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The Book of Form and Emptiness

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The Book of Form and Emptiness

By: Ruth Ozeki
Narrated by: Ruth Ozeki, Kerry Shale
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About this listen

A brilliantly inventive new story about loss, growing up and our relationship with things, by the Booker Prize-shortlisted author of A Tale for the Time Being.

After his father dies, Benny Oh finds he can hear objects talking: teapots, marbles and sharpened pencils, babbling in anger or distress. His mother, struggling to support their household alone, starts collecting things to give her comfort. Overwhelmed by the clamour of all the stuff, Benny seeks refuge in the beautiful silence of the public library.

There, the objects speak only in whispers. There, he meets a homeless poet and a mesmerising young performance artist. There, a book reaches out to him. Not just any book: his own book. And a very important conversation begins.

The Book of Form and Emptiness is about grief, resilience, creativity and psychological difference. It is about the importance of reading and an observation of the mess consumer culture has got us into. It is an affirmation of the power of community. It is funny, kind, wise, urgent and completely irresistible. If you let it - if you listen - it could change your life.

©2021 Ruth Ozeki Lounsbury (P)2021 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd Fantasy Fiction Genre Fiction Magical Realism Magic Funny

Critic Reviews

"Once again, Ozeki has created a masterpiece. Her generous heart, remarkable imagination and brilliant mind light up every page." (Karen Joy Fowler, author of We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves)

"Heart-breaking and heart-healing - a book to not only keep us absorbed but also to help us think and love and live and listen. No one writes quite like Ruth Ozeki and The Book of Form and Emptiness is a triumph." (Matt Haig, author of How to Stop Time)
All stars
Most relevant
Really engaging storytelling. I gave 4 stars for story because I found the story line difficult due to similar trauma in childhood so this brought up familiar emotions. A very deserving winner of the Womens Prize for 2022 fiction.

Wonderful narration

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Ruth Ozeki is now my favourite author.

Her remarkable ability to weave stories back & forth until they become an exquisite cloth, is equal to the depths of human-ness she traverses as she weaves.

I am blown away by the insight-fullness of her character building & their existential journeying. This is a book to make your mind soar & wrap your heart in a soft blanket.

Mental health, philosophy, poetry, trauma & the interconnectedness of everything.

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Amazing narration, so many accents and voices performed flawlessly. The storyline was complex and difficult listening at times - frustrating and sad but I can appreciate the writing. I was glad for the ending. Not one I would normally choose but pleased I persisted.

Different kind of read

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Beautiful writing and a wonderful concept. But the story failed to captivate me. It was incredibly slow-moving and the characterisation often felt a little reductive.

Not my favourite Ozeki

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This book looks,below the surface of live without being ponderous. An insightful enjoyable read.

Easy but meaningful read.

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This book is full of little trinkets that catch the light and shine like gifts from benevolent black crows. It's filled with pain and compassion and light and love. A brilliant transcription of human frailty and kindness.

It shines.

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The characters have meat on them and are relatable. Some of the the narrators voice acting sounds like a pre-op transsexual experimenting with a new voice in the mirror. It’s not terrible but it does fall into the uncanny valley; not a deal breaker as they generally do a solid job and the story is compelling enough to cut through.

Great book.

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What a fabulous book. Like nothing you’ve read before. Absorbing, enduring, something that will stay with me for a long time. Excellent performances.

Absorbing and enduring

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Some books stay with you and this one has. A delightful protagonist guides us through an intricate web of ideas and a compelling story. Starting with the Japanese idea of Tsukumogami the author begins pondering questions such as - What if objects were sentient? How would our culture respond to such a cross-cultural concept given life in a bustling US city? What's the meaning of objects in our lives (especially at times of high emotional need)? Many more ideas are brought to us through lively eclectic characters (not least of which the novel itself) and with great tenderness and laughter. So much to savour.

An intriguing intricate book

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A beautifully written story. Sensitive, insightful. Clever, amusing, poignant. Loved the characters. And all their flaw’s

Beautiful

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