Reviews tagging 'Rape'

A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki

161 reviews

clfknit's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This is a beautifully worded book. Difficult and sad to read but worth getting to the end. Please be aware there are content warnings.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Suicide, Rape, Sexual violence, and War

veronica0mcdougall's review against another edition

dark inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Alcohol, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Death, Fatphobia, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

farrahnaz's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing 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? N/A

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape and Suicide

audreyolejasz's review against another edition

3.25

The ending felt like a cop out 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual content, Racism, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Suicide, and War

rainbowesque's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective tense 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

It didn't reach 5 star for me only because the ending eluded me. I couldn't fully understand exactly where the author wanted to go. I was kind of feeling more- more of what? I don't know. Otherwise, the book made me feel a lot of feelings. Althoug  it took me one month to read, I never felt bored or on the days when I didn't touch the book, I hadn't felt like I forgot the story. It was rare for me. There is indeed some kind of 'urgency' (in Ruth's words) in the book that makes a reader keep wanting to read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Grief, Rape, Physical abuse, Bullying, and Death

aleksssync's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense 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

5.0

This book sucks you in. Nao's story is so heartbreaking -- she tells her story to Ruth so unabashedly, which had me quickly adoring her and laughing out loud to some of her commentary. I think the ending of the book was a little SciFi for me but I loved it. Ruth's background and setting were captivating and I also enjoyed reading her parts of the book. Would definitely recommend.  

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: War

Minor: Rape

recorderkfk's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Stretch book/ growth edge book for me - but a different mode of storytelling - 2 narratives 1) first person Japanese teenager who grew up in California. 2) third person limited omnipresent narrator of Ruth an author who lives with her husband on an island off of Washington. 

The book grows on you the more you read of it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Violence, War, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Suicide, Xenophobia, and Sexual content

Minor: Self harm, Stalking, Death of parent, Grief, and Miscarriage

kaylacope's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.0

I have mixed feelings about this book.  I loved Nao and Jiko, together and separate. Ruth’s side I cared less about, but my main question: were we supposed to like Oliver? I assume yes because he’s based off of the author’s husband, but I felt like she made him kinda unlikeable with all the memory jabs and acting like a knowitall 24/7. I think mainly he was used as a plot device to explain

the quantum physics and any parts of the journal that the audience may not have picked up on (like when he explained that the dad was bidding and Ruth hadn’t realized)

. 

Overall I think I will go 4/5 rather than 3.75 mainly because I did care about Nao and Jiko and Harukis #1&#2 to continue to read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Bullying

Moderate: Rape and Sexual violence

sandro_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark inspiring mysterious 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

3.75

A diary of a Japanese girl, Nao, washes up on the coast of British Columbia and is discovered by Ruth. A contemplative, split story that deals with heavy subject matter but ultimately leaves the reader with a sense of hope. It explores the relationship between writer and reader - working best from Nao’s perspective with footnotes teaching us about Japan.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Bullying, and Rape

cb1984's review against another edition

dark hopeful 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

4.0

The concept was really interesting, and I always wanted to read the next chapter. But I did feel like it lost me a bit in the last 50 pages, when it just got very weird. I figured that there was something weird going on, and I feel like having sat and thought about it for a while I think I understood what was going on. But it was just a bit jarring.

All in all: very good.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Suicide, and Rape

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Fatphobia