Reviews

Heaven by Mieko Kawakami

murakamikarakteri's review against another edition

4.0

4.5☆
It was such a sadly beautiful and powerful story. The book mostly revolves around the protagonist's road to self improvement, self acceptance, and provides a strong moral lesson on bullying. The ending is like written in a rush a bit, tho.

cottagecorecatdad's review against another edition

4.0

Some of the descriptions really took me back to how I experienced and interacted with the world as a child. I felt I was observing the world through my childhood eyes, taking in the new experiences and sensations for the first time.

The bonded trauma between our two protagonists was unsettling, and ultimately, the only way our story could have ended was by Kojima’s assertions becoming reality. Trauma, physical, mental, or surgical, seems to be the only way to advance and progress.

The ending made me sad as I wanted it to be real, but it comes across at times as a dream-like state. In my head, I’m manifesting that the hopeful feeling I got at the end is warranted, and our protagonist finally found meaning in the world. Let’s hope.

fiction_char's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

tmosley5's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-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? It's complicated

3.5

tieganc's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

rnf's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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

mozha's review against another edition

emotional sad

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying

cheniel's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

3.0

A story about being bullied, how friends can make the difference and how you should stand up for yourself to make a change. The story highlights the stripping of the identities of people who are seen as ‘lesser people’ by not even mentioning the name of the main character but by the ‘flaw’ he has. I do not like Kojima she is a weirdo. 

katielong84's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Sexual harassment

lolomat's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-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? Yes

3.75