Heaven was a shock: difficult, turbulent, and very painful. Kawakami's writing is like a punch in the gut, and left me feeling emotions I've never felt for any character before. Told from the perspective of a young, and at times naïve, 14 year old boy, Kawakami brings to life a whole new meaning of trauma, violence, and ultimately, helplessness. Heaven was very difficult to read, not because it was dark and uncomfortable, but because if felt so real.  The imagery, the detail, the relationship with Kojima, all of it felt like it was just at my fingertips.