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margtherock's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Bullying
ye_li's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A Tale For The Time Being feels like a fever dream but in the best way possible. It becomes morbid at several points throughout the story, and you can see how Nao spirals deeper and deeper. Ruth's P.O.V was a bit of a slog to get through—I only became captivated with her point of view later on in the book, when it became surrealistic and dreamlike. As time goes on, this book and its story are all I can think about—I can't help but recommend it to other people and I can't stop talking about it. A somewhat grotesque and introspective piece of literature, managing to be so real yet completely bizarre. A work of art.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Violence, Bullying, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Xenophobia and Toxic friendship
Minor: War
badspringbye's review against another edition
dark
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
it's hard for me to listen to audiobooks so I almost never do but the narrator of this book (the author herself) saved the whole thing. much entertaining than the story itself, gave life to the characters the way I couldn't read it the same way again after trying to read it with my own eyes. it's unfortunate since I liked the flow of Nao's side of story but it keeps on dragging because of Ruth's povs. could not care less about her and her husband and anything about her overall.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Bullying, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Xenophobia
themysteriouserk's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
A beautifully written book with an intriguing and endearing (if also flawed/complicated) cast of characters. It flawlessly balances a huge variety of perspectives and ideas, its plot covering both the quiet, thoughtful moments of ordinary lives and the dramatic, world-shaping events of the past and present.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Bullying, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Violence, War, Xenophobia, and Racism
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