Review: Room by Emma Donoghue

Room by Emma Donoghue

Published: September 13, 2010

Published: Little Brown and Co.

Format: purchased

Rating: 5/5

 

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Synopsis

To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it's where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits. Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for Jack. But she knows it's not enough...not for her or for him. She devises a bold escape plan, one that relies on her young son's bravery and a lot of luck. What she does not realize is just how unprepared she is for the plan to actually work. Told entirely in the language of the energetic, pragmatic five-year-old Jack, Room is a celebration of resilience and the limitless bond between parent and child, a brilliantly executed novel about what it means to journey from one world to another.

 

My Thoughts

Talk about an emotional rollercoaster! Room is everything I thought it would be and more and let me tell you this read WILL NOT DISAPPOINT! As many of you might know from the book or movie this is the story of Jack who with his Ma are victims of a kidnapper and are confined to a single room.

The book is told through Jack and it is heartbreaking. From his limited speech and knowledge, we learn what their days consist of and his sole view of the outside world is via a skylight. Ma does the best she can and she protects Jack fiercely when Old Nick comes by from time to time. Jack doesn’t know that there is a whole world outside those four walls but as he grows older his Ma wants more for him so she sets a plan in motion to give Jack a chance in life. I won’t go into details because I honestly want everyone to read this book, it’s one that not only will touch your heart but it will creep into your soul as well. The things we take for granted every day are things he doesn’t even know exist. The fact that he doesn’t even know there is a world out there is what’s shook me up so much. You feel for them both and know that once they are “free” it’s simply the beginning while they might be free so to speak the years of abuse have taken its toll. They must now learn to adapt to the outside world but it’s the hardest for Jack who has to learn everything and that is what is so hard to read.

You can’t help but to feel for these two and once you read their full story you will be brought to tears. I am very curious to see how this story will transfer to film. Usual it’s not a good move but seeing how it’s gotten a lot of great reviews and raves this is one that I will definitely check out. As a stated before this is a rollercoaster of emotions one that I was glad I took and one that I highly advise everyone to take as well.