Final Thoughts On A Tale For the Time Being

 I have several thoughts about the ending of this book, but I think it is most important to start off by saying I loved it. I think Nao and Ruth took us on an emotional journey that allowed us to learn more about ourselves and others. However, I did not like the ending. While I am happy we find out Nao is real and doing well, the whole ‘the book erasing itself’ and Ruth rewriting the ending was not satisfying to me. I understand that this plays into quantum mechanics and physics, but it was not the ending I was looking for. I almost wanted something simple, yet grand, similarly to how the rest of the book felt. This being said, the rest of the book, especially the third part we had to read for today was incredible. I feel like Nao’s words grew up in a sense, further proving her summer with Jiko changed her. Her words also ‘grew up’ probably due to the sexual harassment she dealt with at school and by the older men at the cafe. Nao’s ability to lose herself will not make me sad. Her words describing these events were painful to read, especially when her father tried to intervene. Going to Ruth’s point of view, thank you to Oliver for explaining that Nao’s father was trying to be the highest bidder- truly an act of selflessness and protection for his daughter. I also would not have caught on to that without his help. 

The most emotional moment for me in the entire book was Jiko’s death. The entire process, from when Nao gets the text, until after Jiko’s end is sad. But something that I noticed, is that like Jiko’s entire life, death is also a process. Jiko needs to get on her knees in prayer, her writing a final letter or poem to the public, and then finally dying, leaving her earthly form. For the record, all the note was supposed to say was ‘to live’, because she followed it up with “for now, for the time being.” Nao and her dad needed to hear that, and there is no doubt in my mind that Nao carried that message with her for a long time after it. The intimacy of the bathing scene is what really got me emotionally. After all, Nao “knew exactly how hard to rub”. Not that I think she would be, but Nao has always treated Jiko with respect and this moment especially was touching to me. 

Nao then wrapping up the elevator story by wishing that Jiko would have waited for her is not as selfish as she may have thought. Nao needed someone like Jiko praying and waiting for her. This is Nao realizing it, and even in all her bad decisions, Jiko was always there. I would have loved to be able to hear Nao touch on this topic years later. Does she feel that Jiko is there? How does she justify her ‘bad decisions?”, and several other questions I would want to know.


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