In A Tale for the Time Being, Ruth, a Japanese-American novelist living in Western Canada, finds the diary of Nao, a troubled sixteen-year-old in Tokyo, washed ashore after the 2011 tsunami. As Ruth reads, she becomes deeply engrossed in Nao's life, filled with bullying, family struggles, and connection with her Buddhist nun great-grandmother, Jiko. Topics include bullying, suicidal ideation, and sexual exploitation.

Ruth Ozeki's A Tale For The Time Being intertwines the lives of a Japanese schoolgirl and a writer in Canada, exploring themes of time, identity, and cultural conflict. Critics praise its inventive narrative structure and deep philosophical insight, although some find the pacing uneven. Overall, it's lauded for its emotional depth and rich character development.

A reader captivated by A Tale For The Time Being by Ruth Ozeki typically enjoys intricate, dual-narrative stories that blend cultural and philosophical themes. Fans of Haruki Murakami's surreal storytelling or David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas will find similar enjoyment in Ozeki's exploration of time, identity, and interconnectedness.

Contemplative / Mysterious / Melancholic / Inspirational / Bittersweet

- A Tale for the Time Being was shortlisted for the 2013 Man Booker Prize, marking it as one of that year's most celebrated works in English-language literature.
- Ruth Ozeki, the author of A Tale for the Time Being, is also a Zen Buddhist priest, which influences the novel’s themes of time and existence.
- The book's narrative structure incorporates both a diary and a reader's perspective, creating a metafictional exploration of storytelling.

**Naoko (Nao) Yasutani**  
A sixteen-year-old girl who has recently moved back to Japan from the United States, she chronicles her life and her great-grandmother's story in a diary, detailing her struggles with fitting in, bullying, and her family's troubles.

**Ruth**  
A Japanese-American novelist living on a small island in British Columbia, she discovers Nao's diary and becomes deeply engrossed in the young girl's story, which helps her reconnect with her writing.

**Jiko Yasutani**  
Nao's 104-year-old great-grandmother and a Buddhist nun who provides spiritual guidance to Nao, teaching her about Zen Buddhism and meditation at her temple in northern Japan.

**Haruki Yasutani #1**  
Nao’s great-uncle and Jiko’s son, who was a kamikaze pilot during World War II and whose philosophical interests are revealed through a secret diary he kept in French.

**Haruki Yasutani #2**  
Nao's father, who struggles with depression and unemployment after moving back to Tokyo, having previously worked as a programmer in California.

**Nao’s Mom**  
A woman who adapts to her family's financial troubles by taking an unusual job as an administrative assistant, later becoming an editor in Tokyo.

**Oliver**  
Ruth's husband and an environmental artist with a depth of interest in scientific topics, who shares a love of Japanese cinema with Ruth.

**Babette**  
A waitress at a French maid café who recruits Nao into escort work, exploiting her under the guise of friendship.

**Ugawa Sensei**  
A substitute teacher who participates in bullying Nao at her school in order to fit in with the students.

**Reiko**  
A popular student at Nao's school who leads her classmates in bullying and abusing Nao.

**Daisuke**  
A geeky classmate of Nao who becomes a reluctant participant in the bullying to avoid being targeted himself.

**Kayla**  
Nao's popular best friend from Sunnydale, California, who gradually stops responding to Nao's emails after her move to Japan.

**Muriel**  
A retired anthropologist and neighbor to Ruth and Oliver, interested in Ruth’s discovery of the diary washed ashore.

**Callie**  
A marine biologist who assists Ruth by examining the barnacles on the freezer bag containing Nao's diary.

**Dora**  
The gossip-prone postmistress in Whaletown, known for her intimate knowledge of the island’s residents through their mail.

**Benoit Lebec**  
A francophone resident who helps Ruth by translating Haruki #1's secret French diary.

**Muji**  
A Buddhist nun and Jiko’s assistant who becomes a supportive presence for Nao during her stay at the temple.

Ruth Ozeki

Adult

Novel

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

Before You Read

Explore A Tale For The Time Being reviews, reading age recommendations, and essential genre and thematic details before you start reading.

Before You Read A Tale For The Time Being | SuperSummary

title

content

Overview

Get ready to explore A Tale For The Time Being and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

A Tale For The Time Being Summary and Study Guide

chapter

chapterType

section

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-4

A Tale For The Time Being Chapters 1-4 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 5-8

A Tale For The Time Being Chapters 5-8 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 9-12

A Tale For The Time Being Chapters 9-12 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 13-16

A Tale For The Time Being Chapters 13-16 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 17-20

A Tale For The Time Being Chapters 17-20 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 21-24

A Tale For The Time Being Chapters 21-24 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 25-28

A Tale For The Time Being Chapters 25-28 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 29-32

A Tale For The Time Being Chapters 29-32 Summary & Analysis

Chapter 33-Epilogue

A Tale For The Time Being Chapter 33-Epilogue Summary & Analysis

character

Character Analysis

A Tale For The Time Being Character Analysis

theme

Themes

A Tale For The Time Being Themes

Symbols & Motifs

A Tale For The Time Being Symbols & Motifs

quote

citation

Important Quotes

A Tale For The Time Being Important Quotes

primaryCharacter

Essay Topics

A Tale For The Time Being Essay Topics

A Tale For The Time Being

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read A Tale For The Time Being?

Reading Age

Book Details