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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
DNF at 29%. Interesting premise but the flow didn't work for me. I also think this is not the best time for me to read about stories of grief. Will try to finish later perhaps.
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
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
I rarely give a five-star rating but this was so deserved because I felt so thoroughly invested in the characters who were flawed and complex but so loveable. this was by far one of the most inventive and unique concepts for a book I've ever read and the magical realism was just perfect!! I'm actually so sad this book ended it was so beautiful
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A great book that has you laughing in some places and incredibly sad in others. It follows the story of a mother and her son, Benny. Benny's dad died in a strange accident and since then Benny developed schizophrenia. On top of this, his mother gains a lot of weight and becomes a hoarder. I really liked the mum in this novel. I felt for her deeply throughout, and found myself wanting to climb into the book (or pull her out) and be her friend.
So, overall, it covers a multitude of mental health issues, delicately, humourously in parts, and honestly. I will say no more as it's one to read yourself.
So, overall, it covers a multitude of mental health issues, delicately, humourously in parts, and honestly. I will say no more as it's one to read yourself.
This book is a big IDONTKNOW for me... grief, mental health, self discovery, drugs use, body image, job (in)security, racism, burnout, systemic failures, hoarding, teenage love, the Fukushima tsunami, the impact of digital media on our way of life... what WASNT in this book? Is this not too much?
Sometimes less is more but not this book. This book said 'more is more.
Not to say that this isn’t well written, the ability alone to handle ALL that's in this book and still make sense of all characters and storylines, and plot twists and multiple narrators, makes Ruth Ozeki an outstanding author but... I wonder if the same goal could've been achieved with a lighter read, I failed to connect at times and care for the faith of young Benn Oh
Sometimes less is more but not this book. This book said 'more is more.
Not to say that this isn’t well written, the ability alone to handle ALL that's in this book and still make sense of all characters and storylines, and plot twists and multiple narrators, makes Ruth Ozeki an outstanding author but... I wonder if the same goal could've been achieved with a lighter read, I failed to connect at times and care for the faith of young Benn Oh
No book has ever moved me as much as this. Ruth Ozeki's words have a power that I cannot describe
The Book of Form and Emptiness is the most unique book made for book lovers I have ever read.
As a lover of Ruth Ozeki, this was my third book from her, my first two being A Tale for the Time Being and My Year of Meats. However, this was the first book from the author that I had heard of and wanted to read. Although intimidating in size, this story will captivate you unlike any other.
The Book of Form and Emptiness surrounds the story of Benny Oh, who a year after his father's death begins to hear voices from inanimate objects. Although he originally tries to ignore it, the voices lead him down multiple paths; all of which lead him to the mysterious library. Centered around grief and the mother-son relationship that changes afterward, the uniqueness of this story comes from its format—told from two points of view across five different parts, "The Book" and "Benny". The POV of "The Book" tells Benny's story in such a meta way. Meaning, you get Benny's story, but the book itself critiques not only Benny, but readers, and fills you in on how books feel. Benny's POV comes across sparsely, but when it is there, it is mostly him jumping in on the story and adding in his own two cents.
I genuinely believe this is going to be my favorite book of Ozeki's, even though I have one fiction title and one memoir left to read, but I just don't see how anything else could top this. Although I wish she had more books, I am happy that Ozeki savors and lets her books sit with her genius mind and doesn't pump them out every year or two. This book is so genius and I would recommend it to fans of Anthony Doerr's Cloud Cuckoo Land and Erin Morgenstern's The Starless Sea if you don't mind a mundane setting.
I wish I had more words to speak about how much this book made me FEEL, but by the end, it just left me speechless.
Oh, to find my soul book!
As a lover of Ruth Ozeki, this was my third book from her, my first two being A Tale for the Time Being and My Year of Meats. However, this was the first book from the author that I had heard of and wanted to read. Although intimidating in size, this story will captivate you unlike any other.
The Book of Form and Emptiness surrounds the story of Benny Oh, who a year after his father's death begins to hear voices from inanimate objects. Although he originally tries to ignore it, the voices lead him down multiple paths; all of which lead him to the mysterious library. Centered around grief and the mother-son relationship that changes afterward, the uniqueness of this story comes from its format—told from two points of view across five different parts, "The Book" and "Benny". The POV of "The Book" tells Benny's story in such a meta way. Meaning, you get Benny's story, but the book itself critiques not only Benny, but readers, and fills you in on how books feel. Benny's POV comes across sparsely, but when it is there, it is mostly him jumping in on the story and adding in his own two cents.
I genuinely believe this is going to be my favorite book of Ozeki's, even though I have one fiction title and one memoir left to read, but I just don't see how anything else could top this. Although I wish she had more books, I am happy that Ozeki savors and lets her books sit with her genius mind and doesn't pump them out every year or two. This book is so genius and I would recommend it to fans of Anthony Doerr's Cloud Cuckoo Land and Erin Morgenstern's The Starless Sea if you don't mind a mundane setting.
I wish I had more words to speak about how much this book made me FEEL, but by the end, it just left me speechless.
Oh, to find my soul book!
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes