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nicolescottwv's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Rape, Medical content, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Child death, Drug abuse, Miscarriage, and Vomit
Minor: Pregnancy
harraisin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Confinement, Miscarriage, Excrement, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Child death, Rape, Sexual violence, Vomit, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
Minor: Addiction, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Grief
belladonnashrike's review against another edition
5.0
I don’t think I would have enjoyed this as much if it were told from ma’s perspective. seeing everything through jack’s eyes was an excellent choice of donoghue’s.
such an amazing story. heartbreaking, terrifying, hopeful… its definitely something i’ll read again if I can find some tissues. it temporarily got me out of a reading slump too, so I love it for that as well.
I liked the movie too, although some of the story changes they made bugged me - but brie larson & jacob tremblay were incredible! I will always prefer the book but I really enjoyed their performances
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Child death, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
ahopper7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Confinement and Kidnapping
Moderate: Child death, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, and Suicide attempt
pepper_le_puck's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Minor: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Kidnapping
uuuultraviolennnnt's review against another edition
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, and Gaslighting
brookey8888's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
beesbookss's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
kaylaannsreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Confinement and Kidnapping
Moderate: Child death, Emotional abuse, Rape, and Medical trauma
katsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
“Stories are a different kind of true.”
“I've seen the world and I'm tired now.”
I think it will come as no surprise that the most interesting part of this book is the point-of-view. I find it very compelling when authors use the perspectives of "innocents" like children to tell stories. It takes away some of the bias and assumptions that we have as the reader. And this novel goes even further by making the narrator incredibly young. Jack, the narrator, is just 5 years old and he's never known anything other than Room. Getting to experience the world for the first time through his eyes was so interesting and provocative . My only major negative is also about the narrator, though. I've seen other people who've reviewed this book say that they found him annoying but for me, I just doubted that a 5 year old would be as articulate as he was sometimes portrayed. Granted, very few people can confirm or deny if it's actually possible but there were just instances when I felt like Jack was more articulate than any 5 year old would be even given the heinous and unique situation he was in.
Given all that, this book was incredibly well written. The audiobook was incredibly well done. I really liked how the author didn't turn this into a run-of-the-mill true crime novel. The focus was 100% on Ma and Jack and how their characters grow and develop through the trauma of their ordeal. Old Nick, the perpetrator, is a part of the story, obviously, but he spends very little time on page. His backstory is never explained or rationalized and I love that. I am now very interested in seeing the film adaptation!
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Vomit, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Miscarriage, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
Minor: Self harm, Excrement, and Abortion