"Real-life esque" anime?

Can anyone recommend me some anime that deals with just real-life subject matter. That's really broad but I mean anime that just deals with normal people in normal situations; like a drama. Those high-school romances are the closest thing I know of, but I'm not looking for romance per se. I mean, are there anime wherein the characters are just normal people working jobs with normal problems? I guess if that's what I want, it's best to read a novel, but yeah, I'd like that in anime form. If you need me to try to elucidate better what I mean, just ask. Thanks!

for realistic high school stories: aku no hana has both a realistic story and art style, although the art and pacing may turn a lot off hanasaku iroha is a good, job while going to high school anime, although there is a tad bit of romance gin no saji is an excellent example of country/farming life styles for anime thats not really highschool related: barakamon: is a comedy/slice of life about a man working in the japanese countryside/island life kuragehime: a bunch of otaku girls living in a dorm that need to earn money and try to become beautiful

Thank very much; I'll give those a try. I was going to say I'd prefer them having to do with country-living and whatnot. I know anime is known for having a bit of humor and what have you, but are any of these "serious?" That's not the best word to use but I can't think of others atm. I mean strictly an anime wherein the characters do seemingly monotonous things. That's some strange taste, I know :P

aku no hana is most definitely pretty serious but yeah for the most part the rest have comedy since slice of life is a genre thats so hard to make amusing/interesting

I thought as much. I suppose it wouldn't make much sense were it not that way. Aku no Hana I'll take a crack at, I'll let you know what me's thinks, thank you! :D