Goodreads Monday is a weekly meme started by @Lauren’s Page Turners but is currently hosted by Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog. This meme is quite easy to follow – just randomly pick a book from your to-be-read list and explain why you want to read it. It is that simple.

This week’s book:

The Convenience Store by the Sea by Sonoko Machida

Blurb from Goodreads

A quaint seaside town in Kitakyushu, Mojiko is full of hidden delights. And one unexpected treasure is the 24/7 convenience store, Tenderness.

At first glance, it’s a store like any other.

Sure, it’s a bit odd that the handsome manager has his own fan club. And perhaps the customers are somewhat eccentric. But there’s a warmth about Tenderness that draws you in.

The bright lights are always on. The employees know you by name. And the shelves are stacked with delicious treats, from strong hot coffee to sweet parfaits, egg sandos to ramen, crispy fried chicken to refreshing soba.

After a while, you get the feeling that whatever you need might just be waiting for you here…

Celebrating the joy of connection and community, The Convenience Store by the Sea is the heartwarming international bestseller from award-winning Japanese novelist Sonoko Machida.

Why I Want To Read It

Happy Monday everyone! Well, technically it is already Tuesday so happy Tuesday everyone. Time does fly fast. Today is the first Tuesday of March. Before we know it, the first quarter of the year is over and done. Sadly, time does not bide its time as it takes its natural course. It leaves us no option but to go with the flow. Anyway, how has your year been so far? I hope that 2025 is showering everyone with positive news and blessings. If nothing is going in your favor right now, I hope you get to have a reversal of fortune in the coming months. A lot can still happen. We have time to pursue our goals and dreams. On another note, I hope everyone started the work week on a high note. I hope you all had a good start to the workweek; I know, most of us dread Mondays. I hope everyone makes it through the week. More importantly, I hope everyone is doing well, in mind, body, and spirit, not only this week but for the rest of the year.

Reading-wise, I have several lofty goals this year. During the pandemic years, I managed to build a reading momentum, allowing me to reach 100 books read in a year for the first time since I started reading. Not only was I able to do it once but I managed to pull it off three years in a row. I am relying on this as I embark on yet another reading journey. As such, it is my outright goal this year to read at least 100 books; I tend to set a conservative reading target at the start of the year. However, I have become more confident. Apart from this, I plan to read more translated works to reduce the glaring gap between books originally published in English and translated literary works. Despite the new year, some things never change. As has been customary, I am kicking off the blogging week with a fresh Goodreads Monday update. This has become an essential part of my weekly blogging ritual over the past few years.

In line with my goal to read more translated works, I have opened my reading year with works of East Asian writers. March marks the third month in a row I will be reading works of Chinese, Korean, and Japanese writers. However, March will be dedicated to the works of female writers from the region in line with the celebration of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day on March 8. This week’s featured book is a novel written by a female Japanese writer. It was just recently that I first encountered Sonoko Machida whose novel, The Convenience Store by the Sea has been ubiquitous. I guess it was a no-brainer that it would pique my interest. The book sounds quirky and a heartwarming read, similar to recently translated works of Japanese literature such as Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, Before the Coffee Gets Cold, We’ll Prescribe You a Cat, and What You are Looking For Is in the Library.

Speaking of which, it seems that the book has the same structure as the aforementioned books. I guess it is safe to say that I am expecting the same with The Convenience Store by the Sea. I am also reminded of Sayaka Murata’s Convenience Store Woman although, from the blurb, I can sense that the tone of Machida’s novel is more tender. The book, I believe, is already available through various outlets. This is a good thing. For now, I just hope to obtain a copy of the book. How was your Monday, Tuesday rather? What books have you added to your reading list? Do drop it in the comment box. For now, happy Monday and, as always, happy reading!