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ukki's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction, Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Medical content
Minor: Drug abuse, Rape, Self harm, and Police brutality
hollyd19's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The protagonist, Benny Oh, starts hearing voices after the unexpected and upsetting death of his beloved father. He realizes that the voices are the objects of the world trying to get his attention. On the whole, he finds their pleas overwhelming and he retreats into himself in search of solace. Ultimately, he finds comfort at the public library where things are literally quiet and orderly, and he meets a delightful cast of characters from the social margins who help him see his worth and sanity. Benny’s mother, Annabelle, wracked with grief, experiences her own breakdown and begins hoarding. Benny’s new “ability” clashes dramatically with Annabelle’s penchant for collecting, and the two have to figure out how to hold their little family together amidst their individual struggles.
Ruth Ozeki is incredibly inventive and this book definitely played with structure and perspective in an original way. The supporting cast of characters were all treated as full people which added immensely to my enjoyment.
My only critique of the book is that I wished for even more insight into the world Ozeki built around objects. The Book (a character in itself!) explains to Benny that there is a bit of a rift between Made and Unmade items, and occasionally goes on rants about how various objects (specifically books) view humanity. I really enjoyed those parts and they came with less and less frequency as the book progressed which was a bit of a bummer.
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Body shaming, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Forced institutionalization, and Car accident
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
carabones's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Grief, Death of parent, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Animal death, Fatphobia, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, and Injury/Injury detail
gabb_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Grief, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence
Minor: Fatphobia and Mass/school shootings
mikeebeth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I think this is going to be a book that will stick with me for a long time after I've read it.
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Grief, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Child abuse and Sexual assault
lilly_anne's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, and Fatphobia
Minor: Bullying