Monday 23 July 2012

Room - Emma Donoghue

This book is a little gem. I haven't read a book anything like it in recent years. I didn't know something could be so heartfelt and endearing while also being quite sinister at the same time. Having received this book as a christmas present, I had no idea what it was about or what to expect. And sometimes this is best way to discover something new!



Without giving too much away about the book, Jack and his mum are living in one room. They don't have a life outside the room and Jack has never known the outside world. The reason is kept from the reader for quite a while until eventually it is revealed. We join Jack and his mum on a journey as they try to get out of the room.

What is unique about Room, is that it is written from the point of view of a child, using a child's language and ways of speaking. It is a little unnatural to read at first, but you soon get used to it and go deep into the world of little Jack.

The book is so insightful into his way of living and must have required a lot of research from the author. Can you imagine never seeing another living person apart from your mother? Not knowing about nature, other children and family?

It's an amazing story of how a young mother created a world inside one room for her son because she had to. She educates him, entertains him and tries to give him a normal childhood. If you are looking for something a little different to read, this is a good choice :)

Happy reading! Please comment below with your ideas for good reads or if you have read Room yourself :)

2 comments:

  1. I read Room in one sitting this past weekend, and loved it too. A lot of reviews I read felt that it was "obnoxious" to write it from the child's viewpoint, but I don't agree. Does the child not have the harrowing experience too? And I loved how Jack thinks of things.
    I'm glad you enjoyed it as much as I did!

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  2. hey, thanks for commenting. I found it took a while to get used to the language, but this was one of the best bits. We can all imagine being the mother, but for Jack, this was all he knew. I think it was an important part of the book :)

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