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umbranrealness's review against another edition
5.0
I really, really enjoyed this. Lots of very simple, quiet moments that made me feel quite emotional. Brilliant characters and interesting way of telling the story.
loriluo's review against another edition
4.0
I was a little wary of starting "The Book of Form and Emptiness" given its slightly daunting length, but its designation as the winner of the 2022 Women's Prize for Fiction eventually pushed it over the hump for me, and I found it well worth the time.
Crossing the genres of contemporary fiction and magical realism, the novel is told from the perspectives of 14 year-old Benny Oh as well as a second narrator, who we learn is "his book". Benny lives with his mother Annabelle after the tragic death of his father, Japanese-Korean jazz musician Kenji Oh. Both of them grieve his death in different ways; Annabelle develops a hoarding problem, compounded by her work archiving newspapers, and her depression strains her relationship with Benny. Benny, on the other hand, begins to hear voices from otherwise inanimate objects - from Christmas decorations, to a pair of scissors, to a windowpane in school that breaks the flight of a bird. Despite her best efforts and multiple doctor visits and drug prescriptions for Benny, Annabelle is barely able to keep their family together.
Their situations begin to change, however, when Benny begins to frequent the public library for refuge, and meets a mysterious girl who calls herself the Aleph and her friend Slavoj, "The Bottleman", who come to accept the voices he hears without question. Annabelle as well struggles with being a sole provider and parent, and comes across a book called "Tidy Magic" written by a Zen Monk that she begins to work her way through, and little by little, is able to make changes to their home and her mentality. (The book is, of course, a nod to Marie Kondo's "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up".) Despite the fractured relationship that Benny and Annabelle have, the story is a nod to the ties of family and what really matters.
This was my first encounter with Ruth Ozeki's writing, and I absolutely loved her prose and writing style. Her writing is rich and descriptive, full of depth and emotion at the right moments, juxtaposed with humor and dry wit at others. She's been able to craft a story about a small family working through their grief, and touched on other difficult subjects like racism, mental health, substance abuse, and consumerism. Each of her characters are crafted with care and true-to-life personalities and traits; despite their struggles, the best of them shine through at the end. At the end of this, it's clear to me why this novel has received such acclaim, and I hope to read more of Ozeki's writing in the future!
Crossing the genres of contemporary fiction and magical realism, the novel is told from the perspectives of 14 year-old Benny Oh as well as a second narrator, who we learn is "his book". Benny lives with his mother Annabelle after the tragic death of his father, Japanese-Korean jazz musician Kenji Oh. Both of them grieve his death in different ways; Annabelle develops a hoarding problem, compounded by her work archiving newspapers, and her depression strains her relationship with Benny. Benny, on the other hand, begins to hear voices from otherwise inanimate objects - from Christmas decorations, to a pair of scissors, to a windowpane in school that breaks the flight of a bird. Despite her best efforts and multiple doctor visits and drug prescriptions for Benny, Annabelle is barely able to keep their family together.
Their situations begin to change, however, when Benny begins to frequent the public library for refuge, and meets a mysterious girl who calls herself the Aleph and her friend Slavoj, "The Bottleman", who come to accept the voices he hears without question. Annabelle as well struggles with being a sole provider and parent, and comes across a book called "Tidy Magic" written by a Zen Monk that she begins to work her way through, and little by little, is able to make changes to their home and her mentality. (The book is, of course, a nod to Marie Kondo's "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up".) Despite the fractured relationship that Benny and Annabelle have, the story is a nod to the ties of family and what really matters.
This was my first encounter with Ruth Ozeki's writing, and I absolutely loved her prose and writing style. Her writing is rich and descriptive, full of depth and emotion at the right moments, juxtaposed with humor and dry wit at others. She's been able to craft a story about a small family working through their grief, and touched on other difficult subjects like racism, mental health, substance abuse, and consumerism. Each of her characters are crafted with care and true-to-life personalities and traits; despite their struggles, the best of them shine through at the end. At the end of this, it's clear to me why this novel has received such acclaim, and I hope to read more of Ozeki's writing in the future!
3ofclubs's review against another edition
dark
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
4.5
Really interesting perspective to tell the story from (both boy and book). I liked the music references, but there could've been more to them. Seemed like an accurate portrayal of mental health struggles though I can't attest. Ending felt somewhat unresolved: I was rooting for Annabelle to figure things out, and ended up surprised by Benny's character development.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Death of parent
hawks_quill's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
I was excited to read this, because Ozeki's A Tale for the Time Being honestly changed my life. So there were big shoes to fill, and unfortunately this one fell a little flat for me.
