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A review by thereadingparamedic
The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki
5.0
Benny Oh starts to hear voices after the tragic death of his father. The objects around him speak to him about how they are feeling.
Annabelle, Benny’s mother, is also struggling with the loss of her husband. She becomes listless, forgets to buy simple things like milk, and becomes a hoarder.
Benny and Annabelle’s relationship becomes fractious & Benny starts to spend his time at the library. There he meets a myriad of new friends & he begins to spend more & more time away from home, skipping school & worrying his mother. He is referred to a psychologist where numerous different diagnoses are given.
Over time, both Benny and Annabelle continue into a downward spiral of depression and guilt. Annabelle’s hoarding makes their home a hazard & they face eviction. Benny and Annabelle lose sight of the people they once were & begin to question their faith in one another. Can they ever find their way back to the family they once were?
Whilst this is a story of grief, loss and love, it is also a tale of the power of the written word. Benny’s story is narrated by the Book, which wants to be able to see & feel, although it has no eyes or hands! I love the descriptions of books keeping other voices quiet, which, after all, is why many of us read - for escapism from a world full of noise & pain. The descriptions throughout of how books make us feel is just a sheer joy.
This is the first of Ruth Ozeki’s work that I’ve read & I’m astounded I’ve not read any before. She is an outstanding storyteller & her love of books & words shines through. Highly recommended!
Thank you to Anna Frame at Canongate for an early proof.
Annabelle, Benny’s mother, is also struggling with the loss of her husband. She becomes listless, forgets to buy simple things like milk, and becomes a hoarder.
Benny and Annabelle’s relationship becomes fractious & Benny starts to spend his time at the library. There he meets a myriad of new friends & he begins to spend more & more time away from home, skipping school & worrying his mother. He is referred to a psychologist where numerous different diagnoses are given.
Over time, both Benny and Annabelle continue into a downward spiral of depression and guilt. Annabelle’s hoarding makes their home a hazard & they face eviction. Benny and Annabelle lose sight of the people they once were & begin to question their faith in one another. Can they ever find their way back to the family they once were?
Whilst this is a story of grief, loss and love, it is also a tale of the power of the written word. Benny’s story is narrated by the Book, which wants to be able to see & feel, although it has no eyes or hands! I love the descriptions of books keeping other voices quiet, which, after all, is why many of us read - for escapism from a world full of noise & pain. The descriptions throughout of how books make us feel is just a sheer joy.
This is the first of Ruth Ozeki’s work that I’ve read & I’m astounded I’ve not read any before. She is an outstanding storyteller & her love of books & words shines through. Highly recommended!
Thank you to Anna Frame at Canongate for an early proof.