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A review by thesinginglights
There's No Such Thing as an Easy Job by Kikuko Tsumura
4.0
This book follows the exploits of a woman in her mid-thirties burning out from working in her field. Mainly this is just a literary device to propel the character into moving through different jobs. Each short story/novella follows a different job and the surreal proceedings contained within that for the most part are a joy to read. By far my favourite were the middle two stores: the Bus Advertising Job and the Cracker Packet Job, balancing hilarity and surreal dread throughout.
I can kind of see where people are coming from with the Murakami comparisons but the connection is too easily made: Japanese writer + surrealist elements = Murakami. I understand it's mostly marketing but personally it's unfair to Tsumura. Her protagonist on first blush is an unassuming character like a lot of Murakami's, but there is a clear-eyed detachment (and somewhat underlying cynicism) embroiled with a deeper self-awareness and self-preservation than Murakami's. In short, the comparison is trite.
This isn't to say if you didn't like Murakami's stuff you'd dislike this, however. Judge for yourself.
While I was not bored, I was expecting some sort of character arc and exploration of burnout. Japan is a nation notorious for its gruelling work culture to the point where people have died from overwork. It even has a word in their language: karoshi (death from overwork). The main character's desire is to have an easy job but realises over time that is simply not enough. Even a job that in principle sounds good will have its share of challenges and inconveniences. That's a well-drawn point across the book. What's not well-drawn is the character's resolution at the end: that one needs to give things their all and hope for the best. Which, yes, technically, but without assessing why someone burns out in the first place, or resolving those feelings, you run the risk of having the same problem later down the line.
There is a lot to enjoy but some of its thematic work left me wanting—and not in the good way. It's overall an enjoyable enough piece though despite some flaws. I can't overstate how genuinely funny I found it! And I'll be sure to check out any of Tsumura's work if it's in translation.
I can kind of see where people are coming from with the Murakami comparisons but the connection is too easily made: Japanese writer + surrealist elements = Murakami. I understand it's mostly marketing but personally it's unfair to Tsumura. Her protagonist on first blush is an unassuming character like a lot of Murakami's, but there is a clear-eyed detachment (and somewhat underlying cynicism) embroiled with a deeper self-awareness and self-preservation than Murakami's. In short, the comparison is trite.
This isn't to say if you didn't like Murakami's stuff you'd dislike this, however. Judge for yourself.
While I was not bored, I was expecting some sort of character arc and exploration of burnout. Japan is a nation notorious for its gruelling work culture to the point where people have died from overwork. It even has a word in their language: karoshi (death from overwork). The main character's desire is to have an easy job but realises over time that is simply not enough. Even a job that in principle sounds good will have its share of challenges and inconveniences. That's a well-drawn point across the book. What's not well-drawn is the character's resolution at the end: that one needs to give things their all and hope for the best. Which, yes, technically, but without assessing why someone burns out in the first place, or resolving those feelings, you run the risk of having the same problem later down the line.
There is a lot to enjoy but some of its thematic work left me wanting—and not in the good way. It's overall an enjoyable enough piece though despite some flaws. I can't overstate how genuinely funny I found it! And I'll be sure to check out any of Tsumura's work if it's in translation.