Heaven Audiobook By Mieko Kawakami cover art

Heaven

A Novel

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Heaven

By: Mieko Kawakami
Narrated by: Scott Keiji Takeda
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From the best-selling author of Breasts and Eggs and international literary sensation Mieko Kawakami comes a sharp and illuminating novel about the impact of violence and the power of solidarity in our contemporary societies.

Hailed as a bold foray into new literary territory, Kawakami’s novel is told in the voice of a 14-year-old student subjected to relentless torment for having a lazy eye. Instead of resisting, the boy chooses to suffer in complete resignation. The only person who understands what he is going through is a female classmate who suffers similar treatment at the hands of her tormenters.

These raw and realistic portrayals of bullying are counterbalanced by textured exposition of the philosophical and religious debates concerning violence to which the weak are subjected.

Kawakami’s simple yet profound new work stands as a dazzling testament to her literary talent. There can be little doubt that it has cemented her reputation as one of the most important young authors working to expand the boundaries of contemporary Japanese literature.

©2009 Mieko Kawakami. Translation © 2021 by Mieko Kawakami (P)2021 Blackstone Publishing Coming of Age Friendship Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Psychological Emotionally Gripping Feel-Good

Critic reviews

Indie Next List

New York Times Pick

Oprah Magazine Pick
Compelling Story • Profound Narrative • Wonderful Construction • Developmental Journey • Relatable Writing

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A young boy and his girlfriend philosophise about being bullied. Also with his same-age tormentor.

Fascinating true narrative about preteen bullying.

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Even though how clueless humans can be, the wisdom and power within didn’t give into any of weakness, and that kept helping to seek the light to Heaven.

Beautifully written!

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This is the kind of book that makes you look back at the kind of person you were when you grew up. It does not matter whether you were participating or a witness, the thing is you were part of it.

A gentle story about darkness and light

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A wonderful book that I found to be developmental and maturative for a young man coming of age such as myself. I found this book relatable and generally well written. I further highly recommend this book.

A great book

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The extreme cruelty was too much for me, and was made worse by the reader’s flat delivery. I had to stop listening part of the way through. The writing is fine, but the overall experience was not.

Could not get through this

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