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A review by byourday
Heaven by Mieko Kawakami
3.0
Bullying Alert! This book took the classic storyline to a whole new level of emotional rollercoaster. So, this is my first dive into Mieko Kawakami's world, and now I totally get why people call it crazy!
Meet our main guy, Eyes—a young teen who gets bullied for his lazy eye (yep, his classmates literally call him Eyes). At first, I was furious because he couldn't stand up for himself or teach those bullies a lesson. But then, things get interesting when he starts exchanging letters with Komoji, another classmate who’s also bullied but by different people.
Their letter exchange is the heart of the story, and eventually, they meet outside of school. Komoji invites Eyes to ‘Heaven,’ a secret spot only they know. Mieko crafts such intense moments between them, making each character unique and unforgettable. Even though both are bullying victims, they handle it differently, giving us a fresh perspective on how people react to terrible situations.
As they grow closer, the bullying escalates, reaching a heartbreaking and distressing peak. It’s raw, real, and grounded. Through all the chaos, I finally understood why they couldn’t fight back. Not everyone has the courage to stand up and defend themselves; some choose silence, not because they don’t know what to do, but because they feel powerless.
This story hit hard, showing that sometimes, people just can't fight back, and that's a reality we need to understand.
Meet our main guy, Eyes—a young teen who gets bullied for his lazy eye (yep, his classmates literally call him Eyes). At first, I was furious because he couldn't stand up for himself or teach those bullies a lesson. But then, things get interesting when he starts exchanging letters with Komoji, another classmate who’s also bullied but by different people.
Their letter exchange is the heart of the story, and eventually, they meet outside of school. Komoji invites Eyes to ‘Heaven,’ a secret spot only they know. Mieko crafts such intense moments between them, making each character unique and unforgettable. Even though both are bullying victims, they handle it differently, giving us a fresh perspective on how people react to terrible situations.
As they grow closer, the bullying escalates, reaching a heartbreaking and distressing peak. It’s raw, real, and grounded. Through all the chaos, I finally understood why they couldn’t fight back. Not everyone has the courage to stand up and defend themselves; some choose silence, not because they don’t know what to do, but because they feel powerless.
This story hit hard, showing that sometimes, people just can't fight back, and that's a reality we need to understand.