Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki

12 reviews

wytherwytch's review

dark emotional mysterious 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

Really enjoyed this book. The whole things with words disappearing was a little weird but I still really enjoyed it

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Rape, Death, Dementia, War, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Alcohol

valjeanval's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

One of the best books I've read in a long time. Theres's not one moment (or fingersnap of 65 moments) that hasn't been carefully thought through to create this beautiful exploration of time, entanglement, and a life (or a death) with meaning. The research that went into this book must have been incredible. Everything from the daily life of a Japanese high school student in Tokyo to neighborly mechanisms that keep a British Columbian island functionings to the realities of life as a WWII kamikaze pilot and the magical realism that is quantum mechanics. I care deeply for the characters. I feel like I've lived in the setting, and I savored the prose. I don't know what else you could ask for in a novel. It's my first Ruth Ozeki book, but definitely not my last.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, War, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Suicide

Moderate: Death of parent, Chronic illness, Grief, Terminal illness, Sexual content, and Death

lorenag5's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Bullying, Dementia, Mental illness, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

roseblossom999's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, War, Sexual harassment, Terminal illness, Death, Body shaming, Body horror, Animal death, Suicide attempt, Rape, Mental illness, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Emotional abuse, Suicide, and Violence

yasmin_raev's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Violence, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, and War

Moderate: Vomit, Death of parent, and Rape

penofpossibilities's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Suicide attempt, Vomit, Torture, Violence, War, Xenophobia, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, and Hate crime

Moderate: Death of parent and Alcohol

Minor: Terminal illness, Cancer, Lesbophobia, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, and Genocide

imnotarke's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

i adored nao's story. it was so compelling and tug at my heart strings hearing from the perspective of a teenage girl. the magical realism was well-developed and fascinating to follow. i found ruth's story lacked that same attachment as nao's, but she was an essential element so i understand her placement - i just wish her story was as exciting to read as we have her for almost half of the novel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Sexual violence, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Trafficking, Pedophilia, and Rape

Minor: Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, War, and Vomit

jameslyons's review

adventurous funny mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Violence, Sexual violence, Bullying, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Gun violence, Animal death, Child death, Death, Gaslighting, Genocide, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Colonisation, Death of parent, and Gore

amelianotthepilot's review against another edition

mysterious sad slow-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

strange surrealist story about a woman in Canada reading a Japanese girl’s diary she found washed up on the beach 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Dementia, Drug use, Grief, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Trafficking

chloebethx_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.25

A very moving and thought provoking story on what it means to be alive and the bonds of family.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Bullying

Moderate: Rape, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Terminal illness, Adult/minor relationship, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship