Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata.
“People who are considered normal enjoy putting those who aren’t on trial, you know.”
“When something was strange, everyone thought they had the right to come stomping in all over your life to figure out why.”
I love this book so much.
It’s a beautiful exploration of how society, friends, and family try to influence the way you live your life.
The message is clear: you’re only worthy of their attention and time if you follow their expectations and what’s deemed “appropriate.” If they don’t understand you, they have less and less to say—and eventually, the connection fades. The relationship is lost.
Sounds familiar?
It does to me.
I tend to stick to my choices, even if they’re unpopular or go against the grain. One of those choices is not having a child. Some people think I’ve lost my mind—or that I’m selfish. Maybe I am. But who cares? In the end, YOLO—you only live once. Do you want to live the life others want for you, or do you want to be at peace with yourself?
“This society hasn’t changed one bit. People who don’t fit into the village are expelled: men who don’t hunt, women who don’t give birth to children.”
Another example? Not drinking or doing drugs. Can you imagine how many high school parties I wasn’t invited to? But I never bent. Why should I? Just because everyone else was doing it? LOL. I can dance till 4 a.m. and still have the time of my life drinking Coca-Cola Zero.
“People who are considered normal enjoy putting those who aren’t on trial, you know.”
Every time you feel pressure to compromise, ask yourself: is it worth it?
If someone leaves because of your choices, maybe they were never truly interested in you to begin with. Surround yourself with people who try to understand. They don’t need to agree with you, but they should be curious, open, willing to listen. Even if you end up alone for a while—stay true to yourself. Do what makes you feel alive.
This book highlights that idea beautifully:
“When something was strange, everyone thought they had the right to come stomping in all over your life to figure out why.”
(Of course, that doesn’t include drug lords, human traffickers, or murderers—just to be clear: I mean choices that don’t hurt others.)
No spoilers here, but if I love this book as much as I do…
You can probably guess how it ends. ❤️
P.S. My parents always respected my choices. Sure, they’ve worried over the years. But I’ll never forget my mum trying to find a friend her age who didn’t have children—just so I wouldn’t feel so alone during moments of doubt. That’s love.ts because of societal pressure.
