The Book of Form and Emptiness

More about the book

After the tragic death of his beloved musician father, fourteen-year-old Benny Oh begins to hear voices from objects in his house—a sneaker, a broken Christmas ornament, a piece of wilted lettuce. While Benny struggles to comprehend what these things are saying, he senses their emotional tones; some are gentle, while others are filled with anger and pain. As his mother develops a hoarding problem, the voices grow louder. Initially, Benny tries to ignore them, but they soon follow him outside and into school, prompting him to seek refuge in the silence of a large public library, where objects behave and speak in whispers. In this sanctuary, Benny discovers a captivating new world. He falls for a mesmerizing street artist with a smug pet ferret who performs in the library, and he meets a homeless philosopher-poet who encourages him to ask important questions and find his own voice. Benny also encounters a talking Book that narrates his life and teaches him to listen to what truly matters. With its sympathetic characters and vibrant themes, the narrative explores everything from jazz to climate change, showcasing a blend of boldness, wisdom, poignancy, playfulness, and heartbreak.