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All the Lovers in the Night
All the Lovers in the Night | Mieko Kawakami
Bestselling author of Breasts and Eggs Mieko Kawakami invites readers 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 copy editor 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 readers 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.
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review
Night_Reader
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Pickpick

4/5 🌟

This novel begins at a languid pace, mirroring the isolated life of its protagonist, a woman who seems to be merely existing rather than living. As the story unfolds, one empathises deeply with her, feeling the weight of her solitude and unspoken struggles. It is a beautifully written and compassionate book.

11 likes2 stack adds
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ChaoticMissAdventures
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Pickpick

This is a sad, and slow read. Irie is a lonely woman who doesn't like the people she works with, she takes a risk to go freelance and we follow her through her journey. There is a lot to ponder in this, she turns to drinking, and she examines her life and her past. She meets a couple of people and contemplates life. It is a very quiet character driven novel that contains a lot of Japanese daily culture and life.

35 likes1 stack add
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ChaoticMissAdventures
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#weekendreads

This weekend I am going to finish the tagged and make progress in
Babel and Malcolm X,
Both of the above are amazing reads but a bit chunky just hoping to make some progress in them.
After these reads I am focusing only on books that might have a chance to be on the Women's Prize for Fiction Long List hoping to predict and get a couple of titles checked off before the list is released!

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ChaoticMissAdventures
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#booknotes @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

There is a certain cadence to Japanese books and while reading this I am thinking about Japanese Breakfast's Be Sweet both because of the cadence and because the main character is sweet and a bit naive
https://youtu.be/2ZfcZEIo6Bw?feature=shared

24 likes2 comments
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susaanestraada

“Why does the night have to be so beautiful?…Because at night, only half the world remains.”

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KristiAhlers
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Pickpick

Wow! This is the first time I've read this author but it won't be my last! This book made me laugh and cry. So brutally honest when it came to the characters depression and alcohol abuse. Not always an easy read...but it will stay with you long after the last page is read.

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swatreads
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Who else likes to read at night? When it‘s calm and peaceful 🌃

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Clem_Krucz
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I‘ve been making mistakes lately. I‘m reading some nice books, but none of that surprised me, then I decided to read one on my e-reader and it turned out to be wonderful. A hole has opened in my chest! I‘ll have to buy it to write all my favorite thoughts and passages. Even though I haven‘t finished it yet, I already know it‘s gonna be a five-star read.

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VRM1975
Pickpick

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batsy
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Pickpick

This is the second book of Kawakami's I've read after Heaven, & like the previous one it's existential & profound despite it's calm, stoical surface. In describing in wrenching detail the loneliness of a woman in her thirties, Kawakami resists all kinds of easy moralising. She avoids performing a standard psychological deep-dive. We know the protagonist is living through forms of trauma because of her circumscribed life, but not much more.

batsy It's a painful novel because it's much like life, but written with tenderness & care. This book got under my skin so much that I felt nausea when reading about Fuyoku's drinking, & couldn't sleep well if I read it before bed. And yet it's not a book of total despair or nihilism, as Kawakami gently sketches out a possibility of how even a terminally-alone person can forge connections & find reasons to get out of bed. The ending has a spark of hope. 2y
batsy One to be filed under #SpinsterLit ! 2y
erzascarletbookgasm Great review 💙 2y
See All 11 Comments
BarbaraBB Great review again. She‘s such a good writer! 2y
akshat01 How much time you take to read a complete book;) 2y
batsy @erzascarletbookgasm @BarbaraBB Thank you! 💜 She is such an interesting writer and I hope there's lots more to come from her. 2y
Suet624 Gee, to read or not to read. That is the question. 2y
batsy @Suet624 A tough one to recommend; a pared down writing style and a very lonely subject. 2y
Centique I‘ve got Breasts and Eggs coming up soon on audio - but I absolutely loved 2y
Centique Awesome review 🙌 It‘s a good tip not to read it before bed! These are the kind of tips I need 😬 I was going to get House of Leaves from the library but the GR reviews made it sound like it seeped into peoples dreams so I chickened out. I think I can handle despair and dysfunction better…. we shall see. 2y
batsy Good to know that about Ms Ice Sandwich; I need to read that & Breasts and Eggs, as well! Ooh thanks for mentioning that about House of Leaves. That's something I've had on my TBR for a long time and it's good to know what I'll be getting into 😆 2y
83 likes2 stack adds11 comments
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AbstractMonica
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Just got back from Chicago, and I‘m ready to settle down with a book and a nightcap. Feeling extra tired tonight 🥱

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AbstractMonica
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Happily making my way through my current read, but also excited to read these new books I picked up today. 🤗

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Cinfhen
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Pickpick

