Reviews

Heaven by Mieko Kawakami

kathiwoe's review against another edition

4.0

This was certainly an interesting read. I need to sit with it for a bit ☺️

yung_anny's review against another edition

fast-paced

3.0

oakamoore's review against another edition

3.25

Perhaps on account of its translation, this novel's prose is concise and measured, though it's also somehow effortlessly descriptive - it feels like there's extra space in between each word. 

The topics it deals with are so expertly handled, and their depiction doesn't ever feel crass, or overdone. The exploration of the philosophical underpinnings of the actions and behaviours of certain characters was interesting, though the characterisation as a whole was slightly muted. 

caelynx's review against another edition

dark emotional sad

2.0

ziemelumeita's review against another edition

3.0

A very typical Japanese book. I don't mind ambigous endings but this one did not give everything that happened in the story justice. At least it was not too suffocating with its moral teachings, letting the reader come to their own conclusions. Whether or not the violence depicted in this book was gratitious is really subjective - I thought it served the story. The shock factor makes you wonder why a kid would ever tolerate such abuse, and the answer this book gives is not the usual one.

merveguerler's review against another edition

3.0

I don’t know how to put my thoughts together for this book. This book was not a comfortable nor an easy read because bullying never is.
One thing that really resonated with me was the portrayal of how bully victims think and cope with their experiences. It was insightful to witness their struggle and the connection they formed as a result. The desperate longing to be understood and have someone that can relate. In a way they found a way to comfort each other. Yet, I couldn't help but feel that something was missing from the story. Additionally, I felt a sense of sadness that neither the protagonist nor us as readers ever got to see and know Heaven, which left me with a lingering sense of curiosity.

crispymanlet's review

emotional inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.0

cigarstrawberry's review against another edition

4.0

I can count how many Japanese literatures that I've read due to the deepness or sometimes the story just doesn't make it to my senses and I believe it because the literatures has their own uniqueness.

But this one, I also agree, has some deepness that left me hanging. About how we live, about how we caring each other as human but crafted in teenagers' story. In the last chapter, I keep thinking about it even until now. Though I still trying to stomach it so I couldn't jotted down everything on my thoughts. But in the least, I enjoy how each protagonists has their own right and wrong and how it doesn't matter to them.

haslerts's review against another edition

reflective sad fast-paced

Loved this book and it was a super fast read. Low key a spoiler, but the way the character is visually impaired but he is the only one who SEES the moral truths of the world around him. And then when he has the eye surgery and sees the beauty in the world with its own value. LOVE THAT. To me, this book kind of goes against those people who say that nothing really matters and there is no objective morality but… maybe I’m wrong but that was my takeaway…. Also the last paragraph, damnnnnn. I’m also probably never going to reread this book because it was so upsetting

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Toxic relationship, and Violence

vulmikarable's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

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

3.5