I picked this up at the airport. I'd been drawn to Kawakami's newer book, but I wanted something slimmer that day. Looking around for more of her work, I found Heaven, a story of two bullied 14-year olds who find each other.
It's very different from what I usually read, and I'm not sure I'm ready to review it yet. I feel like I need more time for it to seep in so these are just my initial reflections after I finished the book.
There are conversations I still can't wrap my head around. I'll revisit those. I ended up reading the ending twice.
It somehow didn't feel like I was reading the thoughts of teenagers. Then I found myself questioning my own memories of being one, considering that it's been a while. The conversations and reflections have real depth. Some moments rise above the others in ways I can't quite comprehend.
In the end, it leaves you heartbroken yet hopeful. Quiet, subtle, moving. And I'm still left with this lingering question: what did all of it mean, and does it even need to mean anything?