Reviews tagging 'Injury/Injury detail'

Heaven by Mieko Kawakami

146 reviews

darlingcarmen's review against another edition

challenging 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

5.0

Kojima…

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Sexual harassment

itsybitsyfrog's review against another edition

dark 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? It's complicated

3.25

my only complaint would be that momose’s monologue felt out of place. if he doesn’t care why did he need to monologue for so long ??

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Blood, and Suicidal thoughts

ddnreads's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.0

It took me 2 days to finish this book and 4 days later to write a review. What I can come up with is ✨nggilani✨.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Vomit, Violence, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Suicide, and Body shaming

lauren_may's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Suicide, and Self harm

alexandrabelze's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.0

i really wish i liked this one more than i did :( i do plan on reading the rest of kawakami’s works, but this one didn’t stand out that much. the middle of the book was hard for me to get through bc of the broken nose, but that’s just bc i’m too squeamish lmfao

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Violence

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Classism, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse

Minor: Death and Eating disorder

lilureads's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

it was hard for me to to settle for a specific rating. Ultimately I decided to give this 5 stars. 

This book speaks to me in a way no other has so far. It’s really hard for me to review it. I will just say that it made me want to wander and think while gazing at falling leaves and by-passers. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Body shaming and Eating disorder

a_hill23'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

firuz's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Blood, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Bullying, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Eating disorder

jijina's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Sexism, Blood, Self harm, Bullying, Sexual violence, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Suicidal thoughts

_kouppi_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.25

Middle school was definitely a tough and challenging time for myself, and so it is for the 14-year-old narrator who goes through relentless bullying, including physical abuse, because of his lazy eye. The continuous torment has worn him down to the point where he feels defeated, believing that nothing can change his situation.  However, things take a turn when he encounters a classmate, Kojima, who is also a victim of bullying as well. She starts sending him handwritten notes, and he's drawn to her unique writing style and her voice, which reminds him of a 6B pencil – soft and rigid, almost unbreakable. Even though they seldom meet in person, their friendship deepens through their written correspondence. During a summer break visit to an art museum, Kojima introduces him to her favorite painting, which she calls "Heaven." The painting depicts a man and a woman who have found harmony after enduring immense suffering.

Although "Heaven" wasn't my first Kawakami book, its definitely a different one.  Set in Japan in the early 1990s,  it looks like its going to be a coming-of-age story about two outsiders who find comfort in each other's company. However, they aren't seeking a typical romantic love. Trapped in their suffocating present, they are on a quest for answers to a fundamental question: why do we suffer? The narrator's and Kojima's in-depth conversations to explore this question. Kojima has a well-defined personal philosophy, which she shares through monologues. She believes that everything, even suffering, has meaning and can be transformative. She says that, in the end, we'll reach a place or understanding that wouldn't have been possible without enduring all the pain and hardship. But what do the bullies believe in? In a pivotal and heart-wrenching conversation, the narrator confronts one of his tormentors with this question. The bully, Momose, dismisses the idea, scoffing at the narrator's moral conviction and arguing that he shouldn't be responsible for considering others' feelings. 

It's definitely a book focused on human condition. Messy and raw emotions of being a teenager. There's a definite vulnerability and passion in building friendships. The powerful contrast of the two main characters are a not so simple understanding of weakness. It's definitely thought-provoking and at times, gut-wrenching. The brutal encounters of the narrator, making us share in his fear and pain. The horrifying reality of childhood bullying is exposed to the maximum in this book. The meaning and understanding of pain is just incredible. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness