Member Reviews

Set in contemporary Tokyo, this is a slow-burn novel about women, relationships, and profound loneliness. Fuyuko Irie, a thirty-something proofreader who lives alone, has recently opted to go freelance. An already lonely woman, she chooses to further isolate herself rather than endure the excruciatingly awkward daily encounters with coworkers. Her reflection in a shop window reveals to her "the dictionary definition of a miserable person." So she takes steps to change that. Does she succeed? This novel doesn't achieve a conventional happy ending. It veers away from convention completely. Yet I still found myself compelled to read on -- to accompany this lonely soul as she walks the city night and day, seeking and appreciating light.
[Thanks to Europa Editions and NetGalley for an opportunity to read an advanced reader copy and share my opinion of this book.]

Was this review helpful?

Set in contemporary Tokyo, Mieko Kawakami’s All the Lovers of the Night tells the story of a 30-something freelance proofreader who isolates herself from the real world because she has difficulty making friends and forming meaningful relationships — both at work and at play.

Deeply introverted and carrying trauma from her high school years, Fuyuko Irie begins to self-medicate with alcohol, and “with the aid of just one can of beer, drunk slowly, or a single cup of sake” she develops “the ability to let go of my usual self”.

When she consumes too much sake one morning and accidentally vomits on a stranger she bumps into — an older man called Mitsutsuka — a tentative friendship develops between them.

Like Kawakami’s previous novel, "Heaven", which looked at social ostracization and bullying in a schoolyard setting, "All the Lovers of the Night" switches to the adult world of work and looks at what happens to those who struggle to fit in socially.

Fuyuko’s sense of social alienation and isolation worsens when she quits her job to go freelance. Initially, it’s fine because free from the pressure of an office environment, she can focus solely on the work that gives her so much pleasure. She has regular contact with the editor, Hijiri Ishikawa, who keeps her supplied with manuscripts to work on, and the pair sometimes go out for a drink.

But even when socialising with Hijiri, she rarely gives anything away and struggles to make small talk. Hijiri is too self-absorbed to pay this much heed, but later, towards the end of the novel, she becomes increasingly frustrated with Fuyuko’s passivity, accusing her of “just going through life without asking anything of anyone, or letting anyone ask anything of you”.

Eventually, Fuyoko’s self-imposed isolation gets the better of her and she falls into something that looks like depression but is never stated as such. She lets her fledgling relationship with Mitsutsuka slide, even though she’s convinced herself she’s fallen in love with him.

The story explores the meaning of friendship and the need for human companionship and connection. It also looks at what society expects of women, and how those who forgo children and marriage, perhaps in favour of a career, are judged more harshly and the bar for success is raised much higher for them.

I particularly liked the focus on proofreading and the way Fuyoko is so obsessed with “hunting for mistakes” that she stops watching TV because she can’t bear the errors she spots in the subtitles onscreen. (I feel similarly about restaurant menus!) And she also acknowledges that the proofreader’s work is never done because errors always slip through:

"All the Lovers of the Night" is the kind of book you can binge-read in one sitting. I loved the way it explored one woman’s attempt to expand her universe, to find her voice and to overcome loneliness. It’s a deeply melancholic but ultimately rewarding read.

Was this review helpful?

I loved her book, Breasts and Eggs, so I thought that this book didn't disappoint. I thought it was very meaningful and thought-provoking. It was very much like Convenience Store Woman.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book but hated the ending. I wanted so much more for this character and a better way to end things. This story will definitely stick with me however. I am interested in reading other books by this author now.

Was this review helpful?

In the same style of Convenience Store Woman and Diary of a Void, All the Lovers in the Night tells the story of Irie, a woman in contemporary Japan who doesn't seem to follow the social norms. She does not have any friends and doesn't occupy her time with anything other than her work as a proof-reader. I liked seeing witnessing Irie's evolution, going through downward spirals only to come back a stronger, more assured self. While some parts of the novel were quite slow and often felt like they weren't going anywhere, I believe they may have been purposefully written this way, to illustrate the daily routine and uneventful life of Irie. By the end of the novel I was really touched and convinced that societal expectation shouldn't be forced upon anyone. Everyone needs to live according to their own values, and on their own timeline.

