Saturday, June 17, 2017

A Tale For The Time Being



                                                                             



A Tale For The Time Being
By Ruth Ozeki



Our book club met yesterday. We discussed, A Tale for the Time Being.  We didn't have a large meeting. It actually a informal book club. Some of us read, A Tale For The Time Being. Others who didn't want to read the book. I gave them a choice to either read, A Tale For The Time Being.  Or read anything you want and share with our group.

I enjoyed reading the book at first. Finally, I just couldn't take reading anymore. I connected at first. But toward the end it lost me. Perhaps it was the culture issue in the novel. I am not quite sure. I am still glad I read the novel. It was very different, and quirky. It was about a young Chinese girl, Nao. Who wants to commit suicide. But before she ends her life she decides to write about her 101 year old Buddhist grandmother.  The other characters in the book is Ruth. Ruth finds Nao's diary in her Hello Kitty lunch box. Ruth journeys with Nao, and her family problems,warts and all.

Everyone seems to be unhappy with their life. The book talks about her uncle. He fights in WW2 as a pilot. A Kamikaze fighter. What the culture was like in China. He was disgusted and he ends his life during the war. So everyone thinks he is a hero. Than there is Nao who is bullied in school and keeps being bullied. She doesn't tell anyone. We find out the real truth what happens to Nao.

The Time Being is the main theme of the novel. Time being is the connection between Nao, and Ruth. Ruth finds the diary, and Nao is the girl who wrote the diary. The time connection between the two is the theme of the novel.

Other people liked the book. For me I didn't connect with the book. I am looking forward to a happy read. A book club everyone has different tastes. You don't necessarily have to like the book. It is still discussable.

Next month we are discussing Jodi Picoult's novel, Small Great Things. It is coming out in paperback next month. Her books are usually good. With great discussion. It is perfect what is going on in our country right now.
















Two Paths: Book Review









Two Paths
By John Kasich
Giving as review by:
St. Martin Publishing









I was given the book by St. Martin's Publishing. I didn't vote for John Kasich. I was never interested in politics. I voted how I was influenced since I was a young girl, republican. This year changed everything with such a divisive election. I voted democrat.

I'm not going to sound off my feelings on the election. I am only telling my thoughts on Mr. Kasich, and his book. I don't live in Ohio. That said, I don't know about his governing. So, I can't comment.

I was very upset with the results of the November elections. Like everyone else, after the election. Most of us were emotional, scared, fearful, apprehensive, anxiety, depression. Never has this affected us as much as this election.

Mr. Kasich is part memoir, part to improve our our government. His book, Two Paths gives us hope. Something we need after the election.  He actually cares about people. Instead of dividing us he would like to be more inclusive to all. He would rather listen across the aisle, rather than argue. He is a breath of fresh air.  He believes we all should listen to each other. There is too much of shutting down instead of working together. For once this is a politician that makes sense. He is real, and doesn't make excuses. He is very positive and upbeat about our country. It is the other politicians who create the negativity.

Politicians don't want to reach out and work together, he states. They are afraid to speak up because they are afraid what their party will think. Mr. Kasich isn't loyal to his party. He seems to care about the people, and what is right. He doesn't believe that the wealthy should be influencing our government by dangling money to the politicians.

I have read other reviews of the book. Some people thought he wrote this for his re-entry for the presidential race in 2020. So what! I think this is a good introduction. Including myself who don't know much about him. I wish I had paid attention to Mr. Kasich!!! He is a better choice than Donald Trump, Cruz, Rubio, Carson. Because they sold out to the people. Where I feel, Mr. Kasich didn't sell out to anyone. I even feel that Bernie Sanders sold out. That is why many people went to Trump who were Sanders supporters.

Mr. Kasich stands up for family values, and what is right for the American People. He hasn't sold out. Where Donald Trump tapped into the anger of many Americans. Which he knew how to divide our country. Mr. Kasich during the entire campaign sent a positive message at every speech, town hall, debate, etc. I felt a warmth when he gave his messages. It gave me warm chills up and down my spine. 



Religion is hope, connective, love their neighbor, and grace. Big government can't run without a sense of transcendence and without a sense of responsibility.  You should lead a life bigger than yourselves. We are  running over people. We must treat people with respect.And conduct our lives this way. We need hope in all of this. We can't be treating people like widgets. We must LISTEN!! 

He seems to be from the old republicans( moderate). Not the right extremists. Which gave me a good feeling. Some people that reviewed the book felt it was rhetoric. I didn't feel that way. I did feel though at the end it was getting redundant. I still loved the book. I am glad I read it. Very easy read. It gave me hope for our country. Soon though Trump will be back in the USA from Europe and it will start again. Hopefully, I can remember there are other people out there. Who care about us. Not just their own agenda.


Below is a conversation of Mr. Kasich.

the book's title comes from his speech two paths that was written during the presidential race. 

I recommend this book highly: