law. Soon Meursault discovers that he is being tried not simply for his crime, but for his lack of emotion - a reaction that condemns him for being an outsider.

My thoughts: I read this one for the 2020 Reading Rush challenge to read a book with a title that starts with the word "the".
This was my type of book! There was something about the simple, yet graceful and almost calming way it was written that struck something in me. The story itself is a fascinating one, and the perspective from which it is told is equally interesting. I ended up really liking and rooting for Meursault, despite his crimes and obvious lack of remorse. I couldn't help it! The story was simply that well written and brought to light important questions of how we judge a person and what punishment we give criminals. Meursault is not just judged for his crime; he is judge doubly for his inability to feel sadness, loss, or regret. Is the crime made more horrible if the criminal shows no regret, or should it be judged all the same?
If you enjoy other modern classics like "Stoner" by John Williams or "Animal Farm" by George Orwell, I strongly recommend you check this one out as well. It exceeded my expectations with splendour! 

Rating: 4,25/5

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Title: Heart of Darkness
Author: Joseph Conrad
Narrator: David Horovitch
Original title: Heart of Darkness
First published: 1899
Genre: Classic
Series: --
Publisher: Naxos
Format: Audiobook
Time: 4h 38min
Finished: 23/07/2020
Summary: Newly-employed in an ivory trading company, Marlow travels down-river into the depths of the African jungle. As he goes, he witnesses the shocking subjection of the natives, and his faith in the imperialist mission weakens. The enigmatic chief of the trading camp Kurtz becomes the focus of this ambivalence. Reports of rapacious and violent deeds seemingly contradict his reputation as an idealistic and admirable leader, and the suspense mounts in the lead up to the appearance of this shifting, unknowable figure.

My thoughts: This one I read for the 2020 Reading Rush challenge to read a book completely outside my home.
Not much to say. Maybe the format of audio wasn't to this book's advantage. Though the narrator did an admirable job with the voices and such, I didn't ever become really interested in the story. Or in anything. The writing doesn't strike me as bad, but it's not the best. There are too many long metaphors and similes that lead close to nowhere, and without them the story would've shortened in length. I was a bit interested to see how the ivory industry would be described, but it was only mentioned offhandedly on one or two occasions. The author describes the black population residing near the Congo river in a cruel and abhorrent fashion, using amongst others the word 'savages' to refer to them. While he was certainly a person with views from his time, I was no less appalled. The characters overall had no positive impact on me whatsoever, although I was obviously supposed to react very strongly to every 'horror' that Marlow encountered on his trip to Africa. Yes, the writing could be good at times, and I really admire the commitment the narrator showed in the audiobook. Nevertheless, I'm bound to forget about this book soon.

Rating: 2/5

Book reviews: Britt-Marie var här | The Black Prism | Vampire Academy: A Graphic Novel

Title: Britt-Marie var här (Britt-Marie Was Here)
Author: Fredrik Backman
Narrator: Marie Richardson
Original title: Britt-Marie var här
First published: 2014
Genre: Contemporary, Adult
Series: --
Publisher: Bonnier
Format: Audiobook
Time: 11h 13min
Finished: 
Summary: At first sight, Britt-Marie is a fussy, passive-aggressive busybody. But hidden inside her is a woman who has bigger dreams and a warmer heart than anyone around her imagines. When she finds herself alone for the first time in decades, she realises she's spent her life making choices for the sake of other people. Is it too late for her to change? And in a small town of big-hearted misfits, can Britt-Marie find a place where she truly belongs?

