A review by songmingi
Heaven by Mieko Kawakami

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense

3.75

My first Mieko Kawakami book and I don't think it'll be my last. The book talks very earnestly about bullying and the impact it has. The way some people who choose to bully others think and how those who are victims of bullying continue to persevere. It highlights the importance of human connection and how one good friend can be enough to protect against an army of enemies. 

Heaven was a quick read but still an impactful one. Despite him never being named I was able to connect with the main character and I grew interested in Kojima too. It was interesting to read how they both navigated bullying while going through it in the very same classroom how they reacted and processed it differently. It was wonderful seeing how much hope Kojima had and her hope that there is some meaning in her struggles. 

I think perhaps the book could have benefited from being a tad bit longer it felt like everything abruptly came to an end, as if the author couldn'r bear to write it anymore leaving me a little bit unsatisfied. I wish Kojima and main character could have had more time together towards the end to balance things out between them. 

 Regardless of this I still think Heaven is worth the read.


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