2022 winner: ‘The Book of Form and Emptiness’ by Ruth Ozeki, published by Canongate Books
The Independent praised Ozeki’s The Book of Form and Emptiness for being “a deeply moving story of family, loss and love, and a provocative lesson in mindfulness and the art of mastering inner peace”.
The story follows a teenage boy named Benny Oh. One year after the death of his father, he starts to hear voices from the objects around him in his head. The noises only grow louder when his distraught mother begins hoarding. In a bid to cope, he seeks solace in the silence of his local library. Dealing with themes of life and death, the book explores how Benny deals with his grief. It’s said to be equal parts touching and humourous, so should certainly be one to add to your summer reading list.