A review by gloomyheart
All the Lovers in the Night by Mieko Kawakami

dark emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Mieko Kawakami has done it again, and I am once again in awe of her writing. 
The book was yet another amazing read, and Kawakami has not failed to deliver.

The author of this fictional story explores the double standards women face in a society that holds unrealistic expectations of women. 
Furthermore, this book also discusses what a woman's role in society ought to be when she does not comprehend modern-day social rules. 

The character of Fuyuko is deeply affected by this uncertainty to an extreme extent. She does not know what role she plays in this world.
Fuyuko Irie, who is a 34 years old woman, is the main character in 'All the lovers in the night'. I found her to be a sad, lonely, and dare I even say, boring character with not much life outside of work. 
Fuyuko works as a full-time proofreader, which involves reviewing books carefully to identify and correct errors. While discussing her career, she frequently mentions the fact that her work occupies nearly all of her time. This is a lonesome and isolating job, two characteristics that are clearly embodied by Fuyuko.
She has few friends, no hobbies and no interests. She sacrifices her own interests and curiosities for grammar and spelling rules at work, a rigidity that reflects her approach to life in general. It is evident at the outset of the book that Fuyuko is sad and vacant, which contributes greatly to the story's tone. 

A neoliberal feminist woman named Hijiri is one of Fuyuko's few friends in the story. Hijiri is a very specific type of feminist that many would consider incorrect. This is the type of woman who has strong opinions about what a woman should or should not be, and is very vocal about them. Towards the middle of the novel, Hijiri has firmly established herself as one of Fuyuko's closest friends. She persuades her to leave her house for a drink. It was while they were out together that Fuyuko revealed to Hijiri that she does not drink.
Fuyuko appears to have developed an addiction to alcoholic drinks after this occurrence. She seems to have actually forced herself to conform to these expectations for drinking, regardless of whether she actually started liking alcohol or not.

The book explores this theme throughout, as the book highlights the societal expectations women face as well as the performances they put on in order to keep up with the expectations of others.
Fuyuko performs both professionally and socially.

The book then moves on to introduce us to the character of Mitsutsuka. They establish a friendship in which they meet every week to discuss many of their interests. Among these is light.
This is another recurring theme that is discussed extensively throughout the book 'All the lovers in the night'. It is that sort of cleverness that Mieko Kawakami adds to her books that gives a certain depth to the story. 
Previously, Fuyuko discussed her strong interest in light. In fact, she takes a walk once a year on her birthday to see the Christmas lights. Her annual walk provides her with a sense of calm every year. And once she met Mitsutsuka, he revealed that he was actually a professor of physics and was extremely interested in light as well. This brings in another theme within the book, the theme of hope. 
These brief interludes of light and hope may appear difficult to grasp at first, but they add another level of enjoyment to the reading experience. Mieko Kawakami is a gifted writer who knows how to make reading experiences stand out to readers. 
It is this association with light and hope that tells us how much hope Mitsutsuka brought to Fuyuko, how he made her feel normal and how he made her feel like a part of society. 

Mieko Kawakami does not write books for fictional stories and entertainment purposes.
She does not write books with dramatic endings or unimaginable plots. She writes philosophical, intense literary novels that have profound meanings.
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