Was this review helpful?

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Kawakami! I see elements of prior works drifting about in this one. I laughed and cried. Change demands its purpose in this story and change is what brings forward the very things that try to totally define us for good or bad. It’s remarkably deep and yet so light.

Was this review helpful?

Another fantastic book from Kawakami. As with her other work, I was completely and immediately drawn in by her prose. Highly recommended.

Was this review helpful?

What happens if you feel that you are drifting through life? And you have lost the interest to dream? 💭

Mieko Kawakami’s All The Lovers In The Night, an extraordinary, deeply moving and insightful story set in contemporary Tokyo.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

📍A story about Fuyuko who’s in her 30s, Living alone, and unable to form meaningful relationships.

📍When she sees her reflection, she sees a tired and spiritless woman who has failed to take control of her own life.

📍She meets a man named Mitsutsuka that awakens something new in her. And so her life begins to change.

📍The vibe of the book felt so real to me, it’s raw, melancholic yet poetic. Mieko’s writing is lyrical and extremely insightful!

Was this review helpful?

A lonely woman strolls late one night on her birthday and observes everyday things in a new light.

She strikes up a friendship who eventually becomes her lover. However, he is already married, and the deception becomes too much.

I didn't care for this as much as the other. This is the book that led me to Kawakami's other works, but this one fell short for me. She does a superb job capturing the atmosphere of loneliness, but nothing seems to come from it.

Was this review helpful?

All the Lovers in the Night, by Mieko Kawakami, is a poignant and introspective novel that explores the complexities of human relationships and the search for meaning and connection. The story follows the life of a young woman named Shoko as she navigates the challenges of love and loss, grappling with her own insecurities and the expectations of those around her.

Kawakami's writing is both lyrical and insightful, delving into the emotional depths of her characters with honesty and sensitivity. The novel is a moving and thought-provoking meditation on the universal experiences of love, loss, and longing. Overall, All the Lovers in the Night is a powerful and deeply affecting work of fiction.

Was this review helpful?

This was my first read by Mieko Kawakami and I was not disapointed one bit, this was different from my usual reads but i really liked it.

Was this review helpful?

Having read three Mieko Kawakami books now, I think it's safe to say that I don't think she is a writer for me. I went into this book hoping that I would enjoy it more than the last, Heaven, about bullied teenagers. But this one lost me.

In this story, we have a young woman who is a copywriter with no personality, interests, friends, or substance. She is alone in Toyko and only works. She is befriended by her editor who encourages her to get out there and live a life. It doesn't go well.

I couldn't connect to this character at all and found the endless tick of repeating statements and questions back to the person she was speaking with maddening. It was incessant. Her character frustrated me in her naivete, in her lack of will, boundaries, or anything. And the story got progressively worse, not better. I found it to be a very depressing read, but not in the ways that I can sometimes like a sad book.

Was this review helpful?

A sad, disturbing and highly impactful story: Our 35-year-old protagonist Fuyuko is a proofreader in Tokyo, spending her days working from home and hunting for mistakes - not only in the texts she is concerned with, but also in other people's decisions and in her own life. This leads to a profound loneliness and inability to make decisions, so she decides to take up drinking in order to loosen up and shatter her hardened shell: She tries to establish a positive relationship with her fiercely independent boss Hijiri and a 58-year-old man she accidentally runs into (literally) at a culture center and then proceeds to meet regularly. The story is propelled forward by the question whether misfit Fuyuko can find a place for herself and some happiness.

