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  • A Tale for the Time Being

  • By: Ruth Ozeki
  • Narrated by: Ruth Ozeki
  • Length: 14 hrs and 43 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (113 ratings)

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A Tale for the Time Being

By: Ruth Ozeki
Narrated by: Ruth Ozeki
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Publisher's Summary

Winner: The Kitschies - Red Tentacle novel award 2013

"Hi! My name is Nao, and I am a time being. Do you know what a time being is? Well, if you give me a moment, I will tell you."

Ruth discovers a Hello Kitty lunchbox washed up on the shore of her beach home. Within it lies a diary that expresses the hopes and dreams of a young girl. She suspects it might have arrived on a drift of debris from the 2011 tsunami. With every turn of the page, she is sucked deeper into an enchanting mystery. In a small cafe in Tokyo, 16-year-old Nao Yasutani is navigating the challenges thrown up by modern life. In the face of cyber-bullying, the mysteries of a 104-year-old Buddhist nun and great-grandmother, and the joy and heartbreak of family, Nao is trying to find her own place - and voice - through a diary she hopes will find a reader and friend who finally understands her.

Weaving across continents and decades, and exploring the relationship between reader and writer, fact and fiction, A Tale for the Time Being is an extraordinary novel about our shared humanity and the search for home.

©2013 Ruth Ozeki (P)2013 Canongate Books Ltd

Critic Reviews

"Bewitching, intelligent, and heartbreaking... Nao is an inspired narrator and her quest to tell her great grandmother's story, to connect with her past and with the larger world, is both aching and true. Ozeki is one of my favorite novelists and here she is at her absolute best." (Junot Diaz)
" A Tale for the Time Being is a timeless story. Ruth Ozeki beautifully renders not only the devastation of the collision between man and the natural world, but also the often miraculous results of it. She is a deeply intelligent and humane writer who offers her insights with a grace that beguiles. I truly love this novel." (Alice Sebold)
"Ingenious and touching, A Tale for the Time Being is also highly readable. And interesting: the contrast of cultures is especially well done." (Philip Pullman)

What listeners say about A Tale for the Time Being

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My Daughters

gifted me this audio book as part of my 67th Birthday 🎁. A Lover of Japanese 🇯🇵 literature, history and culture, this work has given me a contemporary look into Japan, While at times exceedingly difficult to listen to , of particular interest was the treatment of the young Japanese 2nd WW soldiers, which has lead me to greater understanding of the conditions of the 2nd World War Prisoners. The cruelty of the Japanese to the POW’s has never been comprehensible to me; through this brilliant work I now understand so much more on so many levels. The missing pieces are falling into place.
Thankyou Ruth
✨🙏🏽✨

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Loved listening to this book…

One of my favourites so far this year. Loved the intertwining stories. Preferred audible to print. Reader was excellent.

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Fantastically Unique Exploration of Lives

This book is so unique in form and has such defined perspectives for every character. It has a great blend of philosophy mixed throughout and offers lots of thought provoking discussion. Ozeki does a great job characterising in a way that you truly empathise and come to understand every perspective. Her reading of her book is also perfect.

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Possibly my favourite book of all time. Being.

Just listened to this a second time & loved it even more. I am fascinated by the insights into Japanese culture & Zen Buddhism & also life on the small island in British Columbia.

I love that elements of magical realism can be explained by quantum physics & the plot is excellent. I also appreciate the moments throughout discussing philosophy, both Western & Eastern.

The writing is beautiful & the imagination that created this story is wondrous.

Some facts are illuminating, others grotesque & vile.

It’s a poetic, magical, philosophical, quantum science saga & I love every bit.

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So brilliantly different.

Go beyond the first 5 minutes if you are struggling.
The last couple of chapters where beyond my intellect , but that's part of the grip this book has ... it makes you THINK!

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Great listen.

Wonderful book. My only criticism is didn't portray the wilderness and her creatures in the best light. Otherwise fantastic, deep exploration of time and our place in it. Also light hearted and funny in places. I'll read it again.

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stunning.

A truly beautiful story! often parts made me stop and breathe. to contemplate the true nature of being human and vulnerable and the disparate way we see things.
So wonderfully read by Ruth.

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A tale of redemption

A beautifully woven tale of loss, despair, courage and redemption that drew me in from the start. The unusual tale begins with a woman in a little island in Canada finding a Hello Kitty lunchbox and its unexpected contents washed up on the shore. Read/listen on to find out more.

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Deft, enchanting, engrossing

I’ve just finished this book for the second time. Atmospheric and full of layers, yet a clear narrative with a wry humour to it. This books takes you to some of humanity’s darkest places, but calmly guides you to safety.

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Life changing!

I have been listening to this at my work and on the bus and I'm writing this on my break after just finishing. I decided to write down my thoughts before I forget.

This was my first audiobook and honestly, what an absolute delight!
Ruth Ozeki's writing really comes to life in her narration which is so full of character and emotion. I related a lot to the topics and events that happened and felt myself really connect with the characters. It made me think about my own life and as a result, I walk away from this work a bit better as a person.

I highly recommend!

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