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The Book of Form and Emptiness
- Narrated by: Ruth Ozeki, Kerry Shale
- Length: 18 hrs and 54 mins
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The Book of Form and Emptiness
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Publisher's Summary
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.
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)
What listeners say about The Book of Form and Emptiness
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 06-11-2022
Wonderful narration
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.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Razz Berry Muffin
- 16-04-2024
Mental health, philosophy, poetry, trauma & the interconnectedness of everything.
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.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Sophie
- 02-08-2023
Different kind of read
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.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Ellen
- 15-01-2022
Not my favourite Ozeki
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.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- jo squire
- 17-09-2022
Easy but meaningful read.
This book looks,below the surface of live without being ponderous. An insightful enjoyable read.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 30-04-2024
Ok storyline
Annoying voices put me off listening to this. He made the mother sound disabled or stupid
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Emme
- 09-01-2022
It shines.
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.
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6 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Darryl Ware
- 14-10-2022
Great book.
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.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 25-03-2023
Absorbing and enduring
What a fabulous book. Like nothing you’ve read before. Absorbing, enduring, something that will stay with me for a long time. Excellent performances.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anne
- 26-09-2022
An intriguing intricate book
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.
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1 person found this helpful