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Queralt✨'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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really liked it
bookshelves: japan, fem-asian-authors

I think I picked this up at the best time (slightly burned out) and the worst time (stressed, depressed, and not necessarily well dressed). But I think it's just what I needed. There's No Such Thing as an Easy Job is an unpretentious, light-hearted novel that reminded me of all those "slice of life" manga I read when I was a kid - you follow an ordinary woman doing ordinary things and rolling with it. Part of me wants to say this book is friendly because it just made me smile and feel warm inside, but maybe that's just me (also, can books even be "friendly"? anywhoo).

The narrator is a burned-out 36 years old woman who quits her job, moves back with her mother, and starts working odd, easy jobs. Emphasis on the odd. She has a total of five jobs in this book (monitoring surveillance footage; writing scripts for bus ads; writing "fun facts" for cracker wrappers; putting up posters; and doing maintenance at a large public park) - boring, easy jobs. I tried to put myself in her shoes and thought I would never do this or I would ever take the job seriously, but she does. The narrator gives it all, excels at everything, and all the jobs end up resonating with her life. If you are like me, you may wonder why she tries so hard when the jobs are clearly dull, temporary, and unimportant, but I'd say Tsumura is trying to show "the journey is the destination" with the character development we get to see at the end. 

"The same was true of everything. You never knew what was going to happen, you never did, you just had to give it your all and hope for the best. Hope like anything it will turn out alright."
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Reading Progress

October 15, 2020 – Shelved as: to-read
October 15, 2020 – Shelved
June 6, 2021 – Started Reading
June 6, 2021 – Shelved as: japan
June 6, 2021 – Shelved as: fem-asian-authors
June 6, 2021 –
page 44
10.58%
June 8, 2021 –
page 98
23.56%
June 11, 2021 –
page 175
42.07%
June 13, 2021 –
page 228
54.81%
June 14, 2021 –
page 305
73.32%
June 16, 2021 – Finished Reading

Comments Showing 1-5 of 5 (5 new)

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s.penkevich Ooo are you enjoying this one so far? I keep meaning to pick this up.


Queralt✨ I am! It sort of reminds me of Breasts and Eggs by Mieko Kawakami but focused on work and life rather than body/gender. I just noticed you read that one too, so I'm guessing you may love this one as well! :)


s.penkevich Queralt✨ wrote: "I am! It sort of reminds me of Breasts and Eggs by Mieko Kawakami but focused on work and life rather than body/gender. I just noticed you read that one too, so I'm guessing you may love this one a..."

Oh excellent, now I'm definitely sold. It reminds me (in description) a bit of Temporary as well, which I really loved. Thanks, going to order this now!


Queralt✨ I will keep an eye open for your review when you get to it! :) I'm adding Temporary on my TBR list, see if I can get to it soon, I had never seen it before and it looks interesting (I'm obsessed with the cover!)


s.penkevich Great review. Well if the perfect time to read is when burned out count me in! This definitely sounds great, I like the oddities and really any job/identity discourse is always intriguing. Hope you enjoy Temporary as well, isn't that cover amazing?


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