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

4.0

I had planned to give this book 3 stars based on what it is on the surface level, which is an interesting story but with jarring tone shifts and increasingly unbelievable/confusing circumstances. However, I ultimately chose to give A Tale for the Time Being 4 stars in that the experience of reading it was undeniably thought provoking and life changing for me. This book came at the right time for where I am in my life, and it made me feel as if I were learning about life as Nao/Ruth was. It was a personally gratifying experience every time I picked the book up. The book was enigmatic in its entirety; Nao's parts were compelling and tragic while Ruth's were a necessary quiet & monotonous break in contrast. I would recommend this book to people who like Murakami's magical realism or to people that simply want to become privy to a different perspective (Nao's exposure to both Western ideologies & that of Japan's makes for some interesting observations on their contrasting perspectives to life & death).

Who knows, maybe further rumination over the book will make me knock the rating down, but for now, I give this book 5 stars because I thoroughly enjoyed reading this tale for the time being ;)

Edit (1/18/24): yeah i knocked it down to 4 stars LOL