Sophie Huang '22

Ruth Ozeki’s latest novel is a tribute to libraries. Where the outside world oppressively stamps out the likes of artists, poets, revolutionaries, and mediums, the public library provides a place of refuge for those misfits. The Book of Form and Emptiness is a meditation on our relationship to things, the power of books, and the radical potential of libraries, all told through Ruth Ozeki’s playful and weighty prose.

The libraries at Dartmouth, particularly Paddock and Baker-Berry, have been a similar haven for me during my time here. I’ve spent many hours here exploring the stacks, studying with friends, and taking advantage of the air conditioning. How special it is that the building that houses any book we might want to read is also the place where we congregate.