Reviews tagging 'Eating disorder'

Heaven by Mieko Kawakami

201 reviews

plumdustsuns's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • 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

It took me very long to get back to this book after the scene in the gymnasium as it was just really hard for me to get through. 
Upon return a year later, I had almost forgotten what I had read before. I wish it was a constant experience instead. 
However, I was rather disappointed by Kojima’s ending. She didn’t get as much of a ‘retribution’ or ‘fixing’ as Eyes. And the ‘I never saw her after that’ felt very… flat, albeit shocking. I required more explanation.
 
It was really beautiful in parts and I appreciate Kawakami’s ability to weave complex character dynamics within seemingly “simple” settings. But I think the layers of complexity may have been complemented by more elaboration and plot than just all the brutality at times. 
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mariavdl's review against another edition

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

4.5

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psyashvv_'s review against another edition

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

4.5

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bubblyfemme's review against another edition

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dark sad slow-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

1.0

Honestly, I didn't get this book. It felt like genuine trauma porn and made me absolutely miserable. I couldn't see the point in the story apart from the idea that suffering is inevitable for some unlucky people. Perhaps I read the story wrong and missed the big point of it all, and that could very well be the case, but I would warn against this book if you are not in a good frame of mind or are triggered by any of the content warnings as they are taken to perversely creative extremes in many cases.
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vera_nikolajevna's review against another edition

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dark emotional 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

3.5

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lambclown's review against another edition

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dark emotional 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

3.5

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suzan_ey's review against another edition

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emotional reflective 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? Yes

5.0

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meganeorcx's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense fast-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? Yes

4.0

Heaven is written beautifully and on multiple pages, I wish I could grab a paragraph straight from the book and glue it onto my wall. The story felt messy at times but as it was fairly short, it didn't bother me too much. I was too drawn in by the absoluty painful bullying narrative and the range of conversations between the narrator and Kojima. A lot of moments in the book felt like a stab to the chest as they reminded me of my younger self and the growing dark tone of the book had me holding my breath, always expecting the worst. I have a love-hate relationship with the ending and I'm not sure how long it might take me to really make up my mind about it. But the overall book made me silent, tearing up a little, feeling stuck in my head, and it is pretty powerful how such a short novel can get me that way. Will definitely try another Kawakami book in the near future. 
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jennyg1234's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

2.5

Just not what I thought it would be. I was looking for a story and got a literature book. 
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amymcphrsn's review against another edition

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challenging dark 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? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I found it a really difficult read. Though I wasn’t personally affected by bullying at school the passages detailing the bullying and physical violence were really upsetting for me, I’d been reading it on and off for months for this reason. I’m glad I’ve read it, but it will be a long time if ever before I pick it up again.
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