Cover of the book The Book of Form and Emptiness

Critically acclaimed

Buy on Amazon

Already read? Rate it!

The Book of Form and Emptiness

A Novel

byRuth Ozeki

Genres: Fiction LGBTQ+Magical Realism Life-Rediscovery Journeys

Who is this book for? Readers who enjoy character-driven narratives with elements of magical realism and coming-of-age themes.

Topics DeathIdentityFamilyFriendshipSurvival

MoodHopeful, Melancholic

RomanceMinor Subplot

“No one writes like Ruth Ozeki—a triumph.” —Matt Haig, New York Times bestselling author of The Midnight Library “Inventive, vivid, and propelled by a sense of wonder.” —TIME “If you’ve lost your way with fiction over the last year or two, let The Book of Form and Emptiness light your way home.” —David Mitchell, Booker Prize-finalist author of Cloud Atlas A boy who hears the voices of objects all around him; a mother drowning in her possessions; and a Book that might hold the secret to saving them both—the brilliantly inventive new novel from the Booker Prize-finalist Ruth Ozeki One year after the death of his beloved musician father, thirteen-year-old Benny Oh begins to hear voices. The voices belong to the things in his house—a sneaker, a broken Christmas ornament, a piece of wilted lettuce. Although Benny doesn't understand what these things are saying, he can sense their emotional tone; some are pleasant, a gentle hum or coo, but others are snide, angry and full of pain. When his mother, Annabelle, develops a hoarding problem, the voices grow more clamorous. At first, Benny tries to ignore them, but soon the voices follow him outside the house, onto the street and at school, driving him at last to seek refuge in the silence of a large public library, where objects are well-behaved and know to speak in whispers. There, Benny discovers a strange new world. He falls in love with a mesmerizing street artist with a smug pet ferret, who uses the library as her performance space. He meets a homeless philosopher-poet, who encourages him to ask important questions and find his own voice amongst the many. And he meets his very own Book—a talking thing—who narrates Benny’s life and teaches him to listen to the things that truly matter. With its blend of sympathetic characters, riveting plot, and vibrant engagement with everything from jazz, to climate change, to our attachment to material possessions, The Book of Form and Emptiness is classic Ruth Ozeki—bold, wise, poignant, playful, humane and heartbreaking.

Language

Published on

21/09/2021

Pages

512

Format

hardcover

ISBN

9780399563645

Price Comparison

9.79 €

9.99 €

9.99 £

10.49 €

12.49 €

Books similar to “The Book of Form and Emptiness”

If you enjoyed reading “The Book of Form and Emptiness” by Ruth Ozeki, you may also like some of the following books.

Katherine RundellImpossible Creatures

Impossible Creatures

Katherine Rundell

Liane MoriartyHere One Moment

Here One Moment

Liane Moriarty

Adrienne YoungSpells for Forgetting

Spells for Forgetting

Adrienne Young

Carole JohnstoneMirrorland

Mirrorland

Carole Johnstone

Sue Monk KiddThe Book of Longings

The Book of Longings

Sue Monk Kidd

Rebecca Watsonlittle scratch

little scratch

Rebecca Watson

Michael EndeMomo

Momo

Michael Ende

Naomi KleinDoppelganger

Doppelganger

Naomi Klein

Magical Realism

Magical Realism weaves the fantastical into the mundane, creating stories where magic is seamlessly integrated into everyday life. These narratives are perfect for readers who enjoy subtle enchantment and thought-provoking themes.

Ilona AndrewsWildfire

Wildfire

by Ilona Andrews

Gregory MaguireWicked

Wicked

by Gregory Maguire

Gabi BurtonSing Me to Sleep

Sing Me to Sleep

by Gabi Burton

Isabel AllendeThe House of the Spirits

The House of the Spirits

by Isabel Allende

Susanna KearsleyThe Firebird

The Firebird

by Susanna Kearsley

Darcie Little Badger, Rovina CaiElatsoe

Elatsoe

by Darcie Little Badger, Rovina Cai

Jan Mitsuko Cash, Yoshida SeijiHouses with a Story

Houses with a Story

by Jan Mitsuko Cash, Yoshida Seiji

Kate JohnsonHex and the City

Hex and the City

by Kate Johnson

Holly Black, Tony DiTerlizziThe Field Guide

The Field Guide

by Holly Black, Tony DiTerlizzi

Terry PratchettThe Wee Free Men

The Wee Free Men

by Terry Pratchett

Megan ShepherdTim Burton's the Nightmare Before Christmas

Tim Burton's the Nightmare Before Christmas

by Megan Shepherd

Salman RushdieMidnight's Children

Midnight's Children

by Salman Rushdie

Toshikazu KawaguchiBefore the Coffee Gets Cold

Before the Coffee Gets Cold

by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Emily J. TaylorHotel Magnifique

Hotel Magnifique

by Emily J. Taylor

Emily X. R. PanAn Arrow to the Moon

An Arrow to the Moon

by Emily X. R. Pan

Zen ChoBlack Water Sister

Black Water Sister

by Zen Cho

Blank, Michael, Soman ChainaniThe School for Good and Evil

The School for Good and Evil

by Blank, Michael et al.

