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Marla asked this question about The Book of Form and Emptiness:
where is this book set? I can think of 5 good options, but I can't figure it out, and it's kind of bugging me. must be deliberate on Ozekis' part
Jennifer (formerly Eccentric Muse) the setting of the book is not specified although, as pointed out below, Ozeki is very clearly describing the Vancouver Public Library, in Library Squ…morethe setting of the book is not specified although, as pointed out below, Ozeki is very clearly describing the Vancouver Public Library, in Library Square. However, the setting is not Canada; it is definitely the U.S., which you can tell by:
a) reference to "states" (not provinces);
b) references to healthcare costs, COBRA and lack of universal health insurance coverage;
c) the job Annabelle does and its concentration on U.S. topics, also a reference to gun violence;
d) the veiled references to the U.S. elections and the riots over police violence;
e) the U.S. book tour for Tidy Magic, the last stop of which is the U.S. northwest (again, state not specified, but definitely Pacific Northwest).

I agree with you that this confusion of setting is a deliberate authorial choice and an interesting one on Ozeki's part.(less)
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jo both jennifer and i are very familiar with US and canadian reality. jen is absolutely right.
Dec 04, 2021 02:25PM · flag
3780557
Rhea Tregebov Canadian authors often find it necessary to avoid specifying their settings as Canada. While Ozeki is very clearly drawing on many vivid details of Va ...more
Oct 03, 2022 10:30PM · flag
6858289
Zuvielekatzen It might be Vancouver, Washington, right on the border between Washington and Oregon - across the Columbia River
Jul 21, 2023 04:15PM · flag
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The Book of Form and Emptiness
by Ruth Ozeki (Goodreads Author)
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