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A review by chery
All the Lovers in the Night by Mieko Kawakami
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Reading Journal
- What if it’s all true?
That we’re not living a life of our own, but on someone’s expec
tations? Or maybe, what we are feeling is a reflection of someone else’s experience that we become unconsciously resigned to pick up? I wonder if it’s so bad being an NPC—to live a life chosen for you, to have everything at your disposal, and your decisions not mattering in the slightest. God knows who or what we actually live this life for.
tations? Or maybe, what we are feeling is a reflection of someone else’s experience that we become unconsciously resigned to pick up? I wonder if it’s so bad being an NPC—to live a life chosen for you, to have everything at your disposal, and your decisions not mattering in the slightest. God knows who or what we actually live this life for.
- What about our feelings?
Is there any importance or significance in our lives in having them? Only to keep being told off all the time, or simply to “knock out of it.” No wonder so many are left astray, in a helpless state, if anything we feel would ever make any difference.
- A co-worker tattles on another co-worker’s bad tendencies
Just how much of ourselves have been known to other people? How many fractions of ourselves can we still call our own, and not become their consumption for gossip? How is it so easy for someone to judge and make a prejudice of others, as if they know the first thing about us? Do we need to do the same, so we are not called “old-fashioned”? Nobody ever teaches us how to “act” in accordance with the norms of society, yet see how easy it is to be painted a certain color that we’re not.
REVIEW
Fuyuko Irie’s world is depicted in a monochromatic palette, devoid of vibrant emotions until the arrival of Mitsutsuka. This new presence stirs a torrent of feelings within her, yet she struggles to articulate them. One might ponder if she ever experiences even a fleeting moment of joy, or if she deems it necessary. Her constant state of suppression and isolation is eerily relatable, invoking familiarity that’s a bit unsettling.
The novel took an unexpected and disturbing turn with the rape scene, which was particularly jarring as it was unanticipated (I did not check the content warnings). This scene left me feeling nauseated. Additionally, Fuyuko’s fantasies about Mitsutsuka were discomforting. Her daydreams and sexual desires for someone she hardly knows, without mutual consent or understanding, felt invasive and inappropriate. Her attention to someone’s physical appearance, specifically mentioning their weight, further added to the irks. Her pre-existing alcohol addiction, long before meeting Mitsutsuka, made her dislikable. Fuyuko’s actions and thoughts could be frustrating at times.
In spite of that, I am falling in love with Kawakami’s writing for the nth time. I am always captivated by her ability to evoke a curious longing, making each sentence feel urgent, as if there is a need to feel more than we are actually capable of. Have you ever felt for someone to the extent of anguish, your soul torn to pieces as words escape every fiber of your body? That is how it feels to read All the Lovers in the Night. Who is the lover? To whom are we supposed to let our love flow in a way that brings us solace? Have you ever found such love that is so heartbreaking and yet, so profound? How does it feel to have such emotions? So deep it could be a never-ending abyss—I am absolutely mesmerized.
REVIEW
Fuyuko Irie’s world is depicted in a monochromatic palette, devoid of vibrant emotions until the arrival of Mitsutsuka. This new presence stirs a torrent of feelings within her, yet she struggles to articulate them. One might ponder if she ever experiences even a fleeting moment of joy, or if she deems it necessary. Her constant state of suppression and isolation is eerily relatable, invoking familiarity that’s a bit unsettling.
The novel took an unexpected and disturbing turn with the rape scene, which was particularly jarring as it was unanticipated (I did not check the content warnings). This scene left me feeling nauseated. Additionally, Fuyuko’s fantasies about Mitsutsuka were discomforting. Her daydreams and sexual desires for someone she hardly knows, without mutual consent or understanding, felt invasive and inappropriate. Her attention to someone’s physical appearance, specifically mentioning their weight, further added to the irks. Her pre-existing alcohol addiction, long before meeting Mitsutsuka, made her dislikable. Fuyuko’s actions and thoughts could be frustrating at times.
In spite of that, I am falling in love with Kawakami’s writing for the nth time. I am always captivated by her ability to evoke a curious longing, making each sentence feel urgent, as if there is a need to feel more than we are actually capable of. Have you ever felt for someone to the extent of anguish, your soul torn to pieces as words escape every fiber of your body? That is how it feels to read All the Lovers in the Night. Who is the lover? To whom are we supposed to let our love flow in a way that brings us solace? Have you ever found such love that is so heartbreaking and yet, so profound? How does it feel to have such emotions? So deep it could be a never-ending abyss—I am absolutely mesmerized.