Mizuki Tsujimura, Philip GabrielLonely Castle in the Mirror

Lonely Castle in the Mirror

by Mizuki Tsujimura, Philip Gabriel

Ryka AokiLight From Uncommon Stars

Light From Uncommon Stars

by Ryka Aoki

Ryan La SalaReverie

Reverie

by Ryan La Sala

Rachel YoderNightbitch

Nightbitch

by Rachel Yoder

Stephanie GarberOnce Upon A Broken Heart

Once Upon A Broken Heart

by Stephanie Garber

Cari ThomasThreadneedle

Threadneedle

by Cari Thomas

Helen OyeyemiPeaces

Peaces

by Helen Oyeyemi

Margaret RogersonSorcery of Thorns

Sorcery of Thorns

by Margaret Rogerson

Zoraida CórdovaThe Inheritance of Orquídea Divina

The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina

by Zoraida Córdova

Show all

Life-Rediscovery Journeys

Life-Rediscovery Journeys invite readers on transformative adventures, where protagonists find new paths and purposes. Ideal for those seeking inspiration and tales of personal growth.

Robyn CarrHarvest Moon

Harvest Moon

by Robyn Carr

Saskia SarginsonHow It Ends

How It Ends

by Saskia Sarginson

Libby PageThe 24-Hour Café

The 24-Hour Café

by Libby Page

Raven KennedyGold

Gold

by Raven Kennedy

Ela LeeJaded

Jaded

by Ela Lee

Katie HollandHunting Briar

Hunting Briar

by Katie Holland

Ann FisherGeschäftsfrau, Hobbyhure, Sexsklavin

Geschäftsfrau, Hobbyhure, Sexsklavin

by Ann Fisher

Tom RachmanThe Imposters

The Imposters

by Tom Rachman

Jill BearupJust Stab Me Now

Just Stab Me Now

by Jill Bearup

Stephen BuoroThe Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa

The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa

by Stephen Buoro

Luna JoyaTides of Time (The Legacy, #0)

Tides of Time (The Legacy, #0)

by Luna Joya

Erin DoomThe Tearsmith

The Tearsmith

by Erin Doom

Toshikazu KawaguchiBefore We Forget Kindness

Before We Forget Kindness

by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Rebecca YarrosIron Flame

Iron Flame

by Rebecca Yarros

Angie CruzHow Not to Drown in a Glass of Water

How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water

by Angie Cruz

Holly SmaleModel Misfit

Model Misfit

by Holly Smale

Ruth ReichlThe Paris Novel

The Paris Novel

by Ruth Reichl

Abi DaréAnd So I Roar

And So I Roar

by Abi Daré

Sanaka HiiragiThe Lantern of Lost Memories

The Lantern of Lost Memories

by Sanaka Hiiragi

Geneva LeeFilthy Rich Vampires: For Eternity

Filthy Rich Vampires: For Eternity

by Geneva Lee

Lucinda RileyThe Storm Sister

The Storm Sister

by Lucinda Riley

John StreleckyReconnection- A Third Visit to The Café on the Edge of the World

Reconnection- A Third Visit to The Café on the Edge of the World

by John Strelecky

Laetitia ColombaniThe Braid

The Braid

by Laetitia Colombani

Robert Louis StevensonThe Black Arrow

The Black Arrow

by Robert Louis Stevenson

Kristin HannahNight Road

Night Road

by Kristin Hannah

David MitchellCloud Atlas

Cloud Atlas

by David Mitchell

Ella BermanThe Comeback

The Comeback

by Ella Berman

Hanya YanagiharaThe People in the Trees

The People in the Trees

by Hanya Yanagihara

Carol Ann DuffyThe World's Wife

The World's Wife

by Carol Ann Duffy

Clare Richards, Yeon SominThe Healing Season of Pottery

The Healing Season of Pottery

by Clare Richards, Yeon Somin

Show all

Fiction

Immerse yourself in the captivating world of fiction books, where every page invites you into a new universe. From heartwarming tales of quirky small towns to gripping narratives of modern love dilemmas, our collection offers something for every reader.

Delia OwensWhere the Crawdads Sing - Collector's Edition

Where the Crawdads Sing - Collector's Edition

by Delia Owens

Anthony DoerrAll the Light We Cannot See

All the Light We Cannot See

by Anthony Doerr

Charlotte BrontëJane Eyre

Jane Eyre

by Charlotte Brontë

E. B. White, Guillermo Solana AlonsoCharlotte's Web

Charlotte's Web

by E. B. White, Guillermo Solana Alonso

John SteinbeckOf Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men

by John Steinbeck

Frances Hodgson BurnettThe Secret Garden

The Secret Garden

by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Taylor Jenkins ReidDaisy Jones and The Six

Daisy Jones and The Six

by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Erin MorgensternThe Night Circus

