64 pages 2 hours read

Ruth Ozeki

A Tale For The Time Being

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2013

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

In A Tale for the Time Being, Ruth, a Japanese-American novelist living in Western Canada, finds the diary of Nao, a troubled sixteen-year-old in Tokyo, washed ashore after the 2011 tsunami. As Ruth reads, she becomes deeply engrossed in Nao's life, filled with bullying, family struggles, and connection with her Buddhist nun great-grandmother, Jiko. Topics include bullying, suicidal ideation, and sexual exploitation.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Ruth Ozeki's A Tale For The Time Being intertwines the lives of a Japanese schoolgirl and a writer in Canada, exploring themes of time, identity, and cultural conflict. Critics praise its inventive narrative structure and deep philosophical insight, although some find the pacing uneven. Overall, it's lauded for its emotional depth and rich character development.

Who should read this

Who Should Read A Tale For The Time Being?

A reader captivated by A Tale For The Time Being by Ruth Ozeki typically enjoys intricate, dual-narrative stories that blend cultural and philosophical themes. Fans of Haruki Murakami's surreal storytelling or David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas will find similar enjoyment in Ozeki's exploration of time, identity, and interconnectedness.

Recommended

Reading Age

18+years