I came away feeling quite uplifted by her end discovery that she always knew who she was - that being a convenience store woman is indeed a significant part of her reason for living and perhaps, life satisfaction. I think a lot of our feelings about Keiko are projections of our own fears and her family's fears, not hers. I definitely has initial projections I had to chip away as I read.

I loved all the details of the convenience store work. There was quiet pride in her way of describing things that were clearly important to her.

War and Peace is more grand in the sense that the background is the Napoleonic Wars. Everything feels very high stakes. There is a lot to keep track of, but it's extremely fulfilling in the end. A more challenging, addictive page turner (imo) with unforgettable characters and moments.

With Anna Karenina, there is more of a detailed emphasis on farming routines and peasant agricultural society to contrast to the glitzy urban setting of Anna's high society. It also feels more intimate, more modern / psychological, and easier to pick up and put down in a leisurely way (if you do this with War and Peace, you'll get lost). I'd call it the more 'beautiful' book.

In summary: W&P is the book that basically locked me in a room - I didn't put it down for weeks. Anna is the one that washed over me during a longer period of time. Since 'right book right time' really affects how much we enjoy something, I'd choose whatever sounds best and just skip to the other if you're finding either one a slog.