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savvylit'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
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: Addiction, Animal death, Mental illness, Self harm, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Fatphobia, Racism, and Classism
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: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
candournat'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
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: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
deedireads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
TL;DR REVIEW:
The Book of Form and Emptiness has what I love in literary fiction: a lot of heart and a touch of (possible) magic. I thought this was imaginative and moving and achingly human.
For you if: You like emotional but also playful litfic that isn’t too cerebral.
FULL REVIEW:
“Every person is trapped in their own particular bubble of delusion, and it’s every person’s task in life to break free. Books can help. We can make the past into the present, take you back in time and help you remember. We can show you things, shift your realities and widen your world, but the work of waking up is up to you.”
As of this writing, The Book of Form and Emptiness is currently shortlisted for the 2022 Women’s Prize for Fiction. I’ve heard such great things about Ruth Ozeki’s A Tale for the Time Being, but it’s still on my TBR, so this was my first book of hers. I can totally see why people love her writing. This book is filled with so much heart.
The story is about a preteen boy named Benny and his mom, Annabelle. It starts just after Benny’s father’s sudden and tragic death. Seeking joy, hope for future plans, and control, Annabelle tends toward hoarding. Meanwhile, Benny begins to hear inanimate objects speaking to him, including “his book,” which also narrates the book we are literally reading. As each of them attempt to navigate their grief and mental health struggles, we readers cheer for them, cry for them, and come to love them deeply.
I liked this book a lot, although I did find the pace a bit slow and Annabelle a bit frustrating, which kept me from 100% loving it. Still, the premise and construction is so imaginative and playful, and the story itself is deeply heartfelt and emotional. I also lovedddd the secondary characters and the voice of the book.
All in all, a solid Women’s Prize nominee that I’m sure will resonate with so many!
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Addiction and Sexual assault
atomicbritt's review against another edition
I appreciate the use of the book itself as a character, but couldn't deal with the slow meandering of the writing.
A lot of people seem to love this book, so maybe I'm missing out on something, but I just don't have the patience.
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
bethsbookshelf'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
4.5
I tabbed so many sections of this book: favourite quotes, favourite parts, characterisation, magic, grief, objects, romance, and parenthood. These are what I considered to be the main themes throughout the book, told through the eyes of the book itself.
That’s probably what I loved most about this book: it was multi-perspective between Benny and the physical book you’re holding in your hands. The book gives you insights into what it’s like to be a book, to live in a library, a bookshelf, on someone’s bedside table. It’s absolutely stunning and I’ve never read anything like it.
I love this book because it is special. It’s something I felt I lived through, thanks to the fine details throughout. I will never forget it, and I’ll definitely pick up another Ozeki since I’ve loved both books of hers I’ve read so far.
The pacing is deliberately slow, but that’s the only thing I had trouble with. I appreciate the pacing for what it is, but it really bogged me down sometimes. I couldn’t just read 10 pages here or there; I had to really carve out 30-120 minute reading sessions to enjoy what I was reading. I would have maybe fared better with the book had 100-150 pages been cut, but it’s not my story to tell, so I would never ask Ozeki to change it. But that is the reason for dropping half a star.
If you want something different, something raw and vulnerable, something magic, something sad, something that highlights what it’s like to be a mother, to be a son, to be tormented, to be called to do something - then this is the book for you.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
katewhite77'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
I loved every single one of the large cast of characters but I was especially routing for Anabelle the mother who I just adored.
I have heard said that this book needs an edit. Please no just give yourself to 536 pages of masterful and emersive story telling.
Audio book also beautifully performed.
Moderate: Mental illness, Self harm, Grief, Death of parent, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
paperknotbooks'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
4.5
This is a book with an ending full of hope, despite the content. It may be a touch long, but worth the ride. I audiobook’d this, and had no problems with it. I know a lot of people find the audiobook a bit grating because Benny is over-the-top whinny and his mother sounds like an airhead. I enjoyed the listen, but it won’t be for everyone.
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Mental illness, and Grief
Moderate: Drug abuse, Self harm, and Alcohol
Minor: Blood
dasha_musa'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
3.5
I considered DNFing this book at around 30% but I decided to push through; I don't regret continuing on and I think the last 25% of the book redeemed itself a little bit. Glacial pace to start, for sure. At times, especially closer to the beginning, this book felt like it was trying too hard; everything was obvious and spelled out with no room for interpretation and critical thinking from the reader. I would go so far as to say that sometimes it felt preachy and transparent (no problem with there being a bias or a message, but I would like to be led to reaching such conclusions myself, rather than just being told what they are -- where's the fun in that!). In terms of themes, I also think this book was trying to tackle too much for it all to gain significant hold. I see the attempts to make the characters' grief and struggles relatable, but at times it felt too methodically calculated for the sake of literature to be realistic, so it just felt frustrating to read about (looking at you, Annabelle).
As far as the ending goes, there wasn't any big "hurrah, happy ever after" moment; the resolution actually felt pretty realistic and I think that's a good thing. I have not experienced in life what these characters have experienced, so I liked having the opportunity to read their stories, but I just didn't love the process of reading this book.
Graphic: Mental illness, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Drug use and Self harm
Minor: Fatphobia, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
floriaes'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
4.5
Graphic: Self harm and Grief