Reviews

A Room Called Earth by Madeleine Ryan

mudep's review against another edition

inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.75

loverrbboy's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

i think this book found me exactly when i needed it. struggling to find my own identity outside of my friends and loving them, feeling lonely in a way that hanging out with them doesn’t fix, hurting deeply and afraid of being left alone with it all. 

the protag is deeply invested in herself and her environment above all else. with her background it makes sense, and she has a lot of privilege to be able to live her life the way she does - but it also seems lonely. she describes how she fights this loneliness and fear of the perceptions of others. 

i loved the concept of giving yourself a beautiful homemade meal to look forward to after a big scary outing. of the way her cat Porkchop looks at her, protect her space, is just a cat being a simple cat in the background of all her mess. 

i didn’t like the way she seems to judge all other women as performing for men all the time. although i’m sure a lot of it is true. 

i spent the second half of this book hoping that

she wouldn’t end up running away with this guy, and living happily ever after. i was so relieved that it just ended, after a fun and different and interesting night together. she held him, and enjoyed him, and let him go. not yearning to keep him around forever. not fearing the moment he should leave. just content to have had him for a little while, to know him, to observe him.

. i want to think more like her. 

i hadn’t managed to get through a paper book in months before this book screamed to me from the street library “hey!! there is still stories for you. there is still things you can do.”

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, and Sexism

laurelmb's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

jamiesbookclub's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

It's a fine book. As far as literary books go, I've definitely read worse. There were a lot of things I related to as an adult women who may be on the spectrum. I love that the main character was not infantilized and even called out the infantilization she experienced. I love that she had beautiful thoughts about life, her body, philosophy, etc. And I enjoyed the juxtaposition between her thoughts and feelings versus how she is able to interact with the people around her.

I really hoped this book would focus more on the relationship she starts with "the man" (I'm just now realizing I don't thi k anybody has a name in this book). I think the concept of finding a person you can have a genuine connection with is great. Having those easy interactions where you don't feel like you're pretending to be a person, there's nothing better. But that is a very small section of the book.

The entire book is a stream of consciousness monologue that takes place over one (1) night. It got very slow and a little annoying but I could push through. Then we focused on her parents and the really cool rooms in her house a little too much. I don't see how that's relevant to anything else.

I appreciate what this book is doing bit it wasn't my cup of tea.

Also the main character is waaaayy too hippie/boho/spiritual/crystal girlie for me.

eliseondet's review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

1.5

I had a hard time relating to the main character. I think a part of it is because we are in the brain of an autistic woman, and I am not autistic, and that's why I pushed myself to keep reading, to confront my own ableism. However, her discourse about medication, also some internalised sexism around "beautiful" women was hard to read.

tcabot's review against another edition

funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

cjmcdonald004's review against another edition

hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

jadekake's review against another edition

1.0

Absolute trash fire of a book. Astonishing lack of self awareness with many harmful, troubling and downright offensive aspects. I am astonished that this book has been described as brilliant or received any sort of positive reception. Disturbing. Racist, ableist, and reeks of privilege.

jillwerbisky's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

rburnham's review against another edition

informative lighthearted 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

3.0