A Tale For The Time Being

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of bullying and graphic violence.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Think about the relationship between Nao and Ruth’s storylines. What moments made you realize their worlds were beginning to weave together across time and space? Which reveal or connection surprised you the most?

2. The novel explores multiple philosophical approaches to time: Zen Buddhism, quantum physics, and personal memory. Which aspects of these explorations resonated most deeply with you?

3. Compare A Tale for the Time Being  to Ozeki’s earlier work, My Year of Meats, which similarly blends fiction with social critique. If this is your first Ozeki novel, how does her approach compare to other novels—like David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas—that play with interconnected narratives?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Nao uses her diary as a lifeline. Recall a time when writing or reading helped you through a difficult period. What made it a refuge?

2. The concept of being a “time being” suggests we all exist momentarily in the flow of time. What moments in your life have felt most significant or eternal?