Reviews

The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki

vivian_m_anderson's review against another edition

slow-paced

3.5

it's hard to figure out my thoughts on this book. it is definitely good--fun, creative, concept if rather convoluted at times, and a new take on perspectives--but it also read a bit like a fanfiction

keovi's review against another edition

emotional funny informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

2.5

han2's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad 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

nongshaw's review against another edition

5.0

oh yeah

shanayau's review against another edition

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

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I don't think I've ever experienced a book like this and it has forever left its mark on my heart.

elenareads's review against another edition

I didn't care about the characters. That's not quite it. The depiction of the characters made me angry. They are not characters, they are caricatures. Annabelle is a fat border - all her action are affected by the fact that she is either fat or a holder or both. The extend of her personality is fat and harder, beyond that she had no inner thoughts. I spent now so much time with her but I learned nothing about her, about what drives her and motivates her beyond fat, horder, oh yeah, and truly third place, being a mom.

Benny is just a kid who is sick. Again no inner thoughts, no motives, no hopes. He's barely there to have things happen to someone.

The Aleph is literally a manic pixie dream girl. Imagine, in this day and age. Again, we learn nothing about her inner world. 

B-man is a Russian understood to be unhaused character. He got an accent. No, I mean, Ozeki took time to write down an English phonetical version of what a Hollywood east European character sounds like. You know, half German, half Slavic, half Italian. Again, amazing, in this day and age. Does it add any depth to the character, in case the reader could not imagine a Russian? I works argue no

There's are just better things to read out there

wietse111's review against another edition

5.0

Fascinerend boek. Benji is 12 jaar als hij zn vader verliest in een tragisch ongeluk, en je volgt zijn leven de jaren daarna. Hij hoort stemmen van de objecten om hem heen, en praat met het boek. Dat laatste is het interessantste gedeelte van het boek. Het boek zelf is ook een karakter.

Mooi geschreven boek, met vooral echt hele goede karakters. De moeder, die zelf ook worstelt met depressie en verzamelzucht was een highlight, maar ook Benji en Alice zijn erg goed.

discoball_z's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-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

4.0

bronski's review against another edition

4.0

This is a beautiful story about grief, loss, and mental illness narrated by a book. I’m not sure it needed to be as long as it was, but the character development is wonderful and the writing is poetic and layered. Well deserving of the Women’s Prize.

lutecio's review against another edition

2.0

I tried really hard to connect with this book, but after 550 pages, it never really happened. Maybe it was just not my time to read it, but sadly I can't say I have enjoyed it.