? UNDER THE LAMPLIGHT-

Two lives intersect in A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki. The story blends the journeys of two protagonists: The first, Nao, a sixteen-year-old teenager in Tokyo who is struggling with bullying from her classmates and her father’s depression who decides that suicide is her only way out. But before she departs, she chooses to chronicle the life of her great-grandmother, a Buddhist nun, who has lived for more than a century. In her diary, Nao finds some solace and relevance to help her cope with her struggles.

Across the Pacific Ocean on a remote island we meet the second protagonist, Ruth. She is a novelist who comes across a collection of artifacts hidden away in a Hello Kitty lunchbox — possibly from the catastrophic 2011 tsunami. As she — and we — uncover the meaning behind the collectibles, we are pulled into Nao’s journey.

Ozeki does use humor in the novel and underscores several themes: The writer-reader relationship, the intersection of past and present, and the blurred lines between fact and fiction are all highlighted in the narrative. It also throws a light on the world of adolescent struggles, family dynamics, and the complexities of modern Japanese society.

It might be a depressing read but many reviewers agree that it’s worth the time. The novel was described as “ delightful yet sometimes harrowing ” and “ a deep and illuminating piece of work ” which could inspire readers to discover more about Japanese culture as you plough through its 163 footnotes and six appendices.

You can get your copy on Amazon.

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