All the Lovers in the Night by Mieko Kawakami BOOK REVIEW

Translated from the Japanese by Sam Bett and David Boyd, All the Lovers in the Night is Mieko Kawakami's third full-length novel published in English translation, and it's another knockout feminist hit from one of Japan's finest contemporary authors!
*****

[tienvo]

The light motif is interesting to me as a physics student. In fact it was the thing that drew me into this book in the first few pages.

At the phd level, we learn a lot about how light is generated and absorbed and how they disperse and diffract through different media. But the discussion of light between Fuyuko and Mitsusuka is incredibly fresh to me, when you consider the social elements, particularly solitude, in the book.

Light goes everywhere, given the fact we can see almost everything around us on Earth. It's almost an analogy for the connection between an individual and their immediate community. Most people are well-connected. This is observed by Fuyuko in the train station scene. Everyone's got somewhere to be, someone to wait for, something to do, just like light on Earth. But for some lonely people out there, the connection is as faint as a single beam of light traveling through the vacuum of space, void of anyone's acknowledgement. It's tiring, it's lonely and depressing, and I don't think Fuyuko ever put these to words, but her immediate wonder about light from her room traveling into the vastness of space out there is indicative of her loneliness. In reality what's gonna happen is most of the light gets absorbed by the atmosphere and the energy is confined to Earth, but there will always be some that disperse through the atmosphere and into space. Some lonely people desperate for a connection with everyone around them will never see their attempt fruitful, as that light will probably never be seen by anyone (probably with the exception of astronauts).

[juliea]

I think this is a book that can carry many interpretations...Besides the themes you mentioned, I think, it's a book about abuse and its lifelong impacts. It's also a book about proofreading/editing - a key image, I believe. "Proofreading" your life, finding mistakes, living in fear of mistakes... Passion and lack of passion. Sexual desire and absolute sexlessness. And like some other Japanese books I've read, it's about profound loneliness. Lack of communication and connection. Even the title resonates with many different, and conflicting, images. I liked it. And now I have to re-read it!

[sage]

I didn't see the main character as on the spectrum. I think Kawakami creates what it's like to live with severe crippling anxiety in such a real way. Everything from how alcohol blurs her intense fear of having to speak to strangers while registering for classes to speaking to this stranger. Kawakami also really gets deep into the psyche of what it's like as a women to start aging. As an aging women, there were passages that just kicked me in the chest with a boot, things we hide or push down. She always seems to bring that right to the surface with a laser sharp sentence.

[jackseney]

First Murata. Then Yoshimoto. And now Kawakami. You have developed a pattern of introducing unique Japanese female authors whom I find irresistible. Oh and let's include Missouri Williams too. Thanks very much 👍

[elmooko]

I think I will purchase any Kawakami book sight unseen for the rest of my life. Her topics & writing aren't always "fun" ("Heaven") but she captures human emotion & experience in such an incredible & efficient manner (kudos to her translators too!) that I am compelled to read her stuff!

[jemimahorne]

Just finished reading this one! I’m not sure what to make of it. I’m a huge Kawakami fan so I was really excited for this release, but I feel like I may have missed some of the points.
I agree that the thematic relevance of light felt unclear, that beautiful passage at the start made it seem like light would be a key aspect Fuyuko, but it wasn’t, really.
I was interested in your interpretation of Hijiri as the archetypal ‘Girlboss’ Feminist. The way I interpreted her was a little different. The way I saw her, she paralleled Fuyuko, in the sense that she too was trying to figure life and womanhood out. Especially in one of their last conversations when Hijiri is being unnecessarily mean to Fuyuko, it seemed that she couldn’t read the obvious signals that Fuyuko had been crying. She is too outspoken and annoys people, and gets dragged along to do things she doesn’t want to do, which continues the theme of performative normalcy in this novel. I found Fuyuko’s adoption of Hijiri’s clothes especially interesting and wonder at the significance of them - perhaps it was symbolic of Fuyuko becoming more ‘normal’? I would love to hear your thoughts on this.
What never ceases to entertain me in Kawakami’s writing is her ability to write from so many perspectives so convincingly. I especially enjoyed the passage about Noriko and her marriage, I could feel the pain and resentment radiating off the page.
Thanks for another great review! Big fan of your channel <3

[hifyx]

thank you for introducing me to Mieko Kawakami. I just finished reading all the Lovers in the night and i think this is actually my favorite of hers so far.

[dalia]

I think that the light and the colours are a metaphor for social norms and social roles in general. Do we absorb them? Are they reflected on us?

[panikiczcock]

Ordered a copy. I love Mieko and live for lonely woman books!

[zkins]

Your reviews are very powerful and full of passion. I’m intrigued even by the slow boring start you mentioned. Sounds fascinating. Thank you.

[remukinatarajan]

Listening to you talk about Meiko Kawakami is a delight in itself 🤌🏼. Thank you for making me enjoy Kawakami even more, Willow. Have a satisfactory day❤️

[silveraoi]

Hello! Good video 😀
I see the whole "light" pattern as a metaphor for hope.
As you mentioned, it's really hard to grasp what this is all about, but I want to see the light as an explanation for hope and intersection with human being's lives (as light itself appears, to then disappear in space etc. - just like memories).
Overall this is a very inspiring novel 👍

[hardikksharmaaa]

She's really taking us on a rollercoaster, first Breasts and Eggs, then Heaven, and now this

[Scarfknitter]

Sayaka Murata and Mieko Kawakami are also my favourite contemporary Japanese writers! Love this video <3

[dhanya]

what a blissful day...Willow uploaded a video😍💃🏻

[poppy-lbem]

i saved this until after my GCSEs and im glad i did so i could focus on it. i thought the lights represented hope that fuyuko could improve from how she was in the beginning and feel less isolated, and she did as by the end she was more confident and spoke up more. i loved this book sm, and this review was great💖💖

[melindajones]

Last year I bought Breasts and Eggs based off your review but sadly still haven’t read it. Possibly intimidated by the size of it. Now I’m totally intrigued by this book, as I loved Convenience Store Woman and just books about women who don’t fit into society in general. Adding this one to my TBR. Perhaps I’ll read this one first and work my way up to Breasts and Eggs :) Thanks for another great recommendation, Willow!

[kathy]

I just want to say that I really enjoyed your review of this and your review encourages me to add this on e to my tbr list. Your language is nice and clear and you are easy to listen to and understand, which makes listening to this video a joy. Thank you.

[dimitri]

I really enjoy your book reviews, I got my copy of ‘all the lovers in the night’ on Saturday. And I’m resisting the urge to read it until my GCSE’s are over lol

[hazelsun]

I just got a copy of this book two days ago. Absolutely loved your video and your thoughts on this one so I might need to switch up my TBR and read it next. Perhaps some of the questions you’re asking are exactly what Mieko Kawakami wants us to do when she goes on writing about a character and not much of interest happens. Why is she like that. I do think the flash back to a traumatic event in the past might be a clue. PTSD from abuse - sexual, emotional - has that effect - getting lost in a routine if you’re lucky or in a vice (drugs, alcohol, another abusive relationship) if you’re not. Same with the lack of hobbies, or need for them, etc. etc. so that might be the case. But just the fact that we are asking and trying to figure it out is a credit to this author’s great talent imo.