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A review by linearev
Heaven by Mieko Kawakami
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.