Reviews - The Book of Form and Emptiness

3.69k reviews for:

The Book of Form and Emptiness

Ruth Ozeki

4.05 AVERAGE

stabilesero's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional reflective sad 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

I have a soft spot for books that contain characters with mental illness, and Ozeki worked magic with Benny's character. Very few authors are able to portray the harrowing details of living with mental illness, and she absolutely hit the mark.
Benny and his mother's story is one of grief, struggle within society, expectations one puts on oneself and society's expectations; as well as all the things including growing up, community and belonging.
I loved this book so much and I really didn't expect to. It had been sitting on my tbr shelf for so long because I feared it's size but it was worth it. It's definitely not going to be for everyone, but between the crows, jazz music, B-Man and all the other intricate details of this book; this was my book to a T.
I will absolutely be picking up more by Ozeki.

Content Warnings

hackman's review against another edition

3.5

emotional hopeful 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

gilligr's review against another edition

4.5

challenging emotional sad slow-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

I don't think I fully understand this book. It was a slow read, and a difficult read, but that is not to say it is not rewarding. It is a book about so much, more than the story of the characters. I'll be thinking about this one for a good while.

sandysawmill's review against another edition

5.0

Grief, worldly suffering, coming of age, hearing voices, zen buddhism, libraries, the spirits of things, enduring love, garbage, and crows. A perfect novel.

mattea_n's review against another edition

4.25

challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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

stanimal3000's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 27%

too slow, too sad, too goofy.

annecarts's review against another edition

3.0

I loved this book at the start as it tells the story of a family struggling through grief. The writing is beautiful and I will definitely read Ruth Ozeki again.
I did find my attention dropped in the middle as the story is slow for a book of over 500 pages and it felt overly long at times. The ending was also a little fast and neat considering the length.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.