My thoughts: "Britt-Marie var här" is both a story about fitting in and breaking free. To go from accepting one's lot in life to demanding something better for oneself. To exit one's comfort zone and widen one's horizons. About feeling needed and wanted. About a world changing, but on a very small scale.
This was a very nice little story. I must say it was expertly narrated by Marie Richardson, whose voice fit perfectly with Britt-Marie's character. I suppose this book is sort of feelgood, while also being quite sombre at times. It's got some good wisdom to share, while also being a bit ridiculous at times. Overall, I wasn't blown away, but I liked it a fair bit nonetheless. Britt-Marie was a great character to follow, and the book almost made me feel something for football (other than utter despise). I liked the setting, because it was uniquely described and I felt like I've been in a hundred similar little towns in my life. Run down, but still loved. However, I didn't feel a lot for most of the characters, and the kids kind of annoyed me. But I appreciated Britt-Marie enough to look past that.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants to try out good Swedish literature, and who's looking for something uplifting, thought through, warm, and unique. I'd love to read more books centred around senior characters. I also recommend the audiobook in Swedish.
PS. The book has been translated to several different languages, including English, if you'd like to check it out.

Rating: 3,5/5

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Title: The Black Prism
Author: Brent Weeks
Original title: The Black Prism
First published: 2010
Genre: High fantasy, Adult
Series: Lightbringer #1
Publisher: Orbit
Format: Paperback
Pages: 735
Finished: 17/06/2020
Summary: Guile is the Prism, the most powerful man in the world. He is high priest and emperor, a man whose power, wit, and charm are all that preserves a tenuous peace. Yet Prisms never last, and Guile knows exactly how long he has left to live.
When Guile discovers he has a son, born in a far kingdom after the war that put him in power, he must decide how much he's willing to pay to protect a secret that could tear his world apart.

My thoughts: Oh, where to start? Perhaps with the expectations I had? They were high to say the least. Lots of people on BookTube had raved about the series, what with the somewhat recent release of the final instalment, and the reviews on Goodreads were raving. This was bound to be my new favourite thing in the world! What could go wrong? Everybody loved it!
A lot could go wrong, it would seem. Truly, a lot. I will keep myself as short as I can. Let's start with the protagonists. Kip, who is around 15 years old, is an insolent little brat and I'd rather see him dead. He has very few redeeming qualities. He is rude, insensitive, dumb, and immature. I wish him no happiness as a character, but I much less wish to hear more of his whining. Then there's Gavin, who is a so-called morally grey character, meaning the reader is supposed to like and feel for him despite him being morally dubious. Was he morally dubious? Yes. Did I like him? No. He's twice Kip's age but they have about the same mindset and maturity level. There is also Karris, the female protagonist. I didn't feel much of anything for her.
Next, there is the blatant sexism sprinkled lovingly all over this novel. The majority of the female characters were at some point, often at several points, described as sex objects. Their breasts, lips, butts, and hips were mentioned over and over again. Far too many times for me to keep up with the counting. Both Kip and Gavin express themselves in a very sexist manner and seem to have a immature (yes, I'm using that word again) view on women. To make up for the fact that Gavin can't have the love of his life, he's got a sex slave who looks like her to sleep with him instead. At several points Kip shows some minor 'weakness' or emotion and it's joked that 'he's almost as bad as a woman'. I didn't see any point to all this sexism and I grew tired of it very quickly.
Third is the writing style, plotting, and other. The style of the writing is very simple, almost juvenile. Not in any way elegant or beautiful. I almost think Brent Weeks must be a 15 year old himself in a disguise. The writing would also switch at random from third person view to first person to presumably show a character's thoughts, but would do so without any italic text or quotation marks.  The plot was repetitive. Kip almost drowns more than three times in the course of one book. Three times. Brent Weeks got obsessed with describing what it's like to nearly drown, and decided to include it several times for the same character and no one else. I've also read the word 'luxin' enough times for a life time through this book. There are several small but noticeable plot holes that I won't mention because they're spoilers.
What did I even like? I think some of the world building was interesting. The story had promise, but wasn't executed well. It was way too long. I'm glad I finished it, though, and didn't leave it half read. At least now I can write a review. I don't recommend this book to anyone I like.

Rating: 2,25/5

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Title: Vampire Academy: A Graphic Novel
Author: Richelle Mead
Illustrator: Emma Vieceli
Original title: Vampire Academy: A Graphic Novel
First published: 2011
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Series: Vampire Academy: The Graphic Novel #1
Publisher: Penguin
Format: Paperback
Pages: 144
Finished: 20/07/2020
Summary: St Vladimir's Academy isn't just any boarding school - hidden away, it's a place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They've been on the run, but now they're being dragged back to St Vladimir's where the girls must survive a world of forbidden romances, a ruthless social scene and terrifying night time rituals. But most of all, they must stay alive.

