Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'

Heaven by Mieko Kawakami

19 reviews

oranges4jane's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Eating disorder, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, and Rape

bibbletje's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Eating disorder, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Blood, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

alissa_lopez's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Absolutely beautiful, heart breaking, soul stirring book. It has been quite a long time since I have read a book like this. Mieko's writing is so beautiful and descriptive. One of very few books that I read bit, by bit, so that it would last longer.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Abandonment

This book is chiefly about bullying and may be triggering for those who have experienced bullying - particularly bullying that is rooted in ableism.

roosmarleen's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

milkteeth's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

teriodvarkova88's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Because we're always in pain, we know exactly what it means to hurt somebody else.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

woundedhouse's review

challenging dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Blood

filmnoirz's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

idk how to feel. extremely graphic and the story ultimately felt like it came to nothing in the end. the characters seem to act and sound much older than 14 years old and i really hate how the mmc doesn’t even get a name.

there’s also two mentions of the mmc masturbating that felt completely unnecessary.

Kawakami presents different philosophical perspectives that are meant to challenge the audiences thinking in regards to abuse and the human response, but this just fell incredibly flat for me.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, and Sexual harassment

annagerman's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Such a tender exploration of pain and suffering, free will and empathy. The writing was sparse but exact and unflinching. The description of violence were so painful to read, but the author never relyed on graphic details or gore for shock value.
The characters were realistic and well-developed, Momose's character managed to creep me throughly with just one scene.

There were some element of magical realism\train-of-though-visions in the panultimate chapter, which you encounted sometimes in japanese literature (specificaly reminded me of the ending of Neon Genesis Evangelion) and I don't necessarily love, I felt like it was too disjointed, but it was just a small bit.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Death of parent

sofiadanielle's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

A challenging read to get through despite the novel’s short length. The content was heavy, and if you don’t like depictions of violence/harm (in the sense of physical bullying), you won’t like this book. 

I don’t think I quite grasped the deeper meaning to what Kawakami wrote, though my heart ached for the two main characters; more so, I felt myself angered by the kids around them and how they were treated. 

Between Kojima and Momose’s worldviews, I found myself.. A little torn? I don’t really entirely believe either one of them, nor do I know how I feel about their sentiments on a deeper level.
 
I wish I could say I enjoyed the book more, but aside from feeling challenged/sad/angered by the content, I feel that the book missed its mark with me. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Classism