The Night Circus

by Erin Morgenstern

Kurt VonnegutSlaughterhouse 5

Slaughterhouse 5

by Kurt Vonnegut

André AcimanCall Me By Your Name

Call Me By Your Name

by André Aciman

Charles Dixon, J.R.R. TolkienThe Hobbit

The Hobbit

by Charles Dixon, J.R.R. Tolkien

Charles DickensGreat Expectations

Great Expectations

by Charles Dickens

Alice WalkerThe Color Purple

The Color Purple

by Alice Walker

Jane AustenPersuasion

Persuasion

by Jane Austen

Casey McQuistonOne Last Stop

One Last Stop

by Casey McQuiston

Mitch AlbomThe Five People You Meet In Heaven

The Five People You Meet In Heaven

by Mitch Albom

Stieg LarssonThe Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest

by Stieg Larsson

Blake CrouchDark Matter

Dark Matter

by Blake Crouch

Milan KunderaThe Unbearable Lightness of Being

The Unbearable Lightness of Being

by Milan Kundera

Михаил Афанасьевич БулгаковThe Master And Margarita

The Master And Margarita

by Михаил Афанасьевич Булгаков

Mark Z. DanielewskiHouse Of Leaves

House Of Leaves

by Mark Z. Danielewski

Beth O'LearyThe Flatshare

The Flatshare

by Beth O'Leary

Dan SimmonsHyperion

Hyperion

by Dan Simmons

M. L. RioIf We Were Villains

If We Were Villains

by M. L. Rio

Jeffrey Eugenides, Nick LandrumThe Virgin Suicides

The Virgin Suicides

by Jeffrey Eugenides, Nick Landrum

Robert JordanThe Great Hunt

The Great Hunt

by Robert Jordan

David NichollsOne Day

One Day

by David Nicholls

C.S. LewisThe Last Battle

The Last Battle

by C.S. Lewis

Michael EndeThe Neverending Story. 45th Anniversary Edition

The Neverending Story. 45th Anniversary Edition

by Michael Ende

Joseph ConradHeart of Darkness

Heart of Darkness

by Joseph Conrad

Show all

LGBTQ+

Discover a vibrant collection of LGBTQ+ books that celebrate diverse voices and experiences. Whether you're seeking inspiring coming-out stories or exploring the rich tapestry of queer romances, our selection offers something for every reader.

Alice OsemanHeartstopper Volume 1

Heartstopper Volume 1

by Alice Oseman

Alice OsemanHeartstopper Volume 2

Heartstopper Volume 2

by Alice Oseman

Alice OsemanHeartstopper Volume 4

Heartstopper Volume 4

by Alice Oseman

Tennessee WilliamsA Streetcar Named Desire

A Streetcar Named Desire

by Tennessee Williams

Alice OsemanLoveless

Loveless

by Alice Oseman

Virginia WoolfOrlando

Orlando

by Virginia Woolf

James BaldwinGiovanni's Room

Giovanni's Room

by James Baldwin

Taylor Jenkins ReidThe Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Bethan RobertsMy Policeman

My Policeman

by Bethan Roberts

Alice OsemanThe Heartstopper Yearbook

The Heartstopper Yearbook

by Alice Oseman

Alice OsemanThe Heartstopper Collection Volumes 1-3

The Heartstopper Collection Volumes 1-3

by Alice Oseman

Alice OsemanHeartstopper Volume 3

Heartstopper Volume 3

by Alice Oseman

Armistead Maupin, Armistea MaupinTales Of The City

Tales Of The City

by Armistead Maupin, Armistea Maupin

Casey McQuistonRed, White & Royal Blue

Red, White & Royal Blue

by Casey McQuiston

Alice OsemanNick and Charlie

Nick and Charlie

by Alice Oseman

Alice OsemanRadio Silence

Radio Silence

by Alice Oseman

Alice OsemanThis Winter

This Winter

by Alice Oseman

Armistead Maupin, MaupinMore Tales Of The City

More Tales Of The City

by Armistead Maupin, Maupin

Hanya YanagiharaA Little Life

A Little Life

by Hanya Yanagihara

Annie ProulxBrokeback Mountain

Brokeback Mountain

by Annie Proulx

Rainbow RowellAny Way the Wind Blows

Any Way the Wind Blows

by Rainbow Rowell

Shelley Parker-ChanShe Who Became the Sun

She Who Became the Sun

by Shelley Parker-Chan

Casey McQuistonI Kissed Shara Wheeler

I Kissed Shara Wheeler

by Casey McQuiston

C. S. PacatDark Rise

Dark Rise

by C. S. Pacat

Caroline O'DonoghueThe Rachel Incident

The Rachel Incident

by Caroline O'Donoghue

Alexis Hall10 Things That Never Happened

10 Things That Never Happened

by Alexis Hall

Aiden ThomasCelestial Monsters

Celestial Monsters

by Aiden Thomas

Show all

Award Winning Literature

Step into the world of **Award Winning Literature books**, where every page resonates with excellence and acclaim. These books have not only captured the hearts of readers but have also been recognized by prestigious literary awards.