Lead Review (A Tale For The Time-Being
- Book: A Tale for the Time Being
- Location: British Columbia, Japan
- Author: Ruth Ozeki
This novel has a wonderful and highly original construct. It is the story of two people who have never met and live on two different continents: Naoko is a teenager who has had to relocate to Tokyo, Japan because of family circumstances and already inevitably discovers a real culture clash between California, where she has lived for much of her childhood, and her new home country; and Ruth, who is a writer (noting the same name as the author) and discovers Naoko’s diary washed up on the shore of her remote Canadian Island of British Columbia.
Nao turns to family history and experience to help her make sense of her dislocation.
The story tackles emotive and serious themes as the two females form an unusual acquaintance.
There is perhaps a superfluity of notes, not all of which were essential to understanding; the depth of characterisation is, however, superb.
An excellent choice if you are looking for something just a little bit different, something that intelligently explores themes that surround us in everyday life and in the news. The ending is well formulated but may not appeal to all readers.
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