4198 An Echo of Heaven, by Kenzaburo Oe Translated by Margaret Mitsutani (read 17 Aug 2006) This Japanese author won the 1994 Nobel Prize for literature, and since one should read something by such winners I decided to read this, published in 1989 in Japanese and in English in 1996. It is a laid back book as far as events go--nothing makes one want to read. Marie Karaki is a Japanese woman whose two handicapped sons commit suicide, and she is so shattered by this that her life changes, she eventually ending up in Mexico and viewed as a saint by the Mexicans she worked among. The book was not enjoyable reading and I see no need to read anything more by Oe. ( )