In by now typical fashion for young, female, Japanese literature, Kawakami investigates the role of women in society, particularly non-conforming types who struggle with stereotyped ideas of womanhood. The character of Fuyuko even goes one step further: She is a deeply affecting character governed by fear, so instead of making decisions against the grain, she makes no decisions at all. When she proofreads, the whole trick is to not get lost in the content in order to focus on the mistakes - and that's how she leads her life. The novel revolves around her finding the courage to actively make non-conforming decisions instead of just avoiding to make any choices and thus possible mistakes. As Kawakami is not one for cliched story arcs, she once more underlines the possibility and power of female friendship and solidarity as a freeing force, but not without also showing how women, on the other hand, can also judge each other harshly for not fulfilling roles mainstream society has carved out for them.

In the minor characters, we meet women who use seemingly passive Fuyuko as a kind of confession booth, telling her about their more conservative (and thus accepted) lifestyles and what aspects make them happy and unhappy - and to talk badly about others, to (unconsciously) justify the status quo. This is also a book about casual human cruelty, and how people can overcome it by offering attention and compassion. When we meet Fuyuko, her yearly highlight is to take a night walk for her birthday through the illuminated city - and the motif of light will reign supreme throughout the whole novel.

A glowing poetic gem of a novel, and I will proceed to read everything by Kawakami I can get my hands on.

Was this review helpful?

"All the Lovers in the Night", written by Mieko Kawakami and translated from Japanese by Sam Bett and David Boyd, is Kawakami's latest novel to be translated into English, and her forth literary work to be available in English.

It follows Fuyuko Irie, a woman in her thirties, who works as a freelance copy editor in Tokyo. She lives alone, and her daily routine has her isolated from friends and coworkers. Despite considering herself content, Fuyuko begins to realize she is actually feeling lonely, and is not happy with how her life turned out overall. After that realization, she tries to change her routine and step outside of her comfort zone, as well as explore her past experiences that shaped her present self.

As with Kawakami's previous books, I found the characters to be the most compelling part. I appreciate how introspective they are, and how real the dialogues between the characters sound. There is something, though, that is quite hard to pin point exactly, that doesn't click with me in her books. That's not to say I don't enjoy reading them, and I don't appreciate her talent; just that for me, it's missing that wow factor that makes a reader love a book, and that many readers seem to find in Kawakami's works.

For whoever loved Kawakami's previous works, particularly "Breasts and Eggs", this book is perfect for you. Thank you to NetGalley and Europa Editions for the e-arc. All opinions are my own. "All the Lovers in the Night" has been available to English readers since May 2022.

Was this review helpful?

A story of isolation, loneliness, and mental illness, this book is looking for a very specific reader. Sadly, I wasn't in the right place for this one, mostly finding it melancholy and uneventful. I often read and enjoy slow, character-driven books, but All the Lovers in the Night lacked a certain level of insight or impact that I look for in my reading. Ultimately, this book just didn't connect for me... despite the beautiful writing.

Was this review helpful?

I really really love stories that focus in sharp on mundane details, and there's a lot of that in this book. Kawakami is a well-established excellent writer, so I went into this knowing I was in good hands.

I am late to submitting this review, but one thing I can say for sure is that I have thought about this book a lot since reading it- it quietly wormed its way into my brain and stuck there.

Thanks so much for the review copy!

Was this review helpful?

So.. I loved Breasts and Eggs, and was really looking forward to Kawakami's newest novel! This story focuses on someone living on the fringes of Japanese society, living life on their own terms, rather than fitting the conventional mold of womanhood accepted by most. In her signature detailed yet mundanely whimsical writing style, Kawakami explores loneliness, friendship, and how societal norms distort our relationships with one another.

I think Kawakami excelled at showing a purity of emotion in this story that I didn't feel in Breasts and Eggs. This story is also intensely character-driven, but it felt like a more intensely intimate portrait of Fuyuko, the main character. Nothing about her is hidden, even when you might want to close your eyes and give her some privacy.

Even though I really enjoyed Kawakami's writing, this novel didn't really stick with me. The writing wasn't as propulsive as I wanted it to be—at times the analysis of everyday activities got to be a bit much for me. I wish it had been edited a bit more, as I think that would have made the story sharper and intriguing. I do always enjoy reading Kawakami's work. She has a grace and curiosity in her writing that I find truly beautiful, and I can't wait to finish reading her English translations (I think I just have Heaven left!).