The style and elements of metafiction and magical realism were excellent as always, and the thread of grief was compelling and explored in an interesting way. Unfortunately, though, the characters didn't really pull me in. They felt more like caricatures who were engineered by the necessity of the plot rather than real people.
The other real issue was just the sheer amount of stuff Ozeki throws in, ironic considering it's a book about hoarding and clutter. Grief, mental illness, spirituality, coming of age, drugs, poverty, the flaws of the public school and health care systems, capitalism, consumerism, art, the nature of reality, political protests, gentrification, the defunding of public libraries, the soulessness of mainstream publishing and television networks...there's more, but I'm honestly struggling to remember! Sometimes it felt like Ozeki was throwing a bunch of things at the wall to see what stuck, but then she just left everything in.
I certainly don't regret reading it, it's just frustrating when there are all the component parts of a much better book, but it's just not quite there. Like you're mourning something that could have existed but never did.
deptofheatandhumidity's review against another edition
4.0
An interesting format for a book about how trauma and poverty led to a family’s mental health told by three perspectives, the widowed mother, their son and the book itself.
sapwood's review against another edition
4.0
This book made me think more about my possessions, in a good way. It was a longer book than I think it needed to be, but a really nice contemplative read.
chamomiledaydreams's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
4.0
This is the second Ruth Ozeki book that I've read, and while I prefer "A Tale for the Time Being," I can't deny how poignant and well-crafted "The Book of Form and Emptiness" is. I love the way that it splits its focus between Benny and his mother Annabelle, and I like how a book narrates the majority of the plot, with Benny's own voice gradually becoming more book-like as he matures. Having a book as a character in a book—and establishing that that book is the same one we're reading—seems like an easy way for an author to come across as obnoxiously meta or to confuse their audience. But Ruth Ozeki incorporates such elements with skill and to a beautiful effect.
The Zen Buddhist elements in this novel are fascinating, as well, and I appreciate how we get snippets of books within a book. The characters' struggles and their stories prompted me to reexamine my own life, and they made me feel inspired and galvanized in a way that not many books accomplish. I wrote down at least a dozen quotes while reading, and I'm impressed by how attached I grew to Annabelle and how quickly, too. It's not a question of her versus Benny, but at many points in the novel, I understood Benny's embarrassment but still felt firmly on Annabelle's side, wanting to tell Benny things, like, "She's trying her best!" and, "Do you have any idea how amazing your mom is, dude?"
Overall, this is a fantastic book, and I'm looking forward to reading more by Ruth Ozeki in the future. There's something about her style and the subjects that she chooses to focus on that makes the cogs in my brain whir like a symphony. I hope to be able to write stories that are even a fraction as powerful and engrossing as hers someday!
The Zen Buddhist elements in this novel are fascinating, as well, and I appreciate how we get snippets of books within a book. The characters' struggles and their stories prompted me to reexamine my own life, and they made me feel inspired and galvanized in a way that not many books accomplish. I wrote down at least a dozen quotes while reading, and I'm impressed by how attached I grew to Annabelle and how quickly, too. It's not a question of her versus Benny, but at many points in the novel, I understood Benny's embarrassment but still felt firmly on Annabelle's side, wanting to tell Benny things, like, "She's trying her best!" and, "Do you have any idea how amazing your mom is, dude?"
Overall, this is a fantastic book, and I'm looking forward to reading more by Ruth Ozeki in the future. There's something about her style and the subjects that she chooses to focus on that makes the cogs in my brain whir like a symphony. I hope to be able to write stories that are even a fraction as powerful and engrossing as hers someday!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fatphobia, Mental illness, and Self harm
Moderate: Bullying, Animal death, Addiction, Blood, Car accident, Classism, and Drug use
sebumoon's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
aquakirst's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
john_langley's review
4.0
I had a difficult history with this book, and now I’ve finished it I’m not sure why. I had to start it twice, with a long gap between the starts.
My main criticism is that it seems too long for the material it contains. But, the themes addressed, and the Zen perspective which Ozeki brings to them are very interesting.
I found the ending and the resolution to be very emotional and very satisfying.
I can imagine reading this again to some additional benefit, possibly after a reread of her previous books
My main criticism is that it seems too long for the material it contains. But, the themes addressed, and the Zen perspective which Ozeki brings to them are very interesting.
I found the ending and the resolution to be very emotional and very satisfying.
I can imagine reading this again to some additional benefit, possibly after a reread of her previous books