A Tale for the Time Being

A barnacle encrusted freezer bag washes up on the shore of a tiny island off the coast of British Columbia. Visible inside is a Hello Kitty lunchbox that holds a journal, a bundle of letters and a broken wristwatch.

So begins the story of Nao Yasutani, a 15 year old girl from Japan who is beset on all sides, from her bullying classmates to her father who has already tried to commit suicide and will surely try again. Maybe, she thinks, she'll join him.

All of this is revealed as Ruth, who is clearly modelled after Ruth Ozeki herself, reads through the journal. We switch back and forth between the two narrative voices as we try and determine along with Ruth what happened to Nao. Is she ok?

We're also introduced to a kamikaze pilot, ecological artist, a 104 year old zen priest, a mom with Alzheimers along with magical realism, quantum mechanics, the multiple world theory, Schrödinger's cat, maid cafes and more. All of it's necessary to explain the larger idea of the zen koan that opens the book. It comes together beautifully despite the gut-wrenching stories within.