THE BOOK OF FORM AND EMPTINESS
by Ruth Ozeki
When I saw that Ruth Ozeki had a new book out, I immediately requested it from the library and put it straight on the top of my ‘to read’ pile. Her earlier novel A Tale For The Time Being (Reviewed here) remains one of my favorite contemporary novels ever. Ozeki is a master storyteller and has outdone herself in The Book of Form and Emptiness.
Two narrators weave their voices together in this fascinating novel. But in an interesting style twist, the narrators not only narrate, they speak to each other. The first narrator is Benny, a teenager going through an immense emotional and mental health crisis after the sudden death of his father. The second narrator is the book itself. The book you hold as the reader narrates and has opinions about Benny’s story, about books in general and about how humanity is developing. Benny often has opinions on the way the book tells his story.
Benny’s mother rounds out the cast of characters in a very important way. Lost in her grief over her husband’s death, she turns to hoarding as a means of coping. We hear her story from both Benny and the book and are able to empathize with her as she struggles to continue living for the sake of her son. Ozeki paints her characters with such nuance and specificity that I was truly sucked into the story. You have never met people like this before, and yet they will quickly feel like family—family you desperately root for to succeed. (Lily)
A SECOND HELPING
Ruth Ozeki is a master storyteller and in The Book of Form and Emptiness she has created a riveting story filled with unforgettable characters. Benny Oh, age thirteen and dealing with the tragic death of his father, begins to hear voices. At the same time, his mother, Annabelle’s hoarding tendencies ramp way up, until mother and son can barely move in their house. In Benny’s struggle to survive, he spends more and more time in his very large local library. It is there that he meets the girl of his dreams and a homeless man who turns out to be a philosopher. This unlikely duo helps Benny to conquer his demons.
Ozeki lays out her story in a totally unique fashion that adds an interesting twist to this, her first novel since the fabulous A Tale for the Time Being. I loved this book. Ozeki writes beautifully and deals with many sensitive issues that suround mental illness in a poignant and accessible way. I agree with my co-editor -- The Book of Form and Emptiness is a must read. (Liz)
