Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki

236 reviews

rey_reads's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

i loved so much of this book. Nao was such a great character with a really distinctive narrative voice.  i am both impressed by & appreciative of Ozeki’s ability to cover so many difficult themes so thoughtfully and sensitively whilst maintaining an engaging narrative and realistic characters.   and it was funny! which is difficult for a book so heavily centred on suicide and war. the incorporation of a zen buddhist perspective and the running theme of time were personal highlights.
it began to loose me toward the end of the book and honestly i was neither expecting nor entirely satisfied with the final Ruth chapters

especially the quantum stuff & the breakdown of reader/ writer - i think i would’ve enjoyed the book more had the final chapters never gone there, just because before that all discussion of time & emotion felt so realistic that this kind of left me feeling let down.

still, i’ll be thinking about Nao and Jiko for a long time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Rape, Suicide attempt, and War

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Bullying

Minor: Dementia

inkylabyrinth's review against another edition

3.0

I learned so much about Japanese history and zen Buddhism, and enjoyed the Western versus Eastern philosophy dynamic, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I was Reading A Book. Almost like the book was formed around the research and not vice versa.

I would have liked it a lot more if I read it 10 years ago, but now was the best time for me to read it. Up, down, same thing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

signeskov's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Rape, Suicide attempt, and Bullying

Moderate: War

w0rmonastring's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Suicide

Moderate: Dementia and Death of parent

Minor: Trafficking, Rape, and Adult/minor relationship

bookscatcoffee's review against another edition

challenging dark informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

I acknowledge this was likely the wrong time for me to read this book.  It is nuanced and connected with footnotes; it bends and twists with beautiful language that takes time to decipher.  There should be a warning on the cover - for time beings with time to think this through:).  That being said, I did enjoy the journey.  The characters feel real and complicated.  Worth reading with the above caveat.  4 stars

Speculative fiction with Japanese and Japanese-American characters

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Mental illness, Vomit, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Animal death

Moderate: War

sglance9's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, War, Death, Violence, Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, and Sexual content

Moderate: Suicide, Dementia, and Vomit

Minor: Rape

kmae314's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

this book is about everything!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicide, Sexual violence, Self harm, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Bullying, and Suicidal thoughts

juliatsang's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Grief, Bullying, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Violence, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Physical abuse, Mental illness, and Death

Moderate: Abandonment and Adult/minor relationship

amayalo's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying

Moderate: Suicide attempt and Suicide

paula_renee's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

This is a beautifully written book. It deals with some hard issues—loneliness, depression, bullying—but is eminently readable, and I cared deeply about the characters, especially the teenage girl Nao and her father. Plus, you get some lessons in Zen Buddhism and quantum mechanics to boot. I bow to you, Ruth Ozeki. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying

Moderate: Suicide