My thoughts: I read this for the challenge to read a book from a genre you wish you'd read more of for the 2020 Reading Rush!
While I loved the "Vampire Academy" series, the first book was my least favourite. It's a bit simple, shallow, and cliche. I wanted to read the graphic novel adaption to see if it added anything to the story of the first book that would make it better. I didn't find that was the case. The story became compressed because of this new format, and thus a lot of character and world building was lost on clumsy exposition and a frenzied pacing. It was, however, pleasant to see certain aspects of the story visualised, such as the St Vladimir school, the magic, and some of the characters that I thought was very well depicted. Overall I didn't fall head over heels for the art style, though satisfactory, or the shortened format.

Rating: 2,25/5

The Reading Rush 2020 TBR list!

It is time! Or rather, it will be time soon, for the yearly reading rush read-a-thon. I participated last year and came out of that hectic week as a mighty champion! I read 7 books and completed all the challenges. Last year I had nothing planned that week. This year I'll be working 5 out of 7 days that week. Luckily I only work until 14.00 so I'll have some of the afternoon and night to read a ton and catch up. I also have a ca 30 minute train commute to and from work that I can use to read.

The Reading Rush is a yearly read-a-thon, previously known as the BookTube-a-Thon, and unfolds during the last week of July. It's hosted by Ariel from the channel Ariel Bissett and Raeleen from the channel padfootandprongs07. The official channel for the Reading Rush features videos about the challenges, updates, and other stuff. Ariel and Raeleen are really great hosts and have done a wonderful job in the past of coming up with fun and engaging challenges both for reading and creating videos and photos during the reading rush week, as well as selling merch and having an amazing website.

So how does it work? Well, each year there is a list of seven reading challenges. The goal is to read one or several books that ticks off all the challenges. There is a permanent eighth goal of reading a total of 7 books during the reading rush week. The challenges for this year were announced recently (link to video) and I've had some time to mull over them and decide what to pick for each challenge. My goal is still to read 7 books but I'm going to really go for thin books this time, since I know my hours of reading will be severely limited.

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1/ Read a book with a cover that matches the colour of your birth stone

"The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales" by Jon Scieszka & Lane Smith

"A strange collection of unusual versions of fairy tales we all know. With a clever little fellow named Jack as the narrator you will find tales such as Chicken Licken, The Really Ugly Duckling, The Tortoise and the Hair, Little Red Running Shorts, Cinderumpelstiltskin and many more!"

Pages: 52
Thoughts: My birth stone is apparently emerald, so I need a cover with something green on it. I've had my eyes on this quirky title for who knows how long, but I've never ended up reading it. Actually, I don't even own it yet. But a library near my workplace seems to have it available, so I might run over and pick it up. It has a lot of green details on the front, so it would work very well for this challenge.

or

"A Midsummer Night's Dream" by William Shakespeare
"Demetrius and Lysander both want Hermia but she only has eyes for Lysander. Bad news is, Hermia's father wants Demetrius for a son-in-law. On the outside is Helena, whose unreturned love burns hot for Demetrius. Hermia and Lysander plan to flee from the city under cover of darkness but are pursued by an enraged Demetrius (who is himself pursued by an enraptured Helena). In the forest, unbeknownst to the mortals, Oberon and Titania (King and Queen of the faeries) are having a spat over a servant boy. The plot twists up when Oberon's head mischief-maker, Puck, runs loose with a flower which causes people to fall in love with the first thing they see upon waking. Throw in a group of labourers preparing a play for the Duke's wedding (one of whom is given a donkey's head and Titania for a lover by Puck) and the complications become fantastically funny."

Pages: 40?

Thoughts: An almost entirely green cover, and by an author I've read for the Reading Rush before. I read "The Comedy of Errors" by Shakespeare earlier this year for the Stay At Home Reading Rush and had a lot of fun with it. This is his next to shortest play, and a comedy on top of that, so I think this would be a good choice for challenge number one as well.

