Scan barcode
wanderflash_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.5
when we were younger, everything that happens feels magnified, as if that's all there is to the world. whatever situation we're currently stuck on would be the end. you just need that one event, a turning point, to open up your world and see that it is too big, too unpredictable, and too subjected to change for the light to shine through.
tymeart's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
muchadoaboutashley's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-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
4.0
libbyy's review against another edition
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.75
This review does contain spoilers; proceed with care.
I've been putting off reviewing this book for quite a while now. This was probably one of the most bizarre books I have read. Initially, I was interested in what this book had to offer as many reviews praised it's profound nature. Then I read it and was disappointed.
There were many things that confused me in the story such as the whole conservation with the protagonist and one of his bullies who was really a bystander more than anything. Another thing I couldn't wrap my head around is why we were not shown the painting and why it did not play a significant role in the story at all after they inevitably didn't see it. The whole book is named after this painting so why do we never get even a description or how if affected Kojima? Also, Kojima really started to get on my nerves. I can't fathom why she thinks being dirty will help her keep her connection with her father. Why not understand his character and show your connecting through contining his legacy or his values instead of voluntarily making yourself stinky because your dad is financially struggling? Like it's not like she doesn't have access to the facilities to maintain her hygiene, she simply just doesn't want 'for her dad' which doesn't make sense. I'm sure your father would rather you think about others around you and how your personal hygiene such as your stench affects them instead of being on some self-righteousness high because your so much better than everyone else because you stink. She deserved the bullying. Okay, obviously no one should be victims of bullying but Kojima's reason for her being a target of the bullying is genuinely crazy.
Additionally, the amount of times the main character masturbated made me super uncomfortable as well as the bullies telling the two main characters to have sex and Kojima taking off all her clothes at the end for no reason but because she could and it let her 'break free' of the bullies (no, you are just committing the crime of public indecency). I am not far off in age of the two main characters and there is no further exploration of the concept of young children understanding and engaging in sexual acts and/or how this can affect them. It makes me feel like author put it in the story for shock value or so it can be written off as being 'dark' or 'edgy'. Maybe I'm not 'intellectual' enough to comment on this book but I feel like it really did not accomplish much apart from an anti-bullying sentiment which I'm sure most held before entering this story. I did enjoy the set-up of the two communicating through notes but I did not understand why they couldn't talk to each other during school, they never gave a reason and I wish it did because I believe it would have given the story some stakes on what would happen if they got caught or something along those lines.
Overall, I wanted to like this book and for it to be this profound work of literature people proclaimed, but unfortunately, it did not happen. At least this novel made me feel overwhelming anger instead of nothing at all, and it's that what art is meant to do, make you feel.
I've been putting off reviewing this book for quite a while now. This was probably one of the most bizarre books I have read. Initially, I was interested in what this book had to offer as many reviews praised it's profound nature. Then I read it and was disappointed.
There were many things that confused me in the story such as the whole conservation with the protagonist and one of his bullies who was really a bystander more than anything. Another thing I couldn't wrap my head around is why we were not shown the painting and why it did not play a significant role in the story at all after they inevitably didn't see it. The whole book is named after this painting so why do we never get even a description or how if affected Kojima? Also, Kojima really started to get on my nerves. I can't fathom why she thinks being dirty will help her keep her connection with her father. Why not understand his character and show your connecting through contining his legacy or his values instead of voluntarily making yourself stinky because your dad is financially struggling? Like it's not like she doesn't have access to the facilities to maintain her hygiene, she simply just doesn't want 'for her dad' which doesn't make sense. I'm sure your father would rather you think about others around you and how your personal hygiene such as your stench affects them instead of being on some self-righteousness high because your so much better than everyone else because you stink. She deserved the bullying. Okay, obviously no one should be victims of bullying but Kojima's reason for her being a target of the bullying is genuinely crazy.
Additionally, the amount of times the main character masturbated made me super uncomfortable as well as the bullies telling the two main characters to have sex and Kojima taking off all her clothes at the end for no reason but because she could and it let her 'break free' of the bullies (no, you are just committing the crime of public indecency). I am not far off in age of the two main characters and there is no further exploration of the concept of young children understanding and engaging in sexual acts and/or how this can affect them. It makes me feel like author put it in the story for shock value or so it can be written off as being 'dark' or 'edgy'. Maybe I'm not 'intellectual' enough to comment on this book but I feel like it really did not accomplish much apart from an anti-bullying sentiment which I'm sure most held before entering this story. I did enjoy the set-up of the two communicating through notes but I did not understand why they couldn't talk to each other during school, they never gave a reason and I wish it did because I believe it would have given the story some stakes on what would happen if they got caught or something along those lines.
