Reviews

The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki

patchworkculture's review against another edition

reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Self harm and Death of parent

thejenny's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

bhnmt61's review against another edition

4.0

I don’t know what to say about this book. It has some interesting ideas, and some characters that I was fully involved with, but the pacing is waaay off, and it felt like it just never came together—even though it resolves pretty well at the end. Benny is a 14-year-old who is struggling to hold it together in the wake of his father’s death several years before. His mother adores him but she has problems with hoarding and depression, and she hasn’t made the transition from being the mom of a kid to the mom of a teen, so often isn’t helpful. He is adopted by a pair of homeless artists, and the best parts of the book are their interactions. Well, that and the crows.

Honestly, it was kind of a slog at various points. I almost only gave it three stars, but her explanation in the acknowledgements about her interest in the research about people who hear voices helped me understand her intentions. I really loved A Tale for the Time Being, her last book, so this was a bit disappointing.

soapyseafloors's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful 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

4.0

rholzh's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective tense medium-paced

4.25

roxyc's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief and Mental illness

Minor: Death and Death of parent

lizzie_buckland's review

reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

clare_tan_wenhui's review

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

While the prose of this book is highly accessible for readers, the characterisations of the book is caricaturistic, affecting the book's effectiveness in delivering its core plot about trauma of grief and the struggles of mental conditions. The incorporation of the element of Zen Buddhism also smacks of cheap orientalism which does little to add any substantial philosophical element to the book.

katiegilley's review against another edition

5.0

Eleventy-billion stars. Ruth Ozeki is absolutely my favorite author. There's so much here that I'm not sure I can write anything, other than that I loved how Ozeki played with animism in this novel - the idea that everything we're surrounded by has a soul, energy, and purpose. That we live a good life when we honor the objects and people in our lives. I LOVED how she brought The Book alive and made it such a focal point of the narrative. It was so clever. The characters were beautiful and complex. And, as with so many of the novels published recently, it reminds us how important books and reading are, especially after the tumultuous few years we've had.

I listened to this on audible but still have a hold on the ebook at the library. I'm planning to read it again and highlight the heck out of it when it's my turn with the library copy. So I'm sure you'll be hearing more from me about this one!

jenpaella's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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

3.5