p6TFTB Section 5 Discussion Board by Emily Davis

2025-03-21 16:28:22 UTC

Ruth’s life is beginning to revolve around reading Nao’s diary, researching her family, and immersing herself with the culture she reads about. Does Ruth have a healthy relationship with the diary or is she growing too attached by using it as a distraction?

Elena

2025-03-21 16:34:37 UTC

Even though Nao has never met Haruki #1 as a physical person, how does their "relationship" differ from her relationship with her dad, Haruki #2?

Sherry Zhang

126200_3 — 2025-03-21 16:34:37 UTC

During the osegaki ceremony, Nao was tasked with playing the drum. She describes the "BOOM" she makes with the drum as the NOW from her childhood obsession. However, she states that she first perceives the movement of the drum before registering its sound and compares it to thunder, which is commonly known to strike first with sound and then light up the sky. How does the delay between movement and sound in Nao’s description of the drum parallel the novel’s treatment of time and perception?

Eva

2025-03-21 16:36:08 UTC

Nao seems to have a complex, distrustful relationship with her parents. Do you think that Nao will be able to heal her relationship with her family, especially her father?

131478 — 2025-03-21 16:37:57 UTC

Why does Ruth feel such a strong personal connection to Nao, despite knowing she is only reading a diary from the past?

Shahzad

132630_4 — 2025-03-21 16:45:42 UTC

Do you think Jiko should have done more to support Nao during her times of immense hardship? If so, what should she have done?

Maria

137474_5 — 2025-03-21 16:45:48 UTC

The book is diving deeper into relationships that Nao has with different members of her family including her father and Jiko, however, she very briefly talks about her mom and doesnt really explore the relationship between them. Why do you think this is, did something happen between them that we don't know of yet?

Sherry Zhang

126200_3 — 2025-03-21 16:46:05 UTC

If we believe that Haruki #1's ghost isn't real, how does that explain how his ghost has memories of his past life since there's no way Nao could have conjured him if so?

Artin Noori

2025-03-21 16:48:42 UTC

I think that the thing that is missing from Ruth's life, is the sort of excitement that she lacks in her daily life. She expresses her dissatisfaction with her isolated life style.

Katie Hwang

1326001 — 2025-03-21 16:54:08 UTC

Do you think Jiko's teaching helps Nao find peace or just adds more complexity to her struggles?