PERHAPS A GIFT VOUCHER FOR MUM?: MOTHER'S DAY
Mieko Kawakami is the author of the internationally bestselling novel Breasts and Eggs, a New York Times Notable Book of the Year and one of TIME's Best 10 Books of 2020, and the highly acclaimed Heaven, her second novel to be translated and published in English, which Oprah Daily described as written 'with jagged, visceral beauty'. Born in Osaka, Japan, Kawakami made her literary debut as a poet in 2006, and in 2007 published her first novella, My Ego, My Teeth, and the World. Known for their poetic qualities, their insights into the female body, and their preoccupation with ethics and modern society, her books have been translated into over twenty languages. Kawakami's literary awards include the Akutagawa Prize, the Tanizaki Prize, and the Murasaki Shikibu Prize. She lives in Tokyo, Japan.
If a book can keep me enraptured for the whole journey I count that as pretty unputdownable . . . a brief, compelling study of alientation and friendship; I binge-read it in one sitting. -- Rebecca F Kuang, bestselling author of <i>Babel</i> Kawakami’s novel is uncompromisingly candid in its appraisal of the harm women inflict on one another, while never losing sight of the overarching structures that lead them to do so in the first place. Compact and supple, it’s a strikingly intelligent feat. * The New York Times Book Review * Her most accomplished novel yet . . . A contemporary Japanese master continues her meteoric rise into our literary firmament -- <span>Hamilton Cain</span> * Oprah Daily (A Most Anticipated Book of 2022) * [An] engrossing, fine-boned new novel, deftly translated from Japanese by Sam Bett and David Boyd . . . with this consummate novel, Kawakami’s star continues to rise, pulsing against a night that’s anything but holy -- Hamilton Cain * The Washington Post * Kawakami — the author of titles such as Breasts and Eggs and Heaven — has crafted another atmospheric, subtly beautiful novel. * TIME Magazine (A Most Anticipated Book of May 2022) * Kawakami has an effortless way of turning the mundanity of Fuyoko's day-to-day into detailed occasions that I want to know more about . . . Though the everyday is more interesting than you'd think, this is a book that's really about Fuyoko discovering happiness * Stylist * In contrast to the many suffocating (western) conventions of romantic storytelling, it is refreshing to encounter a book of such irresistible sweet melancholy. * The Irish Times * Kawakami has created a rich and notable examination of the varied ways women choose to live their lives and the gains and losses that come with the choices they've made. Kawakami writes with the tender and incisive sensibilities of a poet . . . An unforgettable and masterful work. * Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review) * Candid and searing, Kawakami's latest is another brilliantly rendered portal into young women’s lives. * Booklist (Starred Review) * The author dazzles with her exploration of emotions . . . An invigorating and empowering portrait. It’s a winner. * Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) * Out of all the narratives that I’ve read that explore loneliness, anxiety and depression, All the Lovers in the Night is possibly the most accurate . . . The book made me feel less isolated in the struggle and after reading it, I made strides to find balance and joy. * Metro * Kawakami’s novel is a sensitive analysis of loneliness and self-discovery. * Observer *
