Discover new books on Goodreads
Meet your next favorite book

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

There's No Such Thing as an Easy Job by Kikuko Tsumura
Rate this book
Clear rating

by
7202176
's review

liked it
bookshelves: 2010s, reviewed, japanese, read-2021

A young woman walks into an employment agency and requests a job that has the following traits: it is close to her home, and it requires no reading, no writing – and ideally, very little thinking. She's had a complete burnout after her previous job and just wants something that doesn't feel like work at all. Something she can go to and leave without putting much effort into. We follow her over the course of five jobs; from mundane to bizarre.

Though it is a novel, it does have a short story feel because of the structure. Each section of the book covers one job, and each one introduces us to a new cast of characters for our lead to interact with. I honestly was really enjoying this from the start. I found the first job interesting, the second a delightful bit of possible magical realism, the third extremely entertaining and the fourth darkly fascinating. I was about ready to give it four or possibly even five stars as I was just enjoying it all around. Then the final job hit and had it been a short story collection I would have given that section one… maybe two stars if I was being generous. I didn't find the cast of that section interesting (in contrast I loved most of the characters we were introduced to in the other jobs), I found the main focus of the job tedious, the mystery aspect boring and the end a bit on the preachy side.

The book is very readable and an easy going sort of read. It's not a book I would care to analyze as it really is just the sort of thing I'd read to relax and turn off my brain just a bit. It's a book that at times feels like it's about nothing in particular and has little in terms of "action" going on… but it's consistently enjoyable (until that last job) and was always holding my interest. It's not a book I can recommend to everyone, but I do not regret my time with it. I only wish that last job was more interesting, then it could have had a much higher rating. Still, with the four jobs prior to that last, it still gets a 3/5 stars.
143 likes · flag

Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read There's No Such Thing as an Easy Job.
Sign In »

Reading Progress

June 13, 2021 – Started Reading
June 13, 2021 – Shelved
June 13, 2021 –
page 90
21.63%
June 13, 2021 –
page 90
21.63%
June 14, 2021 –
page 156
37.5%
June 16, 2021 –
page 227
54.57%
June 20, 2021 – Finished Reading
June 21, 2021 – Shelved as: 2010s
June 21, 2021 – Shelved as: reviewed
June 21, 2021 – Shelved as: japanese
March 12, 2022 – Shelved as: read-2021

Comments Showing 1-8 of 8 (8 new)

dateDown arrow    newest »

message 1: by AJ (new) - rated it 3 stars

AJ Thanks a lot for such a perfect interpretation of my ‘3 stars’!! Cheers ☺️


message 2: by Regina (new)

Regina Excellent review, Tim. I hadn't heard of this book before, but generally I like this type of novel where it almost feels like a connected set of short stories. I'm intrigued.


message 3: by Terrie (new)

Terrie  Robinson Terrific review, Tim! This sounds really interesting. So unfortunate the final scenario blew it up for you.


message 4: by Tim (new) - rated it 3 stars

Tim AJ wrote: "Thanks a lot for such a perfect interpretation of my ‘3 stars’!! Cheers ☺️"

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the review.


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

Tim Regina wrote: "Excellent review, Tim. I hadn't heard of this book before, but generally I like this type of novel where it almost feels like a connected set of short stories. I'm intrigued."

I had not really heard much about it until it was chosen for the Japanese book club that I'm in. If you like the connected short stories format, I'd suggest giving it a try. I really enjoyed it until that final story and even with that I still overall can say I liked the book.


message 6: by Tim (new) - rated it 3 stars

Tim Terrie wrote: "Terrific review, Tim! This sounds really interesting. So unfortunate the final scenario blew it up for you."

It is interesting! Though I did not like that final story, it's still worth a read (I personally don't consider 3 stars a bad review when I give it... just that it could have been better).


message 7: by Aurora (new) - added it

Aurora Good review! I felt fondness for it but it bored me so much that I couldn't feel compelled to finish. There was no drive there for me. I made it almost halfway. I've been curious what others think of it.


Grace Anderson All fair points


back to top