A review by bronteide
A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki

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

3.75

Albeit I'm not really keen on Eastern philosophy/religion, I found this book really interesting. I loved both Nao's and Ruth's chapters, and Haruki's diary is a cherry on the top. I also really liked how the author explains the philosophical topics from the point of view of a teenage girl. This book also made me learn a lot more about the Japanese culture and about immigrants's struggles in Japanese society. Interestingly, reading about life in the rural Canada was just as captivating as reading about Japan, So, even though this book isn't completely my cup of tea, I still really appreciated it.

Jiko's lifestory is just so amazing! Being a feminist, burying a son, becoming a monk and managing to let go of all this grieve somehow, seeing the world as a good place! Such a role model.

Favourite quotes:

It made me sad when I caught myself pretending  that everybody out there in the cyberspace cared about what I thought, when really nobody gives a shit. And when I multiplied that sad feeling by all the millions of people in their lonely little rooms, furiously writing and posting to their lonely little pages  that nobody has time to read because they're all so busy writing and posting, it kind of broke my heart.

Patience was part of his nature, and he accepted his lot as a short-lived mammal, scurrying in and out amid the roots of the giants.
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