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2/ Read a book that starts with the word "the"

"The Stranger" by Albert Camus

"Meursault will not pretend. After the death of his mother, everyone is shocked when he shows no sadness. And when he commits a random act of violence in Algiers, society is baffled. Why would this seemingly law-abiding bachelor do such a thing? And why does he show no remorse even when it could save his life? His refusal to satisfy the feelings of others only increases his guilt in the eyes of the law. Soon Meursault discovers that he is being tried not simply for his crime, but for his lack of emotion - a reaction that condemns him for being an outsider."

Pages: 117

Thoughts: I bought this one recently and actually planned to save it for the Reading Rush. It fits with this challenge, and therefore it will be my choice. I've had bad luck with philosophy-esque books before, but I'm ready for the tides to turn. This book has gotten a lot of praise and I'm intrigued by the synopsis. Looking forward to this one.

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3/ Read a book that inspired a movie you've already seen

"Bridge to Terabithia" by Katherine Paterson
"Jess Aarons' greatest ambition is to be the fastest runner in his grade. He's been practicing all summer and can't wait to see his classmates' faces when he beats them all. But on the first day of school, a new girl boldly crosses over to the boys' side and outruns everyone. That's not a very promising beginning for a friendship, but Jess and Leslie Burke become inseparable. Together they create Terabithia, a magical kingdom in the woods where the two of them reign as king and queen, and their imaginations set the only limits."

Pages: 190

Thoughts: It's time... Shockingly enough, Bridge to Terabithia is one of few movies that I like to watch again from time to time. It's also one of even fewer movies that makes me cry every time I see it (spoiler alert). So it's obvious that I quite like the movie. Nevertheless, I am dreading reading this book. Why? Because I've tried before, and found it a bit awful. Not at all what I wanted it to be. But I'm going to give it another shot now and hope we get along better.

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4/ Read the first book you touch

"The Wind in the Willows" by Kenneth Grahame
"Mole, Rat, and Badger are Toad’s dearest friends even as the aristocratic amphibian’s wastrel ways get him into trouble. After being arrested and sentenced to jail, he returns to his ancestral home of Toad Hall to find it overrun with stoats and weasels from the Wild Wood. But his friends haven’t abandoned him yet. In fact, they’ve conspired to help drive the villainous vermin from his home."

Pages: 192

Thoughts: To be honest I don't like this challenge. It reminds me too much of weird 'deep' questions some teachers would give us in school to discuss. I prefer challenges that let me decide easily on what books to pick. This one was not easy to interpret. I ended up going to a secondhand store and just buying the first book I picked up. It was this one. I'm actually excited to read it, and it is a classic. Wondering if there will be hidden political references in it.

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5/ Read a book completely outside of your house

"Nevermoor" by Jessica Townsend
"Morrigan Crow is cursed. Having been born on Eventide, the unluckiest day for any child to be born, she's blamed for all local misfortunes, from hailstorms to heart attacks--and, worst of all, the curse means that Morrigan is doomed to die at midnight on her eleventh birthday.
But as Morrigan awaits her fate, a strange and remarkable man named Jupiter North appears. Chased by black-smoke hounds and shadowy hunters on horseback, he whisks her away into the safety of a secret, magical city called Nevermoor."
Time: 10h 30min

Thoughts: Since I commute to and from work, I could listen to this while on the train and even during my breaks. It's a bit long, but I'll listen on 1,5x speed. I could sit outside in our garden as well, depending on the weather. I really look forward to reading this book, as I think it will be full of adventure and good times.

or

"Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad
"Heart of Darkness was originally a three-part series in Blackwood's Magazine in 1899. It is a story within a story, following a character named Charlie Marlow, who recounts his adventure to a group of men onboard an anchored ship. The story told is of his early life as a ferry boat captain. Although his job was to transport ivory downriver, Charlie develops an interest in investing an ivory procurement agent, Kurtz, who is employed by the government. Preceded by his reputation as a brilliant emissary of progress, Kurtz has now established himself as a god among the natives in “one of the darkest places on earth.” Marlow suspects something else of Kurtz: he has gone mad."
Time: 4h 38min
Thoughts: I'm not as excited about this one as I am about Nevermoor, but this is admittedly a lot shorter. Considering the challenge is to read the whole thing outside my house, I might have to go for this one instead. Not so sure I'd like it, though....

