Reviews tagging 'Ableism'

Heaven by Mieko Kawakami

87 reviews

mimi_jaja's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This gave me flashbacks to reading DNA in school

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Ableism, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Bullying

Moderate: Body shaming, Sexual harassment, Self harm, and Eating disorder

cepbreed's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I am so disgusted. I’ve never read such visceral descriptions of bullying, and to that degree, before. I don’t know if this is just my perspective as an American but that can’t be common right? If I knew any Japanese people I would ask. I can’t pretend I fully remember everything that took place because I started this so long ago and only finished reading because I got on a plane with no other books downloaded. But I really see the appeal of Kawakami. UGH I wish I could read and comprehend everything in its original form. I bet there’s so much culturel context and language subtleties I’m not able to pick up on. This was my first foray into Japanese literature and I’ll definitely take other recommendations more seriously from now on. 

The true goat was the mom. I was so surprised to see a figure of authority actually be helpful. That was a masterful tonal shift for sure. 

I fear whenever I don’t know how to feel I just rate the book a 3.5. It’s an ambiguous sort of like that I can’t put my finger on. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Ableism, Sexual harassment, Bullying, and Physical abuse

fairytomie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This book truly ripped my heart out. This is my introduction to Kawakami’s work and i’m in love with how poetic her writing is. 

Justice for these characters and the fact we don’t know what happened to Kojima is so heart-wrenching.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Violence, Bullying, Ableism, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Self harm

Minor: Death of parent, Vomit, and Death

hjung's review against another edition

challenging reflective sad tense slow-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Ableism

milkteeth's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Sexual harassment, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Self harm

the_procrastinatorinator's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I’m too dumb for this book

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Sexual content, Violence, and Vomit

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail

natasha_dd_'s review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Ableism, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Self harm

jamievincent's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

The strength of this novel lies in its  character’s interpersonal relationships or lack thereof. Humanity seeps through every page, even when the novel makes you question if that’s a good or bad thing.

This is an amazing quick read that manages the careful balance of asking questions about life, death, and morality while being told through the perspective of a child believably.  I would highly recommend checking the trigger warnings before picking it up as it does get incredibly heavy at some points. I will definitely be reading more by Mieko Kawakami.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, Death, Bullying, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Suicide, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Ableism, Cursing, and Medical content

Minor: Death of parent and Classism

chaos_animates's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful 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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Bullying

Moderate: Ableism

Minor: Eating disorder

lucymetcalfe's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Heaven is a whirlwind. Packed into a mere 167 pages, I was hit with all kinds of emotion from sadness, anger, contentment, and all the way up to happiness. This book read similar to how you may describe the experience of watching a dark, bullying focused Kdrama. I’d have preferred the book to be slightly longer,

perhaps including a scene for Ninomiya to gain more knowledge on his perspective. Similar, but of course different in context, to the bench scene outside of the hospital with Momose.

This was a good solid book. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, and Blood