How to Be Book Club - "Heaven" by Mieko Kawakami

Existential crises are like a persistent rash. There's no cure, but if you're suffering from the Big Questions, maybe the How To Be Book Club can be a cooling ointment. Come hang out in Book Club Bar's back garden one Saturday each month, and join us in discussing works of philosophical fiction, from across different eras and parts of the globe. We'll read the book beforehand (and do us a solid, if you can—get your book from our store), and then gather for casual conversation over drinks. Our usual fanfare will be available--coffee, beer, wine, and cocktails, plus some special brunch offerings! No preparation needed; just bring your book, your sweet self, and your curious mind!

This September, we'll be exploring nihilism by reading Mieko Kawakami's slim, 2009 novel Heaven, with an optional companion text of On the Genealogy of Morals by Nietzsche. On the surface, Heaven is the story of two middle school outcasts being mercilessly bullied, but underneath, it's a philosophical dialectic highly influenced by Nietzsche's concept of morality. Kawakami asks: Is suffering the meaning of life? Is power the law of the universe? What is the value of integrity? These concepts intermingle in profound and surprising ways from within the middle school hellscape.

This month's pick:
Optional companion text:

What your ticket includes:

• $8 off any drink at the bar

Grab a brunch cocktail at the bar and tell us what you thought of the book! Our informal discussion will be led by BCB bookseller Keri Kelly.

Registration is capped, so please register early if you are planning on attending. Please note: gratuity for the bartenders is not included. Please use your tickets at the beginning of the event.

Host or Publisher Book Club Bar