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softmellow's review against another edition
2.0
gave me the ick
would've been better without the second half
would've been better without the second half
jennyrambin's review
5.0
I will be referencing Room for the rest of my life. It took some getting used to at first, because the narrator is 5 year old Jack who was conceived through rape and born and raised in captivity, but being able to see his world through his eyes was something I will never forget.
ultimatekate's review
5.0
Talk about an interesting, engaging, and well-written novel! I read "Room" in literally just over twenty-four hours because once I started, I couldn't put it down.
As the dust jacket indicates, "Room" is about a five-year old boy who spends his entire life inside one room, which to him is a world of imagination and wonderful. His mother, though, is tired of being trapped and tortured, though she does her best to make life as normal and happy as she can. To go further into the story might give something away.
What really struck me about this novel is the way Donoghue is about to get into the mindset of five-year old Jack, the narrator of the novel. At first, I thought the way Jack described things was almost gimmicky (he calls his home Room, not room; he sleeps in Wardrobe and plays with Ball; the stove hots things, etc.), but the more I got into the book, the more I realized how well the author understands the psyche of a small child. Jack doesn't see anything unusual about his life, and literally can't understand how there's a whole word Outside and that what he sees on TV is real, just outside. He doesn't understand sarcasm, he doesn't understand the way adults talk, and he puts new knowledge into his old schemas. Reading this novel brought me back to how I used to see and understand things. For example, when I was younger, I thought that the football referees just shouted the penalties because what they were never holding microphones. That's just one example, but what Donoghue does is describe the world as a child. It's amazing.
As the dust jacket indicates, "Room" is about a five-year old boy who spends his entire life inside one room, which to him is a world of imagination and wonderful. His mother, though, is tired of being trapped and tortured, though she does her best to make life as normal and happy as she can. To go further into the story might give something away.
What really struck me about this novel is the way Donoghue is about to get into the mindset of five-year old Jack, the narrator of the novel. At first, I thought the way Jack described things was almost gimmicky (he calls his home Room, not room; he sleeps in Wardrobe and plays with Ball; the stove hots things, etc.), but the more I got into the book, the more I realized how well the author understands the psyche of a small child. Jack doesn't see anything unusual about his life, and literally can't understand how there's a whole word Outside and that what he sees on TV is real, just outside. He doesn't understand sarcasm, he doesn't understand the way adults talk, and he puts new knowledge into his old schemas. Reading this novel brought me back to how I used to see and understand things. For example, when I was younger, I thought that the football referees just shouted the penalties because what they were never holding microphones. That's just one example, but what Donoghue does is describe the world as a child. It's amazing.
raeding's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
4.0
It was really good, I liked this book I think there was just a few things I think could’ve been dived into deeper, and the ending could’ve been more developed in my opinion. I understand why these choices were made given that it’s from the perspective of Jack, and that the ending is full circle but it could’ve been better
phlegmie's review against another edition
5.0
Saying that this book gave me goosebumps all throughout might be an understatement. I've never read quite an interesting book like this that deals with issues that's right under our very nose, issues so complicated that we cringe everytime it comes up on the news [with the exception of another favorite, The Lovely Bones]
I love this book. I've got no words to describe it. I was drawn to it - the minute I opened it to read that I absolutely couldn't put it down. Emma Donoghue's brilliant wordplay has formed some kind of claustrophobic fence around me and I couldn't get out of it no matter how much I tried.
The book was told by five-year-old Jack, an intelligent boy who believes that Room is the world. Along with his Ma, he spends his first five years of childhood in the confines of a room, locked from the outside by Old Nick, the man who comes at night and goes to bed with his Ma, and makes all the creaks that Jack tries to count. Confusing it might be at first, but it slowly transcends to a poignant climax, inducing terrible visualizations - trust me. :)) :| Ma's story is not one to miss.
At first, I was taken aback with the narration and wondered on and on if Donoghue could pull it. The book basically leaves you to figure some of the things out and, I don't know what to say, it is a darling yet creepy book that I wouldn't mind re-reading again.
I love this book. I've got no words to describe it. I was drawn to it - the minute I opened it to read that I absolutely couldn't put it down. Emma Donoghue's brilliant wordplay has formed some kind of claustrophobic fence around me and I couldn't get out of it no matter how much I tried.
The book was told by five-year-old Jack, an intelligent boy who believes that Room is the world. Along with his Ma, he spends his first five years of childhood in the confines of a room, locked from the outside by Old Nick, the man who comes at night and goes to bed with his Ma, and makes all the creaks that Jack tries to count. Confusing it might be at first, but it slowly transcends to a poignant climax, inducing terrible visualizations - trust me. :)) :| Ma's story is not one to miss.
At first, I was taken aback with the narration and wondered on and on if Donoghue could pull it. The book basically leaves you to figure some of the things out and, I don't know what to say, it is a darling yet creepy book that I wouldn't mind re-reading again.
alisontrax's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
remia1996's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
blemishedhearth's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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? No
4.0
jess_mango's review
5.0
I will review this later....excellent read... kept me up reading well past my bedtime especially since I have a 6:30 AM call tomorrow.