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ivansensacional's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This was a difficult one. While in general I enjoyed the book, I feel it tries to be more seriously than it should.
First of all, a lot of stuff dont really add to the plot. Halfway trough it, we learn that the protagonist was a used when she was a teenager. Its important but doesnt helps at all, Maybe Just shedding a little light about why she doesnt want sex. Or the part when he high School friend shows up of nothing and tells her she and her husband stoppdd having sex. Why include that?
Also, I didnt enjoy the long conversations between caracteres. They barely added anything to the plot and were inssuferable to go trough. If I wanted to read conversations ID read a script.
This could have been a three stars but that end was awful!Between drunk Hiriji metting the protagonist only to be mean to her, or Mitsuzuka not showing again and revealing he has been lying, it really ruined the sweet aura of the book. I wish I had stopped in the second to Last chapter.
The book goes between cozy and trauma without it really developing either of those. Its an easy read if you dont mind the long conversations but I personally wouldnt go back to it anytime.
Also, I didnt enjoy the long conversations between caracteres. They barely added anything to the plot and were inssuferable to go trough. If I wanted to read conversations ID read a script.
This could have been a three stars but that end was awful!
The book goes between cozy and trauma without it really developing either of those. Its an easy read if you dont mind the long conversations but I personally wouldnt go back to it anytime.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Sexual assault
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Toxic friendship
sea_tea_books's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
4 ⭐
[A book club/buddy read selection.]
Beautiful and interesting descriptions of light throughout the story.
The story is told from the perspective of the main character and depicts the messiness of life when individuals connect and their complex feelings and choices merge. More than once I became lost in the story and was even caught off guard by the abrupt ending. I'll be checking out more works from this author.
Trigger warnings: alcoholism, rape
[A book club/buddy read selection.]
Beautiful and interesting descriptions of light throughout the story.
The story is told from the perspective of the main character and depicts the messiness of life when individuals connect and their complex feelings and choices merge. More than once I became lost in the story and was even caught off guard by the abrupt ending. I'll be checking out more works from this author.
Trigger warnings: alcoholism, rape
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Mental illness, and Alcohol
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Emotional abuse and Abandonment
edgaranjapoe's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Alcohol
Moderate: Mental illness, Vomit, Toxic friendship, and Dysphoria
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, and Pregnancy
robinks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
My first Kawakami! The story reminded me a bit of Murakami: beautiful descriptions of scenes, interesting philosophical questions, and a protagonist who is very passive. It was refreshing to have a female protagonist though, and I liked the commentary on feminism presented through Fuyuko’s interactions with and about Hijiri. Fuyuko and Hijiri initially had a bit of a romantic connection, and I would’ve loved to see that fleshed out. I was a little disturbed by the final argument between Fuyuko and Hijiri and how they became friends from that, and the age gap between Fuyuko and Matsutsuka creeped me out. I was also pleased to see Fuyuko’s growth at the end, but it felt rushed, especially with the time skip that we didn’t get to see.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Vomit, and Alcohol
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, and Dysphoria
Minor: Body shaming, Cancer, Fatphobia, Sexual content, and Pregnancy
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC
The thing about an author's first translated novel being her best one is it sets the bar high for all her subsequent translated works, and they might not wholly live up to it.
Such is the case here with All the Lovers in the Night, whose story of a thirty-something woman with a solitary job in Tokyo bears similarities to Breasts and Eggs, but - published in its original Japanese nearly a decade before the latter - is less successful in terms of story and emotional beats, though I still like it.
I enjoy the novel's exploration of its themes - the transient and obfuscating nature of time, memories, and acts of remembering and recollection - and the gradual growth of the protagonist Irie. However, I can hardly remember the story - what takes place between the crucial scenes and plot points - for it seems static a lot of the time, with similar occurrings replaying in several loops.
There is nothing wrong with a novel that does not focus on plot, but what substitutes for that - be it inner monologue, rumination, characterization - should be effective, and in this case I do not find Irie's reflections to be effective enough. The book also needs more proofreading and copyediting, as there are still some missing words and grammatical errors.
Nevertheless, I do enjoy watching the character grow as she tentatively learns to bask in the night and, step by step, revel in all its lights.
The thing about an author's first translated novel being her best one is it sets the bar high for all her subsequent translated works, and they might not wholly live up to it.
Such is the case here with All the Lovers in the Night, whose story of a thirty-something woman with a solitary job in Tokyo bears similarities to Breasts and Eggs, but - published in its original Japanese nearly a decade before the latter - is less successful in terms of story and emotional beats, though I still like it.
I enjoy the novel's exploration of its themes - the transient and obfuscating nature of time, memories, and acts of remembering and recollection - and the gradual growth of the protagonist Irie. However, I can hardly remember the story - what takes place between the crucial scenes and plot points - for it seems static a lot of the time, with similar occurrings replaying in several loops.
There is nothing wrong with a novel that does not focus on plot, but what substitutes for that - be it inner monologue, rumination, characterization - should be effective, and in this case I do not find Irie's reflections to be effective enough. The book also needs more proofreading and copyediting, as there are still some missing words and grammatical errors.
Nevertheless, I do enjoy watching the character grow as she tentatively learns to bask in the night and, step by step, revel in all its lights.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual content, Vomit, and Car accident