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Heaven: A Novel Audiobook
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Publisher Description
From the bestselling author of Breasts and Eggs and international literary sensation Mieko Kawakami comes a sharp and illuminating novel about the impact of violence and the power of solidarity in our contemporary societies.
Hailed as a bold foray into new literary territory, Kawakami’s novel is told in the voice of a fourteen-year-old student subjected to relentless torment for having a lazy eye. Instead of resisting, the boy chooses to suffer in complete resignation. The only person who understands what he is going through is a female classmate who suffers similar treatment at the hands of her tormenters.
These raw and realistic portrayals of bullying are counterbalanced by textured exposition of the philosophical and religious debates concerning violence to which the weak are subjected.
Kawakami’s simple yet profound new work stands as a dazzling testament to her literary talent. There can be little doubt that it has cemented her reputation as one of the most important young authors working to expand the boundaries of contemporary Japanese literature.
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“Confirms Kawakami’s superb literary ability to expose and disturb…Despite the suffocatingly looming violence, the duo’s intense, forced-to-be-mature inner lives will keep readers mesmerized to the final page.”
— Shelf Awareness
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“An expertly told, deeply unsettling tale of adolescent violence.”
— Vogue (UK) -
“[In] Heaven, everyday dilemmas provide a forum for examining fundamental questions of power and morality.”
— New Yorker -
“Kawakami writes with jagged, visceral beauty about those early antagonists we carry around in our heads, scars we bear into adulthood.”
— O, The Oprah Magazine -
“Kawakami is a writer who doesn’t shy away from hard truths and painful experiences, so Heaven will not be an easy read, but it’s guaranteed to be a rewarding one.”
— Japan Times -
“Raw and vivid…[Kawakami’s] sensitive, evocative storytelling sets her apart as an incredible literary talent.”
— Booklist (starred review) -
“A searing account of bullying and adolescent angst…with keen psychological insight, brilliant sensitivity, and compassionate understanding.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review) -
“In a startlingly graceful way…Kawakami manages to pull us further in, illuminating the perils within the social structures we’ve been taught to trust.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review) -
“Kawakami’s dialogue delves into the definition of power and nature of child friendships. The result is another spine-tinglingly real novel that will weigh heavy on your heart long after its finish.”
— Osusume Books
Awards
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An Indie Next List of the Month
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A New York Times Pick of Best New Books for May
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An Oprah Magazine Pick of the Month
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Shortlisted for the 2022 International Booker Prize
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A New York Times Book Review pick of Best Books Now in Paperback
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About Mieko Kawakami
Mieko Kawakami is the author of the internationally bestselling novel, Breasts and Eggs, named a best book of the year by the New York Times, Time, The Atlantic, and others. She made her literary debut as a poet in 2006 and published her first novella, My Ego, My Teeth, and the World, in 2007. Her writing is known for its poetic qualities and its insights into the female body, ethical questions, and the dilemmas of modern society. She has received numerous prestigious literary awards in Japan, including the Akutagawa Prize, the Tanizaki Prize, and the Murasaki Shikibu Prize. She was born in Osaka, Japan.
About Scott Keiji Takeda
Bahni Turpin, winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards and several prestigious Audie Awards for her narrations, was named a “Golden Voice” by AudioFile magazine in 2019. Publishers Weekly magazine named her Narrator of the Year for 2016. She is an ensemble member of the Cornerstone Theater Company in Los Angeles. She has guest starred in many television series, including NYPD Blue, Law & Order, Six Feet Under, Cold Case, What about Brian, and The Comeback. Film credits include Brokedown Palace, Crossroads, and Daughters of the Dust. She is also a member of the recording cast of The Help, which won numerous awards.