Thanks to Europa Editions and Netgalley for the advanced copy of this novel!

Was this review helpful?

All the Lovers in the Night by Mieko Kawakami is just a really bland story despite the exciting title. I hesitate to call it a "slice of life" as some others have because this story centers on a woman in her thirties, and I'd hope that the themes would be more mature and self-aware. The protagonist, Fuyuko, is a copy editor who lives an isolated lifestyle and barely talks to other human beings. It feels like a jaded premise that's been done a lot and results in dull protagonists. When Fuyuko meets other women, she is incredibly fatphobic, but I doubt Kawakami sees it as such. There's only one moving part of the book, in the middle—a big revelation that offers a partial explanation of why Fuyuko is the way she is. It's genuinely heartbreaking. But then nothing really comes of it later on. It's unclear whether she's healing from the trauma because there's so little depth of characterization throughout the novel. The ending is so abrupt that it feels like Kawakami got tired of writing and decided to end the book. Overall just a forgettable and disappointing novel.

Was this review helpful?

“The light at night is special because the overwhelming light of day has left us, and the remaining half draws on everything it has to keep the world around us bright.”

I am quickly becoming a huge fan of Kawakami's work, and this book is one that I will not soon forget. Fuyuko Irie lives by herself, never having had a romantic relationship and not having many friends to speak of. Working from home, she is isolated in Tokyo and content with her life, until one day she is not. A chance encounter and a friendship with her boss shine new light onto Fuyuko's habits and life, forcing her to re-evaluate her choices.

If you love "sad girl" novels, you'll love this. Kawakami provides us with an intensely intimate look into the mind of a depressed 30-something, struggling to figure out where her life is headed and if she's truly happy with that direction. I loved following Fuyoko into the depths of her despair (as terrible as that sounds) because Kawakami was able to so beautifully write about it.

I also really liked the subtle atmosphere that Kawakami creates here. She gives you just enough of Fuyoko's life and surroundings to feel real without diving too deep into a detailed description. This type of spare writing is my cup of tea. The overall vibe is what I have come to expect from Japanese novels in translation, too. If this sounds like your kind of writing, definitely check this one out!

Was this review helpful?

Not much happens and everything happens in "All the Lovers in the Night". Mieko Kawakami, the author of the internationally best-selling "Breasts and Eggs" has written an "unforgettable story about women, loneliness and relationships" beautifully translated from the Japanese by Sam Bett and David Boyd.

FIRST SENTENCE: "Why does the night have to be so beautiful?"

QUOTE: "The job that I was doing, the place where I was living, the fact that I was all alone and had no one to talk to. Could these have been the result of some decision I had made? I heard a crow crying somewhere in the distance and turned to the window. It occurred to me that maybe I was where I was today because I hadn't chosen anything."

THE STORY: There are long silences in Fuyuko Irie's day whether she is proof reading alone or is with another person. Small things in her quiet life loom large - light, darkness, weather. Two women befriend her and suggest ways she could interact with the world. Kyoko, an editor who owns her own business, has made sure Fuyuko has a way to support herself. Hijiri, Fuyuko's total opposite in temperament, shares opinions and her love of social life.

The day Fuyuko sees her reflection in a store window she recognizes how drab she has become. She reaches out to make connections finding courage in beer and vodka. After she meets Mitsutsuka, an older high school physics teacher, she joins him weekly at a coffee shop to talk about music and light.

WHAT I THOUGHT: A very intimate story, every reader will find something of themselves reflected as the author shares the differing choices women have made. Even though the men in Fuyuko's life are disappointments, exploring relationships with others helps her move forward with a sense of self-acceptance.

BOTTOM LINE: HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

DISCLAIMER: I received a free e-copy of "All the Lovers in the Night" by Mieko Kawakami from NetGalley/Europa for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?