Reviews tagging 'Grief'

A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki

45 reviews

teacupsandfirereads's review

challenging reflective sad 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? It's complicated

3.0

There is such conflict in this book, in many ways. But it was a book that made you think and pay attention. For me, it was quite a unique read. How the interaction between the two main characters unfolds shows great thought om the author's behalf. I also appreciate greatly the research that went into this book as well and the detailed foot notes that helps the reader to understand. I found this book a challenge at times and it felt dense for where my head was at at the time, but I see and acknowledge that many have loved it. I would like to say that the rating is on me and does not truly reflect the book. But that it was I love, that readers see it differently. This book is full of struggles the characters face, but I found that Nao's thoughts were very developed for her age. The atmosphere the author created made the book engaging in a whole different way. The book was a mix of slow and speedy and often times, I wanted it the other way. For this, I felt lost at times. 

This review feel a bit like a brain dump, but I feel I have a lot to get out about it. There were ups and downs to this book and currently, I am not sure where I stand on my thoughts of what weighed out. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Violence

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Grief, and Mental illness

kikicochrane's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense 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

Not quite up there to make this read a 4 star rating, but I enjoyed the story telling of Nao and her struggles. Part four of the book lost me as there was just too much happening in a short amount of time compared to the rest of the novel, it felt too rushed. The pockets of life lessons from Jiko and her and Nao's relationship touched me, and I was relieved that Nao had a responsible adult there for her.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Death, Dementia, Grief, Mental illness, and Physical abuse

internationalreads's review

adventurous dark funny informative mysterious sad tense 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: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Violence

jasper_a's review

adventurous dark funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.0

had some pretty good book club discussions with this book. i really enjoyed the story in its entirety [and so did the other members], but i might've been the only one who liked the ending as well. i admit that

the last 50 or so pages seemed rushed, with several concepts thrown in at once but i followed along with the train of thought well enough, so i didn't mind it.

the characters are complex, and the whole 'time being' thing was pretty cool, too.
A Tale for the Time Being has a fair amount of trigger warnings, and so there is a level of maturity needed to ride the ride.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Sexual content, Bullying, Grief, Physical abuse, and Self harm

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Mental illness

pigeonsjones's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Mental illness, Violence, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Genocide, Torture, Rape, Physical abuse, and Pedophilia

Minor: Blood, Grief, and Animal death