Overall, I wanted to like this book and for it to be this profound work of literature people proclaimed, but unfortunately, it did not happen. At least this novel made me feel overwhelming anger instead of nothing at all, and it's that what art is meant to do, make you feel.
aandahh's review against another edition
medium-paced
4.0
Buku yang bertemakan tentang bullying, kekerasan, penderitaan, penerimaan, identitas, jati diri, kebenaran dan makna kehidupan. Dikemas rapi dengan cerita yg mungkin, sering kita jumpai atau bahkan pernah mengalami hal serupa saat masa-masa sekolah dulu.
Makna dari setiap tema ini lebih dari sekadar menggambarkan kesedihan, tetapi juga memicu diskusi mendalam tentang bagaimana individu merespons kekerasan dan pencarian makna hidup di tengah rasa sakit yang begitu mendalam.
Secara keseluruhan, Heaven adalah refleksi yang menggugah tentang bagaimana manusia menghadapi rasa sakit, bagaimana hubungan bisa memberikan arti dalam penderitaan, dan bagaimana kita mencoba mencari kebenaran atau makna di dunia yang sering kali tidak menawarkan keduanya. Novel ini lebih berfokus pada pengalaman batin daripada narasi aksi, mengajak pembaca untuk merenungkan rasa sakit yang tak terucapkan dan dinamika kuasa yang menyertainya.
Makna dari setiap tema ini lebih dari sekadar menggambarkan kesedihan, tetapi juga memicu diskusi mendalam tentang bagaimana individu merespons kekerasan dan pencarian makna hidup di tengah rasa sakit yang begitu mendalam.
Secara keseluruhan, Heaven adalah refleksi yang menggugah tentang bagaimana manusia menghadapi rasa sakit, bagaimana hubungan bisa memberikan arti dalam penderitaan, dan bagaimana kita mencoba mencari kebenaran atau makna di dunia yang sering kali tidak menawarkan keduanya. Novel ini lebih berfokus pada pengalaman batin daripada narasi aksi, mengajak pembaca untuk merenungkan rasa sakit yang tak terucapkan dan dinamika kuasa yang menyertainya.
dianacoco's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
suicidylan_epub's review against another edition
4.0
A mí yo de 14 años le hubiese encantado este libro. Belleza.
sunbirder's review against another edition
2.0
At first I thought the disturbing and graphic scenes about bullying are just building up to something, but nope. It kept going on until the end. It was just uncomfortable throughout and if the author was trying to send a message, it totally got lost along the way. This book feels like tragedy porn masked by a bad execution of trying to explain trauma bonding.
I did like how the author paints the sceneries (the pleasant ones) but the disturbing ones felt a bit too indulgent.
I did like how the author paints the sceneries (the pleasant ones) but the disturbing ones felt a bit too indulgent.
floorvm's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Er zit zoveel in dit boek om te analyseren. Ik hou altijd van een onbetrouwbare verteller. Op een begeven moment wist ik niet meer of Kojima en Momose echt waren of wat uberhoubt echt was en wat die droomde. Ik vond dit boek gaan over Kojima en Momose en hun levensfilosofie. Waar dat toe leidde in hun gedrag: Kojima die controle kreeg in situaties van pijn en onrecht, Momose die zn onacceptabele gedrag valideerde. Levensfilosofieën hebben we om te overleven in de situatie waar we inzitten maar ook de situatie die we voor onszelf creeëren. Beide vergaten echter verantwoordelijkheid: Kojima voor zichzelf en Momose voor mensen waar die niet om gaf. Belangrijk puntje. Ik ben benieuwd naar analyses van andere mensen van dit boek. Naast dit stuk levensfilosofie was het natuurlijk gewoon pure heartbreak. Ik zag haar hierna nooit meer ze was de enige vriend die ik ooit had gehad?? God help deze jongen wat cruel. Thank God voor de Mom. Dit boek is er zo een die je nog even moet laten inzinken. Dat ga ik nog maar even doen.