‘My heart was burdened by unbearable darkness”
Fuyuko Irie is 34, unattached and living a very solitary life. She‘s content with her lonely existence until a vivacious coworker wakes her up to new possibilities. There‘s layers of sadness here but this wasn‘t a depressing read. I enjoyed my time in Japan with Fuyuko. #BorrowNotBuy #Scribd

#FoodAndLit #DoubleSpin

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2y
CarolynM I‘ve just got this one. Glad to see you liked it🙂 2y
Cinfhen It‘s odd but in a good way @CarolynM I think you‘ll like it - I just ordered a book you recommend a few months ago - it was part of an Amazon deal 2y
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Cinfhen I just looked @CarolynM you actually recommended this book last summer - time is moving so fast!! 2y
CarolynM I liked that book a lot, mostly for the theatre stuff, but I didn‘t dislike the MC as much as some people seem to, I thought he was trying in difficult circumstances. I hope you like it. I know what you mean about the passage of time - I still think 2019 was last year🥴 2y
Cinfhen I‘m thinking it must be a bit of meta fiction for Hawke @CarolynM - I‘m more interested in that angle 😉 2y
CarolynM Yes, I certainly wondered just how much of it was autobiography. 2y
75 likes2 stack adds7 comments
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Cinfhen
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I‘m really liking this strange little book #DoubleSpin #FoodAndLit #Japan
I feel like I‘m getting a good sense of Japanese culture

AllDebooks Japanese novels are fantastic, so broad in range. The tagged is a very haunting book, so good. 2y
Cinfhen I‘ve been meaning to read that book @AllDebooks Thanks for putting it back on my #ReadersRadar 😁 2y
Megabooks This isn‘t my favorite of hers but I really enjoyed it! 2y
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AllDebooks @Cinfhen lol, my pleasure x 2y
Cinfhen I‘m nearly done @Megabooks and while I agree it‘s not as good as Breast & Eggs I‘m really enjoying it 2y
TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 2y
61 likes6 comments
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BarbaraBB
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Pickpick

Fuyuko hardly speaks or connects with other people. She starts drinking after years of abstinence, yet living her life in a disciplined way, each day repeating the one before. I didn‘t understand her at all, kept asking myself why she did (or mostly didn‘t do) the things she did. Yet she made a fascinating character and I loved the Japanese context and Kawakami‘s writing style.

(Pic: Chioggia, Italy)

Cinfhen Gorgeous photo ♥️ 2y
jlhammar I haven‘t tried Kawakami yet. Sounds good. Love that photo! 2y
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Laughterhp You always take the coolest photos! 2y
squirrelbrain What @Laughterhp said! 😁 2y
Librarybelle Your photo setting looks delightful and peaceful! 2y
LeahBergen This photo! ❤️❤️ 2y
Megabooks Love this photo and I‘m so glad you enjoyed the book! 2y
Megabooks As if there were ever any doubt! 😉😘 2y
DivineDiana Wish I could transport myself into that photo! ❤️ 2y
BarbaraBB @Megabooks No doubt at all! Now I‘m all set for Chandelier! 2y
BarbaraBB @jlhammar Thanks! I think you would enjoy her books too. My favorite so far is 2y
BarbaraBB @DivineDiana Italy is so photogenic! This place is nicknamed “Little Venice” (edited) 2y
jlhammar @BarbaraBB Good to know! I think I‘ll give Heaven a try first. 2y
KarenUK Beautiful 😍 💕 2y
89 likes16 comments
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BarbaraBB
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#WeeklyForecast 30/22

Back from vacation, I need to continue our #NYRBbookclub choice. I am also eager to read the Kawakami so I can read her Chandelier afterwards. I also want to read The Little Snake, a sweet gift from @squirrelbrain
But before all of this I have to finish my current book: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow.

squirrelbrain Have a great week Barbara! 2y
TrishB Great plans👍🏻 2y
Cinfhen Welcome home!!! Hope you had an amazing time 💖💖💖 2y
Megabooks So glad you‘re home safely! Enjoy the Kawakami! 2y
50 likes4 comments
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PNWBookseller85
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Pickpick

A really fascinating book about a woman living and working alone in Tokyo, about isolation, meaningful connections, and misunderstandings. I found the MC frustrating at times as I think I was meant to - her journey to self-discovery was slow and painful at times. Ultimately, it‘s a lovely book though. Melancholy and lonely.

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Megabooks
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Pickpick

A fantastic freebie from Independent Bookstore Day. Kawakami writes with soul about loneliness and modern life.

Our MC goes to a posh department store everyday. She wanders the halls buying things devoid of meaning for her, not caring how much she spends. As we follow her around the store, her emptiness begins to have meaning to the the reader. I sympathized and even pitied her in the end.

