"There’s a tendency that we all have, to be parochial in our reading, to want to read books about people like us, living in a place like the place where we live. We can recognize in the book, versions that we recognize as variations of our own lives, and it’s natural that we want to read those kinds of books. But if we only do that, then we deprive ourselves of enormous riches.” - Salman Rushdie, author of Midnight’s Children
Welcome or Welcome Back!
I’m so excited to have you all here for our global book club kickoff! Not only are we reading books by women authors from all over the world, but our members cover all corners of the globe as well. For as much as I complain about technology being the bane of society, I do love and appreciate how it is able to bring all of us together in this cozy corner of the internet. Technology, and specifically social media, is often blamed for keeping people disconnected. But I feel that, for our intents and purposes, it is a great way to establish connection and form community with people who we otherwise wouldn’t be able to due to geography.
*If you haven’t already read my very first newsletter from February 14th where I explain what this book club is all about and what you get as a subscriber, you can read it here.
And now the moment you’ve all been waiting for…🥁
The first book to officially kick off our book club is… All the Lovers in the Night by Mieko Kawakami!
I decided to go with this novel as our FIRST! book club pick for a few different reasons. Not only do I live in Japan and have long enjoyed the literature that has come out of this country, but this novel was named Best Book of 2022 by multiple publications. I read Kawakami’s first novel to be translated into English, Breasts and Eggs- a critique of Japan’s patriarchal system, which won the most prestigious Japanese literary award in 2007- and was interested in reading more by this author.
From the synopsis alone, I felt a kinship to the 30-something main character, who lives alone in a city where she is having difficulties forming relationships and only has regular contact with one person. There is a moment when she catches her reflection in a window and is shocked to see a drab and spiritless woman looking back at her. She decides she needs to make some changes in her life. I can relate to all of the above! I too have felt quite lonely and isolated here in Japan and, like our main character, am also in my 30s and have had that shocking experience of seeing my reflection and not recognizing the tired, lifeless woman staring back at me and deciding I needed to do something about it. This book club is me doing something about it.
I think this novel is an incredible introduction to contemporary Japanese literature, and with the growing interest in translated books this year, a perfect one to kick off this book club!
How it works
We’ll officially begin reading on March 1st, but here’s how the book club will work:
📅 Each week, I'll send a newsletter with discussion prompts, cultural insights, polls, additional resources, fun bookish extras like playlists/mood boards/recipes/recommendations/etc.
📖 You can read at your own pace—no pressure to finish at a set speed ⏰ I will announce the following month’s book club pick the last week of every month, so we start fresh with a new book at the beginning of each month
💬 At the end of each month, we’ll wrap up with a community discussion and podcast
How to prepare
✔️ Mark your calendar for March 1st when we’ll dive in ✔️ Grab a copy of the book
✔️ Invite a friend to join—I’d love for this community to grow and have more voices in the discussion. The more the merrier!
Where to get your books
Library
One of my favorite childhood memories is going to the library and bringing home a boatload of books. So, I will always encourage people to first and foremost visit and take advantage of their local library. Check with your local library and see if they are connected to the Libby app where you can download eBooks and audiobooks for free (Miss Libby is saving my life over here in Japan!). Another way you can support me is by using my affiliate links.
Bookshop.org
Shameless plug coming. I have put a lot of love (and hyper-focused hours devoid of eating and bathroom breaks) into curating the material for this book club and creating a little shop on bookshop.org. If you don’t know about this online book marketplace, you should really check it out. They’re doing great work to support independent bookstores and (just in time for our book club kickoff!) have launched eBooks this month. 100% of eBook sales profits will go directly to the indie sellers.
Amazon
I understand and appreciate that some of you may have reservations about Amazon, but some smaller publishers in countries with lower literary output use this platform to promote their authors globally, helping them reach a broader audience. While this and the Amazon Literary Partnership empower writers and help promote diverse voices, I also acknowledge the controversy, so no pressure, just another option. *As of July 3rd 2025, I am no longer an Amazon affiliate due to their thievery and unethical business practices.
*Get March’s book club pick All the Lovers in the Night by Mieko Kawakami on Bookshop.org If you purchase a book through either of these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
What if I don’t want to read the book?
You do NOT have to read every book! You know how many people don’t actually read the book club book but just come for the wine and cheese? Lots. I should know. I have been one of those people. There may be some books on the list that trigger you, or bore you, or make you want to throw it out the window in anger. I’m not a sadist… (when it comes to reading, anyway 😏). I want you to enjoy your time here. I want you to try new things and push yourselves out of your genre comfort zones, but I also don’t want you to forgo the wine and cheese.
So, if there is a book that just doesn’t jibe with you for whatever reason, skip it. Come along for the ride and engage with the discussions here anyway. No judgement. I’m a firm believer that life’s too short to read books you don’t like. And don’t worry if you end up hating a book. You won’t hurt my feelings. Some of the best discussions have taken place over mutually-despised literature.
My one and only rule: Keep it classy, not sassy
Controversial topics may arise. It’s not my intention to incite conflict, but I also don’t want us to shy away from difficult conversations. I’m sure even I, at some point, will inadvertently say something that might offend or upset someone. I do not profess to be an expert on literature, the publishing industry, or any of the topics covered in the books we’ll read. I am here to learn and grow as much as you are.
We all come armed with opinions, biases, and even prejudices. Let’s lay down our weapons. It is ok to disagree. It is ok to have an unpopular opinion. It is ok to be unsure about where you stand on a particular issue. All I ask is that everyone be respectful and mindful of their words when interacting with each other here. If I, or someone else, makes a mistake or uses the wrong terminology, correct with kindness. I want everyone to feel like they have a voice in this community, and I want this to be a safe space for those voices to be heard.
Call to action 📣
Feel free to answer one or all of these questions:
1. After reading the synopsis, what excites you most about this book?
2. What’s a translated book you’ve read and loved? Or, if you’re new to reading translations, what about this experience are you looking forward to?
3. Have you read any books by Japanese authors or that have taken place in Japan? Tell us about them.
4. What do you hope to gain from reading this novel?
Can’t wait to have you all here in Japan with me —if only through the pages of this book! 🇯🇵
*P.S. If you’re interested in my Substack origin story, you can check that out in my other publication Musings & Meanderings!
Happy Reading!
Morgan
Yay, I am so excited to read this novel! I will get the French translation, I think, because as we've discussed, I just like French translations of Japanese better.
My favorite Japanese novel is Kazuki Sakuraba's Red Girls: The Legend of the Akakuchibas. An amazing three-generation tale of women living in a coastal town in Japan.
I'll chime in with my own answers to these questions:
1. From the synopsis, I feel like I could really relate to the main character and am interested to see what she will do to turn her life around.
2. I read lots of translated books. I have great respect for novel translators, who must have not only a firm grasp of the language, but a deep understanding of the culture. There is a fine balance between being faithful to and preserving the original tone of a work, and ensuring that the message comes across in a palatable way in the language to which it's being translated.
3. I have read many books by Japanese authors. Some of my favorites are Kanae Minato, Yoko Ogawa, and Natsuo Kirino.
4. Loneliness and isolation are emotions that everyone in the world feels to some degree at some point in life, but I have never experienced these feelings to the level I have until moving to Japan. I hope to gain more insight into the social pressures that led the main character to become so alienated in the first place.