taylor1997's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Mental illness
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
thyprincess's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A Tale for the Time Being is perhaps best regarded as a tale across time and space, with the voices of Nao, a young Japanese schoolgirl, and Ruth, a quiet islander (also writer). This magical realism novel explores themes of Zen Buddhism, Quantum Mechanics, and Conscience, though most times you'll have to think real hard about what it's trying to get at.
Nao's voice is witty and quick, whereas Ruth is a more slow and soft voice, which acts as a buffer for the horrible experiences Nao details in her diary. The build up is slow, but once the mysteries of Nao's family begin to unravel themselves, the pace picked up and it became an enjoyable read, though at times stilted given the amount of context you have to contemplate on to understand the feelings conveyed.
Still, I enjoyed the lesson it was sharing - one grounded on our individual and collective Time Beings, and it will leave me pondering on these fleeting moments in time.
Graphic: Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Physical abuse and Sexual content
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
caradavina's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Rape, and Suicide
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, and Drug abuse
audreytallulah's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Death, Animal cruelty, War, Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Xenophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Trafficking, Injury/Injury detail, and Gore
Minor: Suicide, Sexism, Miscarriage, Fatphobia, Dementia, Body horror, and Animal cruelty
horationelson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Bullying, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and War
Minor: Dementia, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Rape, and Death of parent
alyssapusateri's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Trafficking, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Bullying, Cursing, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
lambclown's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Trafficking, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, War, Bullying, Adult/minor relationship, Vomit, Violence, Toxic friendship, Body shaming, Death, and Mental illness
Moderate: Animal death and Rape
Minor: Cancer and Chronic illness
indydc's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Suicide, Bullying, Body shaming, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Death, Toxic friendship, and Trafficking
elmei's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Spoiler
which I think was attempted to be ameliorated by Ruth’s husband mansplaining facts at her throughout the duration of the Ruth plot line so it wouldn’t seem so out of place when it did come, which somewhat worked but I wish there was more of a similar sprinkling of the magic and/or quantum theory earlier on, or at least more than once, so it didn’t feel so overwhelming and we could digest it more.Graphic: Suicide attempt, Rape, and Suicide
Moderate: Dementia, Mental illness, Grief, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Vomit, Bullying, Violence, Trafficking, and War
cowboynixan's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Bullying, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Death, and War
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Classism, Gore, Grief, and Violence