A review by lk3ssaf
All the Lovers in the Night by Mieko Kawakami

  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I really like the way Kawakami explores women, their flawed characters, and their relationships with others. The depressive period that Irie went through, her awareness of her passiveness and inability to fix it, and even the moments where she threw all her clothes out to keep Hijiri's instead, are all so real and filled with the nuances that are present in real life. 

SpoilerAt some point, near the end, Irie's obsession with Mutsutsuka probably truly was love. When Irie was at the lowest point however, unable to work, drinking all day to numb her emotions, her attachment to Mutsutsuka was a clear sign of depression. To cling onto the only thing that brings you any happiness, and to form an obsession with it is a coping mechanism. 

I've noticed that both books by this author that I've read included women in their 30s and up, single mothers, strong interpersonal female relationships, and a fulfilling ending (or the potential for one) for the main character without ever ending up in a relationship.
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