Finished Reading:
Heaven by Mieko Kawakami
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⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Pages: 167
Genre: Contemporary fiction, coming of age story
TWs: Extreme bullying, bullying, violence, thoughts of suicide, blood
Translated from Japanese
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"Why do you think they do it? Why do you think they treat us like they do?"
I couldn't look at her. My chest was thumping. I could feel my heart racing. I swallowed all my spit.
"Know what I think? They aren't even thinking. Not at all. They're just doing what they've seen other people do, following blindly. They don't know what it means, or why they're doing it. You and me, we're just an outlet for them."
Kojima sighed.
"But it isn't meaningless. When it's all over, we'll reach a place, somewhere or something we could never reach without having gone through everything we've gone through. Know what I mean?"
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I went into this book, almost completely blind. I only knew there was bullying in it, and nothing else. I intended it like that and I am glad I didn't look anything up beforehand.

In my opinion, this is not a book you enjoy. But it is a book that makes you think, A LOT! And how it is written makes it a very well written book!

As a victim of extreme bullying myself, this was a very hard read to get through for me, but at the same time, I wanted to know what would happen between the MC and Kojima. So I kept going. That being said, there were so many reactions, quotes, feelings I completely understood and felt throughout my body. 

As of today, I am still dealing with what happened to me in the past and reading a book like this used to trigger panic attacks and nightmares. I can't say for sure I won't have nightmares, but I could read and finish the book, without issues, which I am happy about.

I have to say though, I didn't like the ending of the book... It felt strange and somehow out of place and I had no idea what to make of it... And that is the reason why I gave it 4 stars. I liked most of the book, but the ending didn't make any sense to me...