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snowwhitehatesapples's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Review can also be found at Snow White Hates Apples.
A painful and understanding exploration of teenage violence and its effects on the victims, Heaven follows a teenager who’s severely bullied for his lazy eye and his friendship with another victim of bullying, Kojima who chose to be “dirty” to remain connected to her father. Both of them quietly suffer through their bullies’ attentions, but Kojima has a different view of their silent suffering. She believes that instead of fear, it’s a show of true strength and that they’re instruments to teach their bullies a lesson. All of this—the bullying, the passive acceptance, the turned eyes are part and resultant of greater issues nurtured and sustained by society.
So, with its simple and direct prose, there’s no hiding the disturbing reality of how far a bully will go with their victim and how bullies don’t really need a reason to hurt another. We also see the ups and downs of a friendship born from mutual terror and pain, and the conflicting ideologies of the narrator, Kojima and Momose, one of the narrator’s bullies.
However, though I appreciate the covered angles, there wasn’t enough depth. Sure, I felt for the characters. I wanted them happy and unhurt, and the bullies punished, but I also wanted more because truthfully, everything, especially the social commentary, felt surface-level. I had hoped for there to be consequences or a more well-connected ending as it feels like there are scenes missing. In fact, the pacing of some events was a little off throughout the story, but the off-ness of those wasn’t as jarring as the sudden jump from the end of Chapter Eight to the events in Chapter Nine. For me, it was this jump that cemented how Heaven reads more like it was only showing us a specific period of the narrator’s life and no more.
Nevertheless, I do like the author’s ability to include conflicting perspectives on matters without actually siding with either. It might not be as satisfying of a read due to this, but I enjoyed the freedom to read the story from a more-grey-leaning standpoint.
A painful and understanding exploration of teenage violence and its effects on the victims, Heaven follows a teenager who’s severely bullied for his lazy eye and his friendship with another victim of bullying, Kojima who chose to be “dirty” to remain connected to her father. Both of them quietly suffer through their bullies’ attentions, but Kojima has a different view of their silent suffering. She believes that instead of fear, it’s a show of true strength and that they’re instruments to teach their bullies a lesson. All of this—the bullying, the passive acceptance, the turned eyes are part and resultant of greater issues nurtured and sustained by society.
So, with its simple and direct prose, there’s no hiding the disturbing reality of how far a bully will go with their victim and how bullies don’t really need a reason to hurt another. We also see the ups and downs of a friendship born from mutual terror and pain, and the conflicting ideologies of the narrator, Kojima and Momose, one of the narrator’s bullies.
However, though I appreciate the covered angles, there wasn’t enough depth. Sure, I felt for the characters. I wanted them happy and unhurt, and the bullies punished, but I also wanted more because truthfully, everything, especially the social commentary, felt surface-level. I had hoped for there to be consequences or a more well-connected ending as it feels like there are scenes missing. In fact, the pacing of some events was a little off throughout the story, but the off-ness of those wasn’t as jarring as the sudden jump from the end of Chapter Eight to the events in Chapter Nine. For me, it was this jump that cemented how Heaven reads more like it was only showing us a specific period of the narrator’s life and no more.
Nevertheless, I do like the author’s ability to include conflicting perspectives on matters without actually siding with either. It might not be as satisfying of a read due to this, but I enjoyed the freedom to read the story from a more-grey-leaning standpoint.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Classism and Blood
Minor: Eating disorder
_inge's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
3.0
I knew this would be a tough read. I usually avoid books which feature bullying as it is, and I was warned of particularly vivid descriptions of bullying in this novel. I didn’t think it would be this vivid and this disturbing, however. I skimmed some passages because they were too much to handle. There’s a lot of trigger warnings for anything relating to bullying in this.
I didn’t feel a connection to any of the main characters, as them being bullied was the center of this novel. Aside from Kojima’s interest in art and both of them enjoying reading fiction, we don’t actually see them do anything beyond being bullied or discussing what bullying has done to them. I don’t even think the protagonist is named, as everyone simply calls him ‘Eyes’ when he’s bullied. Bullying therefore takes over their entire personalities.
This does mean there’s space for some really interesting conversations about what it means to be bullied or to bully. Some ideas on this really helped me shape my own feelings about having been bullied in the past. I love that we got a conversation between one of the bullies and the protagonist as well. I’m not sure if I agree with the ‘happy’ ending; I wonder if the protagonist genuinely felt disturbed by his eye too and wanted it fixed because of that, or if his sole reasoning for wanting it fixed was being bullied for it.
