Heaven - Mieko Kawakami

This book would definitely go under my all time favourites. Ladies and Gentlemen, Heaven, by Mieko Kawakami! The book was written by the same author who made the bestseller, 'Breasts and Eggs’ (now becoming one of the books on my have-to-read list). My sister recommended ‘Heaven' when we were going to Vijaywada for a couple days. I have to mention, I’m quite a slow reader. It takes me a while to process books whether it be fiction or nonfiction, and that would probably be the root cause to my detatchment of the art. However, I managed to finish this book in less than half a day, because it was so mesmerising. Some parts of it I found were so wholesome and endearing; I have to admit, I cried three times reading the book (and I promise I’m not usually an emotional reader). Since the beginning of the book, I was enraptured in the pages and I genuinly loved how Kawakami wrote with such clarity and simplicity. He definitely had a way with his words. 

Heaven was a fictional novel about a protagonist who gets bullied. He has a lazy eye making it difficult for him to focus on anything. He believes is the reason he gets picked on, and got the nickname ‘Eyes’. On a random day, he was sitting in class when he found a letter under his desk. He would constantly get these letters which would ask him random questions like ‘How was your day?’. He got skeptical that he was getting pranked, then he realised it was from a shy girl called Kojima. Kojima also got bullied often due to her tattered clothes and shabby, unpolished appearance. The protagonist and Kojima continue to share notes, where both of them bond and talk about various topics, like one another’s writing skills. At some point, the protagonist compares Kojima’s writing to a 6B pencil which is “soft and rigid at the same time. Almost unbreakable.”. The story builds on the friendship of these two characters which was sculpted on their similarities. They both support each other and provide solace. One day, Kojima organises a trip with the protagonist, and takes him to an art museum. There, they both stare at multiple paintings when she points to her favourite one -- “Heaven". She explains how the painting reminded her of a couple who finally reached happiness after enduring immense pain and tourture. 

The book focuses on the pain of the characters’ and their constant thoughts, leaving many parts for interpretation. Kawakami makes it evident to the reader how both of them fulfil one another and the amount of vulnerability they express when alone, making that the pinnacle of their friendship. Kojima is generally a very quiet student who barely interacts in class. Yet when she comes in contact with the protagonist, she becomes a bubbly, energetic and effervescent individual. The protagonist being the shy overthinker, who forgets all his problems when with her. Kojima believes that everything must have a meaning, and that suffering must have an end. She believes both of their misfortune is bound to come to a halt. The protagonist thinks more of the present, and how to deal with his bullies and to escape his miserable life. One of the highlighting factors of the book was when Kojima mentions how she copes when she feels like the world is falling apart. If there are moments when she believes things are too good to be true, or too dreadful, she takes her scissors and cuts objects. Not in a destructive way, but to help her regain composure and remind herself, everything is normal. It explains how Kojima must have endured a lot and the reason she had to cope with her thoughts this way, could be because she never had proper emotional support or someone to spill her thoughts to. Since Kojima faces problems with her mother and step-father, the only leaning figure she had for comfort was her father, who was almost never available. 

Heaven was truly a magnificent book and definitely a must-read in a lifetime. The simplicity of the book also makes it easy for almost anyone to read. The book gave me a rollercoaster of emotions, with quite an unexpected ending (I wont spoil). I’m normally steer into the direction of nonfiction but I'd have to excuse myself on this one. 1000/10!