What I’ve Read: Room by Emma Donoghue
I resisted this book for a while since I had a lot of other items on my list to read first, but after hearing so much about it, I gave in. It was a great decision.
What can I say about this book that hasn’t already been said? I have nothing but immense praise for it.
If you’re unfamiliar with the plot, this is the story of 5-year-old Jack, the son of a kidnapped woman (“Ma”), who lives with her in a makeshift jail cell/garden shed (“Room”) in the backyard of the kidnapper (“Old Nick”). Jack has never seen the world outside Room and, in fact, doesn’t really believe it exists. When he is eventually confronted by Ma about the world at large, he must reconcile what he is being told to everything he knows from watching TV.
I don’t want to give anything away—but there are moments in the book where my heart was pounding, my eyes were skimming the page and I could not physically tear myself away until I found out what happened. Donoghue is a genius: it is believable, at every turn, that a 5-year-old in Jack’s situation was narrating the story from beginning to end. You learn an incredible amount of what’s happening in the other character’s minds through his narration, and not once does this seem forced or faked.
One of things I liked best about Room is that Jack, although very, very likable, is also a frustrating character—like any 5-year-old. That sense of immaturity and selfishness, inherent in any child, comes through at various points. Reading how Jack justifies and explains certain actions or words does not diminish the fact that at various points you want to yell at him, “Don’t you understand?!”
I have rarely (if ever) come across a book with a more believable first-person narration. Maybe it’s the age of the character that makes it more astounding for the reader, but regardless, Donoghue puts an incredible story to page and none of it is ever communicated through an adult perspective. Yet, despite this, she still manages to provide thorough development to all other characters. I’ve read books that switch between narrators every chapter that cannot achieve half of what Donoghue did with one 5-year-old boy’s perspective. It’s really fantastic.
Room is unlike any book I’ve ever read, and Jack is unlike any character I’ve come across. It was funny, heart-breaking, touching and suspenseful. Not a word is put to page that does not contribute to the overall story. Although I found the story lost some of its momentum later in the book, that’s not to say that it was entirely unwelcome. The gradual slowing of the book’s pace felt natural and purposeful.
If you have not yet had a chance to read this book, I would highly recommend you add it to your reading list. It was a game-changer for me: I doubt I will ever read a book like this again.
We’re reading Room for book club this month. From the sound of Jaclyn’s review, looks like we’re in for a real treat.
Nice pick, Malarie!
I don’t think I can say any more about this book that Jaclyn already did, but I have been recommending this book to everyone I know. I got this book as a Christmas gift and by the time I got back to New York two days later I had already finished it. Emma Donoghue’s ability to draw you in and keep the story moving at a fast pace made this book move very quickly. I highly recommend you all check this book out ASAP.
