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hduc'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
Moderate: Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Police brutality, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Gun violence, Drug abuse, Violence, Animal death, Drug use, Addiction, Mass/school shootings, Pedophilia, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, and Alcohol
desheebasara'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
4.25
It lost me a little bit in the middle, but not in a way that made me put it away.
I really really enjoyed Ruth Ozeki‘s writing style, pretty sure I have never read anything like it!
Minor: Grief, Car accident, Sexual violence, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Animal cruelty, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Bullying, Drug abuse, Addiction, Animal death, and Death of parent
futuretreeman'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? Yes
5.0
Just like the book-within-the-book "Tidy Magic", 'The Book of Form and Emptiness', flew off the shelf to me. I was in the middle of several projects about homes and objects, the way objects feel and the way they make us feel and the memories they help us make. I even wrote poems about forks and spoons and napkins.
I was also beginning some self-discovery at the time. My dad died too when I was a little kid and after years of ignoring how it hurt, I finally started to recognize how it really made me feel and who I had turned into.
By the time I finished the book, I had gone through other changes too. I learned what a terrific friend I had been in college, unreliable, apathetic, and exactly the kind of person I had always feared becoming. I went through back-and-forth stages of putting the blame all on me, all on my friends, and realizing we all had roles to play.
I've felt much like Benny. I even feel like Annabelle as I write this review.
The certainly hasn't changed my life, and it will take far more than words on a page to heal my hurt and the hurt I've caused others. But this book has had a marvelous impact on me. I sometimes find myself wondering if a hot pan burns because it is angry at you for hurting it by putting it in the oven. But my family hasn't read this book and they'd think I was crazy if I said it out loud.
If you've read the book, you understand.
And if you find a book that makes you feel this way, listen.
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Grief, Mental illness, Death, and Self harm
Moderate: Drug abuse, Body horror, Car accident, Drug use, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Animal death, Confinement, Blood, Bullying, Alcohol, and Animal cruelty
madeleinebay's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Alcohol, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Fatphobia, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Self harm
Moderate: Drug use, Alcoholism, Animal death, and Drug abuse
Minor: Police brutality
alicelalicon'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
3.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Grief, and Self harm
Moderate: Child abuse, Fatphobia, Bullying, Drug use, Alcohol, Medical content, Racism, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Body shaming, Sexual content, Ableism, and Cursing
Minor: Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Suicidal thoughts
erinwolf1997'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
4.75
Graphic: Mental illness, Grief, Death of parent, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Animal death, Alcohol, Addiction, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual violence, Bullying, Sexual assault, Incest, Police brutality, Self harm, and Sexual content
grace_anna'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
4.25
Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Drug abuse, Alcohol, Cursing, Death of parent, Grief, and Mental illness
bookmark3brodi'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? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Chronic illness, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Alcohol, Animal death, Car accident, Medical content, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, Addiction, Drug use, Blood, Bullying, and Death of parent
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
icedcoffee'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
Moderate: Self harm
Minor: Child abuse, Alcohol, Sexual assault, and Drug use