I wish we’d learn more about Kojima too. Since the protagonist doesn’t see her again I hope she didn’t harm herself in any way. The ‘happy’ ending for him therefore didn’t feel as happy as a whole, as Kojima might be struggling.
All in all this was a difficult read. It’s definitely not for everyone, and I’m unsure what to think of this myself. It’ll be interesting to see if I think back on this in the future.
I didn’t feel a connection to any of the main characters, as them being bullied was the center of this novel. Aside from Kojima’s interest in art and both of them enjoying reading fiction, we don’t actually see them do anything beyond being bullied or discussing what bullying has done to them. I don’t even think the protagonist is named, as everyone simply calls him ‘Eyes’ when he’s bullied. Bullying therefore takes over their entire personalities.
This does mean there’s space for some really interesting conversations about what it means to be bullied or to bully. Some ideas on this really helped me shape my own feelings about having been bullied in the past.
I wish we’d learn more about Kojima too. Since the protagonist doesn’t see her again I hope she didn’t harm herself in any way. The ‘happy’ ending for him therefore didn’t feel as happy as a whole, as Kojima might be struggling.
All in all this was a difficult read. It’s definitely not for everyone, and I’m unsure what to think of this myself. It’ll be interesting to see if I think back on this in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Torture, Bullying, Self harm, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content, Medical content, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Eating disorder, and Dysphoria
flucillie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
the writing is absolutely beautiful and i’m excited to read more of kawakami’s work.
can’t give it a 5 star even if i enjoyed the writing style since it’s so heavy and i’m most likely never reading it again. also the ending was preachy imo
highly NOT recommend if u are in a bad headspace. read the trigger warnings beforehand kasi u might think kaya mo ihandle based sa first chapter pero bestie when i tell u it gets worse, it really does.
can’t give it a 5 star even if i enjoyed the writing style since it’s so heavy and i’m most likely never reading it again. also the ending was preachy imo
highly NOT recommend if u are in a bad headspace. read the trigger warnings beforehand kasi u might think kaya mo ihandle based sa first chapter pero bestie when i tell u it gets worse, it really does.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Sexual harassment, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Eating disorder
myiscoh's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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
4.0
this book stabs you in your emotions and chapter 8 is it twisting the knife
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Classism, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Sexual content
ye_li's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Blood, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content, Child abuse, and Eating disorder
Minor: Excrement
little_carrot's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Violence, Bullying, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Eating disorder
wrightreads's review against another edition
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Ableism, Sexual assault, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, and Self harm
lavyourself's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Bullying, Ableism, Physical abuse, Blood, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Rape, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Body shaming
peatbogmaid's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book was the first Kawakami I've read and it was spectacular, the way she's able to grip you in and twist your guts is beautiful.
Especially with the parts of the book where the bullying takes place, she describes everything with such clarity but the same clarity and detail is given to moments of peace and stillness too.
Especially with the parts of the book where the bullying takes place, she describes everything with such clarity but the same clarity and detail is given to moments of peace and stillness too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Bullying
Moderate: Violence and Vomit
valeriaperez261's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Omg once I was into this I HAD to finish it. It’s accesible litfic, and I love that about this book.
I finished it about an hour ago and I was hoping for the lump in my throat to go away but it’s just there. I didn’t really cry that much but I felt utterly sad throughout the book. I know that technically the story isn’t about Kojima but I still felt like she didn’t get the closure she deserved.
The was that Kawakami described the surroundings was amazing. The way the long paragraphs of inner dialogue or monologues were so well crafted that didn’t feel long or redundant at all says a lot about how the story reads.
I can’t wait to read Breasts and Eggs.
Also: the shared imagery of Heaven and Francis Forever was the final touch I needed
I finished it about an hour ago and I was hoping for the lump in my throat to go away but it’s just there. I didn’t really cry that much but I felt utterly sad throughout the book. I know that technically the story isn’t about Kojima but I still felt like she didn’t get the closure she deserved.
The was that Kawakami described the surroundings was amazing. The way the long paragraphs of inner dialogue or monologues were so well crafted that didn’t feel long or redundant at all says a lot about how the story reads.
I can’t wait to read Breasts and Eggs.
Also: the shared imagery of Heaven and Francis Forever was the final touch I needed
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Bullying
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Eating disorder