Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Heaven by Mieko Kawakami

107 reviews

yuyuv's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Classism, Eating disorder, Ableism, Grief, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Medical content, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Blood, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Violence, and Sexual assault

mario_dimoser's review against another edition

challenging 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? It's complicated

5.0

This book touched me profoundly and in a way I did not expect. It is intense in the way, that you have to let it go for a second sometimes because the emotions are so strong, they take over. I think I will need to reflect for longer and maybe even reread to properly form an opinion. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Body shaming, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt

exorbts's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Bullying, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Self harm and Eating disorder

loneliness, alienation, introversion

sofiadanielle's review against another edition

challenging dark 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? Yes

3.5

A challenging read to get through despite the novel’s short length. The content was heavy, and if you don’t like depictions of violence/harm (in the sense of physical bullying), you won’t like this book. 

I don’t think I quite grasped the deeper meaning to what Kawakami wrote, though my heart ached for the two main characters; more so, I felt myself angered by the kids around them and how they were treated. 

Between Kojima and Momose’s worldviews, I found myself.. A little torn? I don’t really entirely believe either one of them, nor do I know how I feel about their sentiments on a deeper level.
 
I wish I could say I enjoyed the book more, but aside from feeling challenged/sad/angered by the content, I feel that the book missed its mark with me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Sexual assault, Bullying, Classism, and Violence

nico_lechat's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying and Violence

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Sexual assault

literarilythrilling's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

HEAVEN is one of the hardest books I have ever read. Mieko Kawakami does such an amazing job at making you feel what is happening, that the depictions of bullying happening to this young boy made me have to take breaks.

I was so excited to read my first Kawakami book and it won’t be my last. Her writing is enthralling, engaging, atmospheric. However, I had a hard time with this story, probably due to the depictions and breaks I had to take. I think because of this, I did not connect enough with the overall theme and discussion the book was meant to have. Maybe more philosophical geared books aren’t my forte.

So while this story overall was just okay for me, I cannot wait to try another book from her. 

TW: bullying, violence, eating disorders, suicidal thoughts, emotional/physical abuse, sexual assault

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Eating disorder

amberreadseverything's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual assault

janeelysium's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Do you believe there’s a meaning to life? What about to suffering?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Sexual assault, and Bullying

Moderate: Death and Medical trauma

Minor: Eating disorder

japanasi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

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

3.5

this was extremely hard and disturbing to read

a very raw way of storytelling

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Bullying, Medical content, Physical abuse, Ableism, Gaslighting, and Violence

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Body shaming, Death, Eating disorder, and Injury/Injury detail

lucy_1's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

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