A review by 5aru
All the Lovers in the Night by Mieko Kawakami

dark emotional reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I really enjoy Kawakami's writing style — I find there is something very unique to novels by Japanese authors and how they convey a sense of absolute isolation, of emotional stagnation. Kawakami particularly nails this in Fuyuko's character through her matter-of-fact, almost emotionless narration. In spite of this style, it is easy to understand that Fuyuko is actually going through intense emotional turmoil. She goes through depressive as well as dissociative episodes, and as her past trauma notably resurfaces as soon as she comes close to achieving Mitsutsuka's affection, she is rendered unable to surrender to that connection. The novel is tragic in a sense, yet powerfully liberating in others.
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