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How do you think being ignored is affecting her? She says “I could see it in the way he looked at me, and then looked through me, so convincingly I could almost believe I wasn't there.” (78)

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I somewhat agree with Ruth and Oliver not being very compatible, since I think even though they're so different, they could probably work things out if they really tried to, but at the moment because they're not trying to find a compromise, especially with Ruth clearly compromising what she wants in her life for Oliver (probably because one of the things she wants in her life is Oliver), it just doesn't seem like they'll really work out as the story progresses, based on how they are right now

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Her reliability is also questioned by Ruth in the margins, when she says she can't find references to medical cafes and literally says, "Is she making this up?"

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I feel that Nao’s mock “funeral” emphasizes the extremely cruel and brutal extent of Nao’s bullying. Her classmates have ostracized her to the point of treating her as if she were already dead. By staging this funeral Nao’s classmates attempt to erase her existence all together. I believe that this is one of the most heartless things that her classmates have done. Even though this “funeral” didn't cause physical harm it caused a lot of mental and emotional harm. Also I found it ironic that Nao’s “funeral” was the only time her classmates somewhat treated her as a person.

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Do you think it is concerning that Nao does not want to discuss the bullying. Do you think that this shows that the mother want's to have a stronger connection with Nao? Or is her mothers concern more surface level?

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I agree that Nao's mother does care for her daughter even if she isn't that expressive in showing it all the time. Even when Nao tries to belittle her experiences and pain and tells her mother, “It’s okay, Mom. Really. It’s not personal. You know how kids are,” her mother doesn't just dismiss it as something "okay" (pg. 73). I also feel that this instance illustrates how Nao is always putting herself down and putting up a front to act "okay". She hides her true feelings and suffering from her parents and doesn't want them to worry.

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I think Ruth's name is interesting in the way that the Japanese meaning "not at home" connects with how we see Ruth in this passage as sort of missing city life, possibly reflecting how she somewhat doesn't feel at home at this point in the story. Along with that, the word that Ruth is derived from, meaning remorse/regret also seems to have significance to her state of mind at the moment. Although it's not fully expressed, with how Ruth is feeling like she's "wasting time," it can be interpreted that Ruth may be feeling regret over how she's currently living, regretting that she's not living in the city where she wants to be, connecting back to what her name signifies.

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How does Nao’s perception of time and her own existence evolve in this section, and how does it relate to Buddhist philosophy, particularly ideas of impermanence and suffering?

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How does the novel redefine what it means to be strong? Does Nao begin to see Jiko's form of strength as valuable?

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It's sorta odd how Nao would try to hurt another person who she finds "weaker". Especially how shes been in that position before. Making it difficult to sympathise for Nao as she finds joy in hurting others.

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There are multiple quotes where Nao hints at or even justifies her killing herself such as "suicide and philosophy run in the family" pg.68 and "as in the expression to fritter your life away, which is what me and Dad are doing." pg.82 "So saying now obliterates its meaning, turning into exactly what it isn't. It's like the word almost committing suicide." pg.99 Do you believe that she is using this as justification to commit suicide or does she just "like coincidences" as she mentions on page 23?

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What was your reaction/interpretation when Nao disregards and brushes off the bullying when her mother shows concern about it?

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"A time being is someone who lives in time, and that means you, and me, and every one of us who is, or was, or ever will be." pg1

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It is interesting how Nao found satisfaction in hurting other people. Since she was bullied, it is strange that she would bully another person because she knows what it feels like. This makes her less of a victim in my eyes, but I think she does it because she needs power and control in some aspect of her life.

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The panel talked about why her mother didn't acknowledge or notice the bruises until someone had brought it up. Do you think that Nao's mother purposely tried to not address or avoid talking about the cuts and bruises before someone at the baths told her about it? When it was brought to her attention at the bath she also tried to dismiss it quickly. Do you think she only tried to fix the bullying issue until after someone noticed because she was worried that others would start noticing as well?

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This quote about Oliver "He was an anomaly, a sport, a deviation from the mean" I agree that this changed my perception on Ruth's and Oliver's relationship. Initially I thought that yes, they were different yet their differences balanced out their relationship. However in this section we see how Ruth misses her past life and Yearns for more than her current state of life. I can see how this will cause tension and conflict between Ruth and Oliver throughout the novel.

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Why did the fake “funeral” break Nao completely?

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Regarding Oliver and Ruth--didn't she address their perceived incompatibility right after the anomaly quote? She goes, "But Ruth had always been fascinated by the meandering currents of his mind, and even though she often grew impatient, trying to follow its flow, in the end, she was glad she did." pg56 It's also important to take into account, I think, that Oliver is real life, author of this book Ruth's husband. I find it hard to believe that she'd write about her real life husband, Oliver, and herself, and then have their relationship deteriorate in the book. I think they compliment each other and just because she can be impatient, that doesn't mean they don't go together. They're clearly in love. She talks all about trusting him and reading to him and how their meeting was very romantic and how they, like adults, work with each other to get what they both want.

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I think there's a big idea in this passage where people who feel insecure about their own power belittle others who are weaker to feel better about themselves, not only with how Nao herself as a victim picks on another other kid who's bullied in the class, but also with how it's brought up multiple times that the homeroom teacher joins in on belittling Nao out of his own insecurity