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Henk's Reviews > There's No Such Thing as an Easy Job

There's No Such Thing as an Easy Job by Kikuko Tsumura
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bookshelves: japanese-literature

Reads like a breeze but I didn’t feel that the five loosely connected stories, of people being in general nicer than one imagines upfront, added up to something more in this novel
Accepting those ups and downs, choosing to take on difficult jobs - that’s what life is about.

I feel the first story was actually not really needed (or doesn't resonate with the rest of the book) which is a shame because the deadpan tone and sarcasm in that part was my favoriet while reading. Like:
Walking back down the corridor it occurred to me that ‘We’re counting on you!’ and ‘You should rest!’ were actually contradictory messages, and a lump formed in my throat. Which did she really mean? Or did she mean neither?

Kikuko Tsumura her book reminds me of My Year of Rest and Relaxation from Ottessa Moshfegh, it features a burnt out young woman, not sleeping this time but looking for an easy job (I wanted a job that was practically without substance, a job that sat on the borderline between being a job and not). We are taken along bizarre jobs, like surveillance job on an author (apparently no GDPR in Japan), where the main character is like a jibakurei, a ghost bound to its place in observing someone’s life.

The second story about a recording job for local adverts in a small town buss service is sweet and slightly magical, with a wholesome end to it. And this continues for the rest of There's No Such Thing as an Easy Job, it might be seen as a commentary on women being all part-timers and in menial jobs, but to be fair everything is quite okay for the protagonist.
The cracker wrapper job is really interesting for me as an auditor, again something that in all fairness I think would be outsourced in any Western company. It sounds amazing anyway, I don’t get why she wanted to move on from that.
The main character here actually seems a bit whiny for letting the job go.

In the end the book reads very easy but just didn't work to a very satisfying (or surprising) conclusion, beside a very sweet version of "the journey is the destination", "everyone struggles" and "there are good people everywhere".
Still an entertaining read with a delightful cover and sufficient fun for any office worker to warrant picking up.
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Reading Progress

March 26, 2020 – Shelved
March 26, 2020 – Shelved as: to-read
December 2, 2020 – Shelved as: japanese-literature
April 10, 2021 – Started Reading
April 11, 2021 –
page 223
53.61% "Reads like a breeze, and the work problems are very relatable"
April 12, 2021 – Finished Reading

Comments Showing 1-5 of 5 (5 new)

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JimZ I liked it!


Henk It was definitely amusing!


message 3: by Edi (new) - rated it 5 stars

Edi agree. I liked it. Read it to the end without using many brain cells. Good distraction from my burned out work life trying to find an easy job...LOL


Henk The cover is very striking as well to fit this feeling 😁


Tanya Byrne my thoughts exactly - I kept waiting for something "more"...


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