Questions About A Tale for the Time Being

by Ruth Ozeki (Goodreads Author)

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Answered Questions (16)

I want to read this book, but I'm not sure if it's a age appropriate for me (14 years old). What's your personal age rating for this book?

Hfalight If you limit yourself to books that are 'age appropriate' you will only know a very small world. If you wish to read it, read it!
I can tell you that …moreIf you limit yourself to books that are 'age appropriate' you will only know a very small world. If you wish to read it, read it!
I can tell you that there are distressing scenes and the like, but we live in a distressing world. Don't limit yourself!
Have a go at it. The writing may be hard to read - depending on your reading experience.
I love this book; even with its subject matter.
I hope you will like it too.(less)

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Hi I am still confuse how the words are lost and how Ruth intervene to their life through her dreams and changes the ending? Is it some sort of magic? or what? If it happened a long time ago it is probably done by the time Ruth had the diary. Is it because of the "time being concept" that they met in another world and another time? I dont know! Someone please answer :)

Npldirector I really disliked this part of the book, I think it ruined an otherwise excellent story of real human experiences. And you are totally correct, it doe…moreI really disliked this part of the book, I think it ruined an otherwise excellent story of real human experiences. And you are totally correct, it doesn't really make any sense. I wish the author had just let Ruth discover the end of Nao's story without introducing that nonsense. (less)

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Does anyone have any interesting theories about this book?

Jim Puskas Although Ruth Ozeki wrote in the third person, I believe she was in fact writing a lot of herself into the book. Not necessarily the narrative, but ce…moreAlthough Ruth Ozeki wrote in the third person, I believe she was in fact writing a lot of herself into the book. Not necessarily the narrative, but certainly some aspects of her own personality, her world view, her relationship with dreams, the complex issue of family and how frequently people in their youth find it easier to relate to grandparents or much older aunts or uncles than to their immediate parents. I also perceive that Ozeki does not find it necessary for every mystery to be explicitly solved, i.e. there is room for us to simply be touched by grace.(less)

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What parts of this novel are true or fictional?

Erin There are probably more similarities here than can be gleaned from her biography on the back leaflet. For example, Oliver really is working on a Neo E…moreThere are probably more similarities here than can be gleaned from her biography on the back leaflet. For example, Oliver really is working on a Neo Eocene project (photos of Ruth in the project here: http://www.oliverk.org/art-projects/l...)(less)

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Is the hazing in Japanese schools really that bad?

Della Scott I wondered the same thing, especially since it seems that the teachers also participated to some extent, and it also became physical. I am about halfw…moreI wondered the same thing, especially since it seems that the teachers also participated to some extent, and it also became physical. I am about halfway through this on audiobook.
I would actually call it "bullying" because hazing implies an initiation, and an initiation ends once you're initiated. Small point.(less)

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