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A Tale for the Time Being

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A Tale for the Time Being

By: Ruth Ozeki
Narrated by: Ruth Ozeki
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About this listen

Winner: The Kitschies - Red Tentacle novel award 2013

"Hi! My name is Nao, and I am a time being. Do you know what a time being is? Well, if you give me a moment, I will tell you."

Ruth discovers a Hello Kitty lunchbox washed up on the shore of her beach home. Within it lies a diary that expresses the hopes and dreams of a young girl. She suspects it might have arrived on a drift of debris from the 2011 tsunami. With every turn of the page, she is sucked deeper into an enchanting mystery. In a small cafe in Tokyo, 16-year-old Nao Yasutani is navigating the challenges thrown up by modern life. In the face of cyber-bullying, the mysteries of a 104-year-old Buddhist nun and great-grandmother, and the joy and heartbreak of family, Nao is trying to find her own place - and voice - through a diary she hopes will find a reader and friend who finally understands her.

Weaving across continents and decades, and exploring the relationship between reader and writer, fact and fiction, A Tale for the Time Being is an extraordinary novel about our shared humanity and the search for home.

©2013 Ruth Ozeki (P)2013 Canongate Books Ltd Genre Fiction Historical Literary Fiction Mystery Fiction Heartfelt Feel-Good Funny

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Critic reviews

"Bewitching, intelligent, and heartbreaking... Nao is an inspired narrator and her quest to tell her great grandmother's story, to connect with her past and with the larger world, is both aching and true. Ozeki is one of my favorite novelists and here she is at her absolute best." (Junot Diaz)
" A Tale for the Time Being is a timeless story. Ruth Ozeki beautifully renders not only the devastation of the collision between man and the natural world, but also the often miraculous results of it. She is a deeply intelligent and humane writer who offers her insights with a grace that beguiles. I truly love this novel." (Alice Sebold)
"Ingenious and touching, A Tale for the Time Being is also highly readable. And interesting: the contrast of cultures is especially well done." (Philip Pullman)
All stars
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I bought this book when it was on offer as I hadn't heard of it before. I thought it sounded an interesting concept and by the end of the first chapter I was hooked. I found the characters engaging, and the interwoven stories fascinating. I couldn't wait to delve back into the book whenever I put it down!

The Japanese history and culture thrown in were very interesting with musings on WWII, kamikaze pilots, Zen Buddhism and cyber bullying. The themes in the book are incredibly thought-provoking, but delivered in a very easy 'read'. I loved the interplay between spirituality, religion, and quantum physics as well as the idea that the relationship between the writer and the reader can be a two-way as well as a one-way process. If you are playing with the boundaries of time and space then many things become possible!

I enjoyed listening to the author's voice and hearing the characters' voices as she intended. I was truly drawn into this beautiful and inspirational book and would thoroughly recommend it.

Incredibly thought-provoking read

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This book, read beautifully by the author, is a story within a story within a story. Like a Japanese box it has many surprise opening drawers and you the listener become part of the story too, drawn in by the authorial voice, as the author herself is. It is part diary, part letters, part mysticism, part physics - always stimulating as it weaves together a number of themes. It is a contemplative book - a quiet story which occasionally becomes a tad repetitive. In an afterword, the author suggests one look also at the printed version which contains many footnotes. Certainly the reference to Schrodinger's cat - a thought experiment to illustrate quantum physics - had me reaching for Wikipedia, but it is part of the charm of the book that the narrator/author/Ruth character enjoys explaining difficult concepts in her own terms. The story takes one into other worlds - the descriptions of life in a Tendai Buddhist monastery are particularly moving - and is memorable and enjoyable.

Strange haunting book

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A story and a history lesson drawing you in to and out of another place and time. So beautifully narrated in many voices gently bringing characters to life. Slightly mystical, powerfully loving. The two main characters completely different as you slide from one to the other you can be in no doubt who you are listening too. A wonderful book thank you. I will now order Ruth Ozeki's 2021 book.

Absolutely beautiful

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Best book I've read in a long time. So beautifully written and thought provoking. I'll have to buy the physical copy to read with the footnotes and all. And as a bonus I now I understand quantum mechanics a bit more!

Absolutely loved it

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If anyone requires a book of enlightenment, great storytelling and rich descriptive literature. This is it. Unique.

Unique.

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incredible story narrated beautifully by the author. I cried when it ended but I don't know why.

WOW

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Great story covering subjects on Japanese current and past traditions. Loved it from the start to the end.

Touching story and interesting perspective on Japanese hidden culture

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I highly recommend this beautiful book. The characters come to life as the story unfolds and I will genuinely miss having them around. The author does an amazing job of reading her work. I know I will listen to this book again at some point.

Faultless

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A very difficult subject matter that does make you cringe at times. Well told but very drawn out, could have been told more concisely. Not the sort of story you enjoy but we'll written and well read.

A hard listen

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The description of life and characters and setting brings everything to life. Personal performance brings it home.

Excellent book not to miss!

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