A review by bmunsh
The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki

challenging emotional mysterious 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

4.75

Overall, a super ambitious that executes marvelously. Every character is complex but Ozeki does a good job showing how each character is completely rational from their own point of view, while irrational from the point of others. 

At the end of the day, it’s a very realistic portrayal of how real people would act, which I appreciated. Anabelle is expertly constructed. Benny actually acts like a 14 year old. It also respectfully approaches homelessness and mental illness, which was nice. 

Minor points deducted because the ending was a little bit too happy and neat, and it feels like the heaviness that had led up to it was all for nothing (not that I didn’t love the book overall). I really thought it was leading up to Benny ending up in prison or permanently in the psych ward, and I didn’t love the “and now, everything is better!” aspect. 

I really liked the monologue by the psychiatrist about “why is it so hard to believe what he says is the truth”/the whole “what is the truth” motif used throughout the novel. 

I know this book received some minor criticism for romanticizing mental illness, but I think I can’t deduct points for how it was written.
 
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