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A review by nikitaaaart
Timecode of a Face by Ruth Ozeki
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
The book starts with the author trying out an experiment of looking at herself in the mirror for 3 hours. What I love about the book is how her insecurities, fears, and contemplations are timestamped. She talks about her facial features and delves into her experiences of racism as a Japanese - American, her childhood, figuring out her identity, Japanese culture, Buddhist philosophies and the role beauty plays in the life of a 59 year old woman.
This is by far one of my favourite non fiction readings. I love the structure and the writing. The reading is easy and often reflective. I could almost hear the things she wrote.
I ended up annotating so many lines and even paragraphs. I could relate to so many aspects of her writings on physical appearances and the obsession we have of being "beautiful". I was able to explore these themes within myself –
This is by far one of my favourite non fiction readings. I love the structure and the writing. The reading is easy and often reflective. I could almost hear the things she wrote.
I ended up annotating so many lines and even paragraphs. I could relate to so many aspects of her writings on physical appearances and the obsession we have of being "beautiful". I was able to explore these themes within myself –
“This is why we read novels, after all, to see our reflections transformed, to enter another's subjectivity, to wear another's face, to live inside another's skin.”
Finally, the book was a mirror of my own.