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6/ Read a book in a genre that you've always wanted to read more of

"Vampire Academy: The Graphic Novel" by Richelle Mead & Emma Vieceli
"After two years on the run, best friends Rose and Lissa are caught and returned to St. Vladimir’s Academy, a private high school for vampires and half-bloods. It’s filled with intrigue, danger—and even romance."
Pages: 144

Thoughts: I want to like graphic novels. I see BookTubers showing pages from beautifully illustrated graphic novels and feel a bit amazed. I don't know if this is the format for me, but since I've only read extremely few graphic novels, I think I should keep trying. I have this one at home, and I have wanted to delve back into the world of Mead's vampires. I hope I'll like it.

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7/ Read a book that takes place on a different continent than where you live

"Convenience Store Woman" by Sayaka Murata
"Keiko Furukura had always been considered a strange child, and her parents always worried how she would get on in the real world, so when she takes on a job in a convenience store while at university, they are delighted for her. For her part, in the convenience store she finds a predictable world mandated by the store manual, which dictates how the workers should act and what they should say, and she copies her coworkers’ style of dress and speech patterns so that she can play the part of a normal person. However, eighteen years later, at age 36, she is still in the same job, has never had a boyfriend, and has only few friends. She feels comfortable in her life, but is aware that she is not living up to society’s expectations and causing her family to worry about her. When a similarly alienated but cynical and bitter young man comes to work in the store, he will upset Keiko’s contented stasis—but will it be for the better?"
Pages: 163

Thoughts: I'm super excited for this one! It was originally written in Japanese and takes place in Japan (I live in Europe). I haven't read any Japanese novels before, aside from one or two mangas. I've heard that Japanese authors often have a unique way of writing compared to western ones, and I think maybe that partly has to do with the language. I studied Japanese for two years in school, so it will be interesting to see how the translation is and if I can spot traces of Japanese cultural references, idioms, and wordings. I also think the story sounds interesting.

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That's all for my planning this time around. I'm not too confident that I'll succeed with my goal of reading all 7 books, but I will certainly do my best.
Are you planning to participate? What's your TBR? Are you going to buy that coin?
Happy reading!

Reading Theme of July, 2020

Classic

"Frankenstein" by Jame Whale (1931) (based off Mary Shelley's 1818 novel)

Another new month means another new reading theme! Summer is in full swing and I've been loving reading out in the hammock. So what does the theme have in store for me this month? Well, I paid a visit to the good ol' random number generator and was given a shining 5. So I'll be reading a classic novel in July! Now "classic" will be replaced by "highest rated".

 sorry it's a bit grainy

I feel like it's been half a lifetime since I last read a classic, so I'm excited and a bit trepidatious for this. I have to read a classic that's over 400 pages because of my 2020 reading goals, which makes this prompt a little more intimidating than it typically would be. Either way, I will of course do my best.

Are you struggling to find classics that you want to read? Here are a bunch that I think you might enjoy (sorry that they're all by male authors and mostly 20th century classics):

• "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde
• "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• "A Clockwork Orange" by Anthony Burgess
• "Stoner" by John Williams
• "Animal Farm" by George Orwell

Curious what I might pick up? Here is a juicy selection from my TBR collection:

• "Brott och straff" ("Crime and Punishment") by Fritjov Dorstojevskij (647p)
• "Stolthet och fördom" ("Pride and Prejudice") by Jane Austen (473p)
• "Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov (409p)
• "The Woman in White" by Wilkie Collins (672p)
• "Don Quixote" by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (765p)

Wish me luck; I feel like I need it this month. Still, I'm optimistic and I do believe I could discover one or two fine gems in this pile. I hope you will, too.
Happy reading!