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frankieclc's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Self harm, Death of parent, and Death
Moderate: Homophobia, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Drug use, and Abandonment
Minor: Police brutality
daydreamereyes's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Self harm, Mental illness, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse, Drug abuse, and Fatphobia
willows's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death of parent, and Mental illness
Moderate: Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Grief, Pregnancy, Self harm, and Violence
Minor: Rape, Racial slurs, Police brutality, and Racism
heidi_meredith's review
4.0
I loved the writing style and cast of characters, especially the mother-son relationship and its bittersweetness, with the changes of adolescence and their shared grief. For me, it spoke deeply about our relationships with the objects around us and the value we impute to them. I enjoyed seeing the parallel journey of mother and son in this, with the mother often imputing personality or intent to objects in a way that her son was also experiencing through his mental illness. This ties in with conversations the son has with his friends regarding the nature of mental illness and where the boundaries for 'normal' are set.
I found this book hopeful and accepting of those on the fringes of society. It seems to seek connection and beauty in lives otherwise adversely affected by trauma, grief and illness.
Graphic: Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Grief
Moderate: Violence and Fatphobia
Minor: Child abuse
esalan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Self harm and Violence
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Suicide
iliveinletters's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Mental illness and Grief
Moderate: Car accident, Death, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Self harm, Animal cruelty, Ableism, Alcoholism, and Grief
savvylit's review
- 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
4.5
In addition to Ozeki's masterful and nuanced portrayal of mental illness, this novel is a touching love letter to literature and public libraries. By the book's end, Benny learns what many of us already know: that literature and libraries can offer an incomparable refuge and that everyone has a story to tell.
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Violence, Self harm, and Addiction
Moderate: Alcoholism, Classism, Racism, and Fatphobia
Minor: Drug abuse
emmagreenwood'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
4.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Cursing, Sexual assault, Grief, Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Body shaming, Fatphobia, Death of parent, Racism, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Police brutality, Addiction, Blood, Bullying, Car accident, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, and Drug use
spcandybars'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: Gaslighting, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Mental illness
Moderate: Drug abuse and Police brutality
Minor: Death of parent, Racial slurs, Fatphobia, and Animal death
candournat's review
- 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
The Book of Form and Emptiness is beautifully written, philosophical, and absolutely full of clever metaphor.
I cannot recommend it enough, I’ve honestly never enjoyed the form and structure of a book as much as I have with this one. Using the Book ( / Benny’s voices) as a narrator and having Benny give his thoughts on the direction of the story between chapters is so clever and original.
It has truly cured my big book fear!
Graphic: Self harm, Animal death, Death, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Addiction, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcohol, Bullying, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis