Reviews

The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki

savvystory's review

4.0

Every social worker should read this, and every therapist and anyone who works with and loves people with mental illness. It captures so perfectly how nuanced mental illness is and gently questions the way we pathologize people for experiencing reality differently. It also showed how mental heath and illness can impact all aspects of a person’s life, from housing to legal standing to physical safety. Plus, it pays homage to the amazing and important role libraries play in our society.

I did feel like the book was maybe cramming too many ideas in, and I had a hard time tracking all the metaphors. Perhaps they all connected in a way that went over my head. Zen, the Aleph, books as an interconnected network, unbound consciousness, hoarding, compassion, hearing the voices of all things, form and emptiness. My favorite theme was about accepting brokenness and rejecting the delusion that everything will always be the way it is - once you accept that you can live in and cherish the present.

It was also complicated because this was technically Benny’s book, also implying he wrote it? But I’m pretty sure the typing lady is a stand-in for Ruth Ozeki, who’s depicted as a writer. So the actual author of the book is present in the book that exists within Benny that he would hypothetically have written. But the book doesn’t say “and then Benny got to writing and wrote this” even in so many words. So who wrote the book?

I think I’ll be thinking about this one for awhile, which is a sign to me that a book was a good. But its themes didn’t quite gel for me in a way that would’ve made this an all-time favorite.

krichardson's review

1.0

I should have DNFed this but I always think that fiction books are going to be able to turn it around. This just really didn't work for me. Nothing about the fat shaming, pedophilia, or absolute idolization of books like this appealed to me. Really, who needs a talking book to tell you how great books are? If your book is that great you do not need to tell me.

I also missed the point that was buried somewhere in there. With all of the explicit rants about consumerism, you would think that the actual message would be more clear because the author is clearly trying to make some point, but I just can't quite pin it down. Capitalism is the root of mental illness? Marie Kondo should be worshipped like a god? Democrats are ruining our cities? If you figure it out please let me know.

miapetrovic's review

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

4.5

twojays's review

sad slow-paced

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

1.5

This was a very confusing book. It went on and on and on but I never saw a point to it. Characters weren't believable, and because of writing I coudn't connect to their problems. The only emotion I felt is for the whole book I was incredibly sorry for Benny because his father sounded like not a very responsible man, and being in Annabelle's perspective made me mad at her - she was extremely unlikable and cringey.  

joanaranito's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

reallyintoreading's review

challenging emotional tense medium-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? It's complicated

3.75

laurynhassan's review against another edition

5.0

“life is lived from birth to death, from the beginning into an unknowable future. but stories are told in hindsight. stories are life lived backward.”

a1m1's review

slow-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

3.0

This book had some good and even great moments but a majority of the time, I just kept wishing I were reading something else. I'm sure there's an audience for this book, I'm just not one of them. 

julia_simoes15's review

reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.5

sagewa8's review

hopeful reflective sad tense 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

3.75