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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
I have tasked myself with going back and reading "popular" books that I haven't read yet, and this was one on my list!
Honestly, this book was incredible. I read it with the premise that I wasn't going to over analyze and I just wanted to experience it. I figured it wasn't going to be the "perfect" story of this kind of abuse, but I didn't care. I wanted to disappear into the book and not think about my own everyday problems.
The wya this is told through a five year old's eyes? Incredible. Absolutely amazing. I have read about many captive situations, and I never really considered how a kid would think about it. That would be their "normal".... And what happens when they go out to the real "normal"? It's interesting.
I do wish this book carried on for a bit longer or had an epilogue. There likely isn't a perfect way to end a novel like this, but I wanted to see more of how Jack developed in his new world and how his Mom readjusted. But, that's my personal hopes. I like seeing the positive growth.
I will also say, this is one of the few books that the "slow" parts had me hooked. I don't know what magic sauce Emma put into this, but I actually enjoyed the slow sections.
I want to read more by Emma now. This book was charming and terrifying. I liked it.
Four out of five stars.
Honestly, this book was incredible. I read it with the premise that I wasn't going to over analyze and I just wanted to experience it. I figured it wasn't going to be the "perfect" story of this kind of abuse, but I didn't care. I wanted to disappear into the book and not think about my own everyday problems.
The wya this is told through a five year old's eyes? Incredible. Absolutely amazing. I have read about many captive situations, and I never really considered how a kid would think about it. That would be their "normal".... And what happens when they go out to the real "normal"? It's interesting.
I do wish this book carried on for a bit longer or had an epilogue. There likely isn't a perfect way to end a novel like this, but I wanted to see more of how Jack developed in his new world and how his Mom readjusted. But, that's my personal hopes. I like seeing the positive growth.
I will also say, this is one of the few books that the "slow" parts had me hooked. I don't know what magic sauce Emma put into this, but I actually enjoyed the slow sections.
I want to read more by Emma now. This book was charming and terrifying. I liked it.
Four out of five stars.
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
This book is AWFUL!!
I try to keep an open mind when reading, but this was a struggle and I almost didn't finish this. The narrative is written so strangely I almost quit.
This is told from the viewpoint of a five-year-old. This is struggle enough with the simple minds that children have, but add to that the fact that this child is unsocialized having been locked in a room for five years. So on top of the simple sentences and thoughts, some of the sentences used make no sense. Things like, "We meet him in a room in the not upstairs." So are they going downstairs, or staying where they are?
And given that he is an unsocialized five-year-old, he seems to know words like cunning, sarcasm, astonishing, and agonizing.
There are things written in this book that don't add anything to the story and feel useless. There were a few times where it said "Silly penis is standing up, I squish him down." as well as references to being breastfed. "I want some very much, I didn't have any all day. The right even, but I'd rather the left." This book is written as a day by day account, so the breastfeeding is constantly referred to which is completely unnecessary.
I was very frustrated with this book. It starts at a random point, and while there is one good chapter, the rest is very tedious and ultimately leads nowhere.
I try to keep an open mind when reading, but this was a struggle and I almost didn't finish this. The narrative is written so strangely I almost quit.
This is told from the viewpoint of a five-year-old. This is struggle enough with the simple minds that children have, but add to that the fact that this child is unsocialized having been locked in a room for five years. So on top of the simple sentences and thoughts, some of the sentences used make no sense. Things like, "We meet him in a room in the not upstairs." So are they going downstairs, or staying where they are?
And given that he is an unsocialized five-year-old, he seems to know words like cunning, sarcasm, astonishing, and agonizing.
There are things written in this book that don't add anything to the story and feel useless. There were a few times where it said "Silly penis is standing up, I squish him down." as well as references to being breastfed. "I want some very much, I didn't have any all day. The right even, but I'd rather the left." This book is written as a day by day account, so the breastfeeding is constantly referred to which is completely unnecessary.
I was very frustrated with this book. It starts at a random point, and while there is one good chapter, the rest is very tedious and ultimately leads nowhere.
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book blew me away. I cannot imagine getting so thoroughly into the head of a small child with no knowledge of the real world--and then conveying, through his perspective, such a good sense of what is actually happening. In a different realm, the film Night of the Shooting Stars does the something similar, also brilliantly.
#ashooreviews
Synopsis :
To 5 year old jack room is the world….
Room is a place where jack and his ma are kept captive by Old Nick. Jack is born there, so for him it is his home. He has never seen the outside word. For 5 years room is the only place where jack learns to live,eat,play,study with his ma. And now Ma is trying hard to break free from the captivity with the help of little jack. Will she succeed, is she prepared if the plan fails, and many other such consequences are for the readers to be explored…
My take on this book :
Firstly the narrator of this book is jack. Some readers may find it uncomfortable, but I personally found it very profound and hitting my nerves. It is not easy to get into the head of a 5 year old and write or articulate his thought process. But Emma does this job brilliantly.
The way Ma tries to make life easy and colorful from all the little things she is provided (even if it means reusing egg shells ) for jack. She constantly tries to protect jack from Old Nick. Staying in between 4 walls for five years Ma tries her best to describe and imagine and explain the outer world to jack. It is not easy to being captive and just not lose hope that someday you will taste freedom, or may be its your last day today.
The author also works beautifully on how jack adjusts to the world after they manage to escape. For him it’s like living in outer space. He is so overwhelmed with everything, so many people an
d colors all to face at once. The book also talks about how Ma struggles after the release. Living a normal life after a terrible nightmare is not easy.
The author tries to not make this story look like more gruesome and terrible. Maybe because jack is the narrator, he is not really focused. Just as any normal child his thoughts keeps wavering and so the plot also fluctuates.
I want you to read this book for jack. Because, that’s what it’s all about. Smiles and tears walk hand in hand in this book.
Synopsis :
To 5 year old jack room is the world….
Room is a place where jack and his ma are kept captive by Old Nick. Jack is born there, so for him it is his home. He has never seen the outside word. For 5 years room is the only place where jack learns to live,eat,play,study with his ma. And now Ma is trying hard to break free from the captivity with the help of little jack. Will she succeed, is she prepared if the plan fails, and many other such consequences are for the readers to be explored…
My take on this book :
Firstly the narrator of this book is jack. Some readers may find it uncomfortable, but I personally found it very profound and hitting my nerves. It is not easy to get into the head of a 5 year old and write or articulate his thought process. But Emma does this job brilliantly.
The way Ma tries to make life easy and colorful from all the little things she is provided (even if it means reusing egg shells ) for jack. She constantly tries to protect jack from Old Nick. Staying in between 4 walls for five years Ma tries her best to describe and imagine and explain the outer world to jack. It is not easy to being captive and just not lose hope that someday you will taste freedom, or may be its your last day today.
The author also works beautifully on how jack adjusts to the world after they manage to escape. For him it’s like living in outer space. He is so overwhelmed with everything, so many people an
d colors all to face at once. The book also talks about how Ma struggles after the release. Living a normal life after a terrible nightmare is not easy.
The author tries to not make this story look like more gruesome and terrible. Maybe because jack is the narrator, he is not really focused. Just as any normal child his thoughts keeps wavering and so the plot also fluctuates.
I want you to read this book for jack. Because, that’s what it’s all about. Smiles and tears walk hand in hand in this book.
I was hooked! To be audibly gasping at certain points means this was a very good read. Highly recommend!
First I fell in love with the movie, then I fell in love with the book. The book version is written from the perspective of the child, which makes it that much more special. A beautiful, heartwrenching story with well-thought-out characters. Highly recommend it.