I've been reading A Tale For the Time Being recently, and I'm not very far, but I'm really enjoying it. I'm just getting to the part with Nao's family tree.
What I want to talk about is the watch that comes in the Hello Kitty lunch box with the book and the letters, the reason being, of course, that it's obviously a symbol. Right now, I'm kind of in the boat of thinking that it's either Nao or Jiko's life, and that since it's stopped when she opens the book, one of them is dead. I am holding out hope for Nao surviving the book but I wouldn't be surprised if this book ended up making me cry. I feel that it's probably Jiko's though, sentimentality aside, since the book is supposed to be about her, not Nao, and the lunchbox also contains letters that she probably wrote.
I think that when Oliver winds the watch and it starts ticking again, it's symbolic of Ruth picking up the book and reading it as a way of reviving this person's life. I feel like that's gonna be the message of the book though, something about art being a way of looking back into someone's past and keeping them alive.
I also find this message kind of reinforced in a way through Oliver's idea of bringing back ancient plants to the area, and how it will be fruitless until long after his death, which is when his impact will be most seen.
Anyways that's all for now I might make a new post on this later.
