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jelenab's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
sophielinehan39's review against another edition
challenging
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? It's complicated
4.75
such a devastatingly beautiful book. really really sad and unsettling.
senhorafilipa's review against another edition
5.0
An absolute masterpiece that I only understood halfway through. About a longing for your private essence to be larger than the physical space you occupy, and negotiating with the liminal feelings of loneliness while experiencing the harshness and sharpness of reality. An exploration of what parts of us actually belong to ourselves and what others make of it, for better or worse. Amazing amazing!!!! Loved it and i cried
linearev's review against another edition
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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book truly haunted me. And I have read my fair share off mind-boggling and faith challenging literature throughout the years.
However, this book left me with such a hopelessness for the character’s situation, that within the mere 170 pages, I resolved to sit by in passive helplessness, just like the main characters, taking in the bullying with the grueling feeling of being powerless to change anything.
Usually, when you read about injustice, you wish with all your heart that something just comes along to even out the scale. If they would just fight back, everything would be OK, or if somebody saw it, the problem would be solved. However, this book continuously pushes against the notion of justice, leaving both the main characters and reader, baffled by the actions of the antagonists, along with the notion of powerlessness.
Simply put, it leaves the reader, along with the main character, with the feeling of injustice, and, along with it, a passiveness about that very same injustice.
Now for Kojima. We never truly come to understand her, her motivations, or what our main character means to her. Throughout the story, she becomes further detached from the reality we see, partially taking us along with her perspective and partially leaving us behind. In the end, her characters last actions makes sense for who she has become, and how the relationship between the two main characters has developed.
In all honesty, the last two chapters of the book were by far my favorites. The book was rather captivating, but it wouldn’t have gotten higher than 3.25 out of five for me if they had not decided to end the book in such an effective and meaningful manner. It seems to matter so greatly because it leaves you with the slightest sliver of hope in the sea of hopelessness this book has represented so far.
So, I must admit it was amazing, yet too grueling and hopeless for me to give any higher than four stars. I will be reading more of her work, and I completely understand why people worship her.
Heaven was amazing.
However, this book left me with such a hopelessness for the character’s situation, that within the mere 170 pages, I resolved to sit by in passive helplessness, just like the main characters, taking in the bullying with the grueling feeling of being powerless to change anything.
Usually, when you read about injustice, you wish with all your heart that something just comes along to even out the scale. If they would just fight back, everything would be OK, or if somebody saw it, the problem would be solved. However, this book continuously pushes against the notion of justice, leaving both the main characters and reader, baffled by the actions of the antagonists, along with the notion of powerlessness.
Simply put, it leaves the reader, along with the main character, with the feeling of injustice, and, along with it, a passiveness about that very same injustice.
Now for Kojima. We never truly come to understand her, her motivations, or what our main character means to her. Throughout the story, she becomes further detached from the reality we see, partially taking us along with her perspective and partially leaving us behind. In the end, her characters last actions makes sense for who she has become, and how the relationship between the two main characters has developed.
In all honesty, the last two chapters of the book were by far my favorites. The book was rather captivating, but it wouldn’t have gotten higher than 3.25 out of five for me if they had not decided to end the book in such an effective and meaningful manner. It seems to matter so greatly because it leaves you with the slightest sliver of hope in the sea of hopelessness this book has represented so far.
So, I must admit it was amazing, yet too grueling and hopeless for me to give any higher than four stars. I will be reading more of her work, and I completely understand why people worship her.
Heaven was amazing.
gracerider's review against another edition
challenging
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
4.5
aliway's review against another edition
4.0
I suffered a whirlwind of emotions reading this book. Kojima and the nameless narrator referred to as 'eyes' by his bullies, are relentlessly tormented in ways I couldn't conjure even if I tried my hardest. Heaven is brutal and heartbreaking with raw emotions on full display. The pivotal, shattering moment in this book lingers in my mind constantly.
agnesbitz's review against another edition
2.0
Disgusting. I think the author could have definitely written this way better by not adding as much detail to the graphic/sexual scenes, especially because they are children. Im still not sure what the point of the book is and found myself audibly gagging at some scenes.
Also, he never even got to see the 'Heaven' painting?
I will say that I did like the theme with his eyes, even though it did get quite repetitive at the end. After getting his eye fixed, he sees the world in the way it has always been and finds it beautiful.
I also like the first 40% of the book, but feel as if it fell off and lost its purpose afterwards.
Other than that I struggle to compose a solid theme that matches the violence and mental dilemma that was presented as most of this book.
Also, he never even got to see the 'Heaven' painting?
I will say that I did like the theme with his eyes, even though it did get quite repetitive at the end. After getting his eye fixed, he sees the world in the way it has always been and finds it beautiful.
I also like the first 40% of the book, but feel as if it fell off and lost its purpose afterwards.
Other than that I struggle to compose a solid theme that matches the violence and mental dilemma that was presented as most of this book.
booksboozeandsausagedogs's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-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
3.75