All the Lovers in the Night

By: Mieko Kawakami

Narrated by: Mirai

The bestselling author of Breasts and Eggs, Mieko Kawakami, invites listeners back into her immediately recognizable fictional world with this new, extraordinary novel and demonstrates yet again why she is one of today’s most uncategorizable, insightful, and talented novelists.

Fuyuko Irie is a freelance copyeditor in her mid-thirties. Working and living alone in a city where it is not easy to form new relationships, she has little regular contact with anyone other than her editor, Hijiri, a woman of the same age but with a very different disposition. When Fuyoku stops one day on a Tokyo street and notices her reflection in a storefront window, what she sees is a drab, awkward, and spiritless woman who has lacked the strength to change her life and decides to do something about it.

As the long overdue change occurs, however, painful episodes from Fuyuko’s past surface and her behavior slips further and further beyond the pale. All the Lovers in the Night is acute and insightful, entertaining and engaging; it will make listeners laugh, and it will make them cry, but it will also remind them, as only the best books do, that sometimes the pain is worth it.

©2022 Mieko Kawakami (P)2022 Blackstone Publishing

Awkward Slice of Life.

This book was quite the awkward journey of growth. It took me by surprise in a good way with some of its changes. A realistic depiction of a woman trying to understand herself and her journey through that.

A beautiful,, poignant book

Sometimes frustrating in the excruciating detail the main character sees in every experience, this is truly a beautifully poignant, and ultimately uplifting book. The characters Kawakami creates are so memorable, Marai's performance is remarkable. You won't forget it.

I couldn't finish this

This type of slice-of-life story, in my opinion, is best enjoyed as a TV show or anime rather than read. I found myself daydreaming while trying to listen to it. That being said, it was well written. I just can't get through a slice-of-life story where not much happens unless it's visually impressive (hence my preference for watching these stories rather than listening or reading them).

Unusual

The story was very touching and bittersweet. It held my interest throughout the story. I cared for the main character very much. I love any book by this author that I have read. Each book is unique and compelling.

Wow only a Japanese author could write this

I am a student of Japan and love everything about Japan so I really enjoyed this book. But someone who has not spent extensive time in Japan and doesn’t understand Japanese culture would not be able to appreciate this book the way I do. It’s very noir and not much happens but that’s the whole point. Beautifully written. Love this book.