Heaven â€� Reader Q&A

Questions About Heaven

by Mieko Kawakami

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Answered Questions (5)

Is this too adult for middle school (7th and 8th) students?

Zach Yes. I teach high school and it's more suited to upperclassmen.â€¦m´Ç°ù±ðYes. I teach high school and it's more suited to upperclassmen.(less)

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Kanishk I think it ends badly for Kojima. I think stripping really pushed her over the edge, as she started laughing and continued to even after Ninomiya and â€¦m´Ç°ù±ðI think it ends badly for Kojima. I think stripping really pushed her over the edge, as she started laughing and continued to even after Ninomiya and others had fled. During all this, the narrator is reminded of the philosophies that drove Kojima and Momose. He then imagines Momose saying that he agrees with her belief that their suffering has meaning, and that is why it is justified for him, Ninomiya and others to torment them - because it gives meaning to the narrator's and Kojima's lives. As he is imagining this, the voices the narrator is hearing in his head (those of Kojima and Momose) merge, hinting that the narrator finally realises that both the philosophies, although outwardly different, were similar in the sense that they could only lead him down a path of suffering. Remember that Kojima was not poor and could have also maintained a hygienic lifestyle if she wanted, but did not do so because of her adherence to her philosophy. Her "signs" were created by her only and unlike those of the narrator, were not natural.

Kojima had at one point early in the novel shared with the narrator that she believed that their suffering may ultimately lead their bullies to introspect on the moral consequences of their action, but judging from their philosophy, which Momose explained, it seems unlikely this could have happened. They were sociopaths. The reason Ninomiya and others stopped was that even they were shocked by Kojima stripping of her own volition, and ran only because a lady stumbled upon what was happening.

Even I'm not sure about what I mean with "pushed her over the edge". Maybe she went insane, or maybe she ended up gravely harming herself (she had early in the novel told the narrator that she would even be willing to harm herself if it could lead to a positive change in the bullies).

Students and teachers from the school later try to visit the narrator, so the school authorities did get a wind about what had happened at Dolphin Park, even though there was gossip about it (the narrator is told so by his mother). The narrator ultimately gets a surgery to correct his "sign", rejecting Kojima's masochistic philosophy.

The question whether Ninomiya and his cohorts get punished is left unanswered. I have read a little about how extreme bullying can get in Japan, so I know that authorities often don't give such cases the attention they deserve. There's also a part early in the novel in which a suicide by a bullying victim is depicted as being covered in the news. Upon seeing it, the narrator thinks about suicide, but thinks that Ninomiya and others would be let off easily due to being minors. But since the final episode of bullying verged on rape, maybe Ninomiya and others didn't get away without consequences.(less)

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eden Probably because the woman was actually decent to her and said sorry. It must've shaken her badly enough for her to actually think about how badly sheâ€¦m´Ç°ù±ðProbably because the woman was actually decent to her and said sorry. It must've shaken her badly enough for her to actually think about how badly she's been treated. It threw her for a loop. That's why they went outside.

As for not reaching 'Heaven,' I think it's pretty self-explanatory. (less)

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How emotionally draining is this book? I've heard good things about the author and am looking for something of hers to read, but the description makes it feel like it might be hard to get through emotionally, if it's just too sad and painful

Kyriaki Georgiou I would say that it is quite a draining book depending on your sensitivities. It has strong scenes of violence, humiliation, and bullying where the châ€¦m´Ç°ù±ðI would say that it is quite a draining book depending on your sensitivities. It has strong scenes of violence, humiliation, and bullying where the characters are unable to react, which makes it painful. Also, it addresses depression with emotional descriptions.Nevertheless it is worth reading and with the writing style is easy to read.(less)

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Is the narrator still a teenager?

Aisha The narrator is 14 years old, so yes.

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Unanswered Questions (3)

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is the painting in the book based on real artwork?

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