Are you looking for your next read? Are you in a reading slump that you are desperate to get out of? Whatever your reason is for picking up a new book, I have the perfect book to satisfy all of your reading desires. Let’s start with a very simple but bold statement. ‘The Book of Form and Emptiness’ is a literary masterpiece.
I am an English major and therefore a complete book nerd. I think I’ve read my fair share of literary novels so I would like to think that I hold some authority in recommending books. However, I do not expect you to simply rely on my word, so to validate my claim I’m going to let you know that this book did also win the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2022, and it was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize.
Now moving on to the reasons why this book is revolutionary.
Firstly, Ozeki perfectly masters the various forms of narrative voice. Using a multitude of different voices and perspectives creates an unescapable path into the world of the characters. The reader is able to understand both the thoughts and actions of the main characters through their perspectives and that of an omniscient narrator, or the book itself. One of the most captivating features of the book is that ‘The Book’ is a self-aware object with a conscience and it also interacts with the protagonist, Benny. The characters in the novel are so poignant and vibrant and the various forms of narrative voice that are spectacularly handled have to be one of the main reasons for this.
The narrative time is also remarkable because although the story is moving through time, the various narrative voices arrive from different periods to break up the story. Benny’s first-person voice is a reflection of the future, it is his voice after interacting with his book. This structure also highlights the necessity for reflecting on our own stories, it offers a new perspective and can help someone to understand what has happened in their lives.
The journey with mental health disorders in this story is unlike any novel I’ve ever read. Ozeki goes into necessary amounts of detail to share what is happening in Benny’s life and what it is like to live with various mental health disorders for both Benny, and the people that are close to him. The friendships that Benny forms are illuminating in many aspects and help Benny to feel less alone.
Consumerism is another prominent theme of the book. Benny’s mother, Annabelle, becomes a hoarder as the novel progresses, partially as a reaction to the intense grief after the death of her husband Kenji. She learns how to cope with her difficulties through the help of others and in particular, a small self-help book called ‘Tidy Magic’. A zen Buddhist monk has written a self-help book, teaching its readers methods to tidy their houses and promoting a minimalist lifestyle. Their voice is also a participant in the various narrative voices. Annabelle believes that this book has saved her life in many ways and I find this particularly touching because it comments on the power of books and the necessity of telling our stories. A small self-help book written by a Buddhist monk who lives miles away across the globe in Japan offers a new perspective on life to a woman who lives in America. The words in this book have travelled miles yet still carry as much importance.
‘The Book of Form and Emptiness’ is a novel that really delves into the philosophy of literary form and intentionally enlightens its readers about the power of how we tell our stories. I don’t know whether I have persuaded you to give this exceptional book a read but if you do want a book that will take you on an emotional and philosophical journey whilst maintaining an incredible control of narrative voice and structure, then I cannot see why this book would not be in your TBR. I for one feel different after reading this book, the power that it holds is inexplicable, and it will always have a special place in my heart. Ruth Ozeki is a genius.
