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A review by mateoj
A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
I'm gnashing my teeth bouncing off the walls hollering screeching et cetera.
I hesitate to compare this to Murakami because I don't want to fall into the "Japanese authors is the same" trap, but fuck it. A Tale for the Time Being is what I wanted and did not get from Murakami: strange, metaphysical, and surreal without sacrificing coherency and humanity. All too often fiction like this forgeos the beating heart of the story in favor of being as mindfucky as possible, and one of my favorite things about A Tale for the Time Being is how it refuses to let go of the human feelings and needs at its core. The meta-narrative is extremely well done, and manages to make as much sense as it possibly can, without losing any of its surreality or weirdness. What a masterpiece.
I hesitate to compare this to Murakami because I don't want to fall into the "Japanese authors is the same" trap, but fuck it. A Tale for the Time Being is what I wanted and did not get from Murakami: strange, metaphysical, and surreal without sacrificing coherency and humanity. All too often fiction like this forgeos the beating heart of the story in favor of being as mindfucky as possible, and one of my favorite things about A Tale for the Time Being is how it refuses to let go of the human feelings and needs at its core. The meta-narrative is extremely well done, and manages to make as much sense as it possibly can, without losing any of its surreality or weirdness. What a masterpiece.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Physical abuse, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Rape, Violence, War, Adult/minor relationship, and Trafficking