Our rating: 4.8 / 5

How this book made us feel:  🫂 💔🫨

Themes: Belonging, intergenerational trauma, bullying, mental health, cultural displacement

Ruth Ozeki's "A Tale for the Time Being" is a captivating journey into the lives of two women separated by geography and time, yet bound together by their shared experiences as members of the Japanese diaspora. Through their stories, Ozeki delves into the complexities of immigrant life, the challenges of cultural displacement, and the haunting legacy of intergenerational trauma.

At the center of the narrative is Nao, a teenage girl living in Japan who grapples with the harsh realities of bullying and her father's unemployment. Feeling lost and isolated, she chronicles her life and that of her 104-year-old great-grandmother, Jiko, in a diary. When her diary washes ashore on a remote island off the coast of Canada, it is discovered by Ruth, a novelist of Japanese descent facing her own struggles with identity and belonging.

Assumptions and expectations will kill any relationship, so let’s you and me not go there, okay?

RUTH OZEKI, A Tale for the Time Being

As Ruth delves into Nao's diary, a profound connection is forged between the two women, transcending time and distance. Through Nao's entries, we witness the challenges faced by immigrants and their descendants—struggles with cultural assimilation, the loss of language and heritage, and the burden of intergenerational trauma stemming from wartime experiences.

Ozeki masterfully weaves together these themes, shedding light on the often overlooked struggles of diaspora communities. Nao's diary entries provide a raw and honest portrayal of the pressures faced by immigrant families, as they navigate the clash between traditional values and the desire for acceptance in a new culture. Her exploration of her family's past, particularly her uncle's experiences as a kamikaze pilot during World War II, highlights the lasting scars of history on subsequent generations.

Through Ruth's reading of Nao's diary, we are confronted with the weight of intergenerational trauma and the ways it shapes the lives of descendants. Ruth grapples with her own sense of displacement and the disconnect from her Japanese heritage, mirroring the experiences of many in the diaspora who straddle multiple cultural identities.

"A Tale for the Time Being" is a poignant reminder of the resilience of immigrant communities and the enduring impact of history on individual lives. Ozeki's lyrical prose invites readers to contemplate the complexities of identity, the search for belonging, and the healing power of storytelling.

Reflection Prompt

Think about the last time you moved to a new place and reflect on what it was like to settle in, connect with new people, and ultimately (hopefully) find a sense of belonging.