I‘ll get this on to you next week @BarbaraBB 😘

BarbaraBB I‘m so happy to be able to read this! Thank you for sharing it Meg ❤️😘 2y
Cinfhen Cool 😎 great photo 2y
batsy Nice review! This sounds interesting. I really must read more of her. 2y
sarahbarnes Wow, that is so cool! I love her. 🤩 2y
70 likes4 comments
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erzascarletbookgasm
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Pickpick

A character-study novel about isolation, anxiety, human connection, and modern womanhood. Poetic prose, some lovely passages with dreamlike atmosphere, and with a general sense of melancholy. At times I was frustrated with the protagonist for her passiveness; but as I meandered along with her, I was drawn into her aloneness world, felt sad for her. I didn‘t like this as much as B&E and Heaven, but this is an important, contemplative read.

LeahBergen Lovely review! 2y
TrishB Great review ❤️ 2y
Cathythoughts I love your review Jessie👍🏻♥️ 2y
58 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Teresereading
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Why does the night have to be so beautiful?
#firstlinefridays
@ShyBookOwl

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lauraisntwilder
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Mehso-so

I liked this, but I didn't love it like I hoped I would (and kind of expected to, based on her other books). The main character frustrated me. I didn't dislike her, but it's hard for to relate to someone so incapable of talking about things.

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Megabooks
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Pickpick

I love character studies, and I love the arc Kawakami wrote for Fuyoko. The translated dialogue was spot on, too. It‘s a book where the stars align.

Fuyoko is a quiet freelance proofreader, who retreats into her shell at the smallest disturbance. Enter her boss, who is one of the brashest, most outspoken Japanese characters I‘ve read. She really throws Fuyoko for a loop. Fuyoko befriends a mysterious man and decides maybe she wants more from him.

Cinfhen Ohhh, nice ….so the book redeemed itself!! I still don‘t think I‘m racing to read it 3y
Megabooks @Cinfhen it did! I ended up loving it. Her books require me to reflect a lot, so I‘m glad I made the space. B&E is still my favorite though. 3y
charl08 Sounds intriguing. 3y
See All 8 Comments
Megabooks @charl08 it was. 3y
vivastory You completely sold me on this, although I want to read Heaven first! Is Kawakami prolific or are they just catching up translating her backlist? 3y
BarbaraBB I‘m sold too! Fab review 🤍 3y
Megabooks @vivastory I think she has a long backlist in Japanese, but I don‘t know that for sure. I think you and @BarbaraBB will both enjoy this! 3y
Megabooks All these are the pre-bloom calla lilies @Cinfhen . It‘s like this all the way along the east side of our house. Everywhere there is not another plant, we have calls lilies! (edited) 3y
97 likes6 stack adds8 comments
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lauraisntwilder
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Current reads. I'm feeling a little scattered at the moment, so I'm not very far into any of these. But I like everything I've read so far!

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Megabooks
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Her writing/the translation is killing me. I mean that top quote just gutted me. Her characters are so sharp! Kawakami is definitely a favorite now.

BarbaraBB So sharp! She‘s terrific! 3y
Megabooks @BarbaraBB I can‘t wait for you to read it! 3y
lauraisntwilder I just started this. I love her books! 3y
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BarbaraBB I am glad you decided to continue it! 3y
Megabooks @phyhill they‘re fantastic! 3y
Megabooks @BarbaraBB me too. I just had to put it aside for a bit. 3y
58 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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sarahbarnes
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Pickpick

I love the way Kawakami writes the raw, often painful experiences of her characters in such a quiet way. She is so matter of fact in her descriptions that it makes it a more emotional experience for me to read her work than I think it would be if her style were more dramatic. I loved this story and Fuyoko in her loneliness and struggle to connect with other people.

IuliaC Great review! 3y
BarbaraBB Yours is the first review I read and I am happy you enjoyed it so much. Can‘t wait to read it myself too. Such a wonderful author! 3y
batsy So glad to see that you loved it! 3y
sarahbarnes @luliaC @BarbaraBB @batsy I hope you like it as well! Another beautiful book by this author. ❤️ 3y
27 likes3 stack adds4 comments
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Well-ReadNeck
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Got some great #BookMail from Europa today!! Both of these are May releases.

sarahbarnes I didn‘t know Kawakami had another book coming out! I just got Heaven from the library and really liked Breasts and Eggs. 3y
BarbaraBB Like @sarahbarnes I had no idea she has written another book already. By the way, Heaven is really really good! 3y
Well-ReadNeck @sarahbarnes @BarbaraBB I 💕 Breast and Eggs and have Heaven on my reader!! Now I‘m even more excited about the latest! 3y
See All 8 Comments
sarahbarnes I‘m excited to read both of these! Glad to hear you liked Heaven @BarbaraBB! 3y
BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes Even more than B&E but it‘s a very hard subject (bullying) 3y
BarbaraBB Missing your reviews, I hope all is well 🤍 2y
vivastory I hope you are doing well & reading some good books 📚 2y
megnews Thought of you the other day and missing you here. Hoping all is well with you. 2y
58 likes8 comments