A Tale for the Time Being- by Ruth Ozeki
A Tale for the Time Being plays with the idea of past and present. The characters in this book, Ruth and Nao, meet in an unlikely way; Ruth finds Nao’s diary, protected by plastic bags and a lunch box, washed up on the shore near her house. The book switches back and forth between Ruth’s life, written in the third person, and Nao’s, written in first, as Ruth reads through the 16-year-old’s diary one page a day. Both the outside and inside of the book draw readers in. Vibrant pictures of the diary, a jet in the sky, Nao, and the island where Ruth lives fill the cover. As soon as you begin A Tale for the Time Being, you won’t be able to put this amazing story down.
The way Ruth Ozeki, the author of this book, writes captivates anyone who lays eyes on her words. She captures the thoughts of a Japanese teenager when she writes Nao’s first-person diary. As you read A Tale for the Time Being, you will become enthralled and very attached to the characters as they go on their own unique journeys, only connected by a chance discovery. This book teaches you that no matter how far apart or how much time is between when books were written, they can connect two people in very meaningful ways. I would not recommend A Tale for the Time Being for young-adult readers because this story does contain some language and topics not appropriate for kids. Mature high schoolers, as well as adults, would thoroughly enjoy this book because the characters are very relatable and realistic to both groups.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading A Tale for the Time Being and would definitely recommend the book to anyone who likes realistic fiction with an interesting twist.
Reviewed by Hadley DiFiore, 10th grade, NewGate School, FL
Tomorrow’s Child / Nov 2018 / Pg 30
