[.ca] An Echo of Heaven (ISBN 477002505X)

From Amazon.com:
In An Echo of Heaven, Nobel Prize winner Kenzaburo Oe tells the riveting story of Marie Kuraki, a seductive, perverse intellectual whose two young sons, one retarded and one crippled, commit suicide. Thus begins Marie's intellectual, spiritual, and sexual journey to find meaning in this horrific tragedy. Oe, who draws a provocative but sympathetic portrait of Marie, supplements his narrative with old letters and journal entries from those whose lives she influenced. Oe's prose (as translated by Margaret Mitsutani) is cold and precise, perhaps to maintain emotional distance since Oe himself has a mentally handicapped son. The description of Marie's quest also affords him the opportunity to engage in profound reflections on faith, sin, death, sexuality, heaven, and hell. --Madeline Crowley

Echo of Heaven:
Kenzaburo Oe is one of the best writers I have ever read. In Echo of Heaven, we see some of Oe himself in his dealings with Marie Kuraki. Marie's experiences are unimaginable, and yet she somehow continues on in life. Oe's true brilliance comes out in his most recent work. I found that the more I read about Marie and her life, the more anxious I would become and want to continue reading. I was totally mystified with Kenzaburo's words, and most importantly,in his description of his dreams of Marie. Oe humored me in the way he views Marie with her Betty Boop lips. His descriptions are unforgettable. Though Marie eventually lives out her life as a saint we feel her pain throughout her life. What is important is the impact that Oe produces when describing Marie's experience. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys modern literature.

A story about a woman's loss and how (& why) she lives on.:
The author writes about a woman named Marie Kuraki. Marie suffers the worst kind of losses imaginable. Yet, she never gives up on life. She is devoted and relentless in the pursuit of her beliefs -- a modern day saint. Despite her reputation for selflessness, she refuses to succomb to her image as a saint and steadfastly presents herself as a woman -- a human being at all times. Oe presents her story in a detailed, loving, and non-glorifying manner. It's a great read, but brace yourself, Marie's losses are devastating.