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Room (Hardback)
Short Description for RoomThe story of a mother, her son, a locked room and the outside world
Full description- Publisher: PICADOR
- Published: 06 August 2010
- Format: Hardback 320 pages
- See: Full bibliographic data
- Categories: Contemporary Fiction
- ISBN 13: 9780330519014 ISBN 10: 0330519018
- Sales rank: 291
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Reviews for Room
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Amazingly brilliant
A beautiful story, which is well thought out and captivating from start to finish. Told through the eyes of a 5-year-old boy, the language and construction are perfect!
Highly recommended read. by Jo Hunter -
Amazing
What an amazing book, sat down and 5 hours later looked up when I had finished it. Come and read my full review at www.ourbookclub.net.au/LiteratureAndFiction2011.php by Natalie Ward
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The Room
What a fantastic read - an ending you don't see coming. So sad yet uplifting - loved the way it's been written. I read it some time ago and yet there are moments when i remember elements of the book and these memories get me through the day. Brilliant. by Rina Carbone
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the room
This is one of the most thought provoking books I have read!!! I read it a few months ago, and it still haunts me to this day. Very emotional, heart-breaking, joyful and sad all at once. I read it in one sitting as i could not put it down!!! Unmissable. by Mrs Elizabeth Taylor
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Brilliant
This book is BRILLIANT. A tip is to read it Chapter by Chapter and not a few pages at a time. You'll get hooked straight away. I was a bit concerned when I read the back of the book but don't let that put you off. I will be recommending it to all my friends. Hope it wins the Booker prize tomorrow. by Aislinn Hampson
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loved it
I loved how this horrible situation was told through the innocence of a little boy, I had to stop myself from giggling out loud at some of Jack's perceptions of his life and of the life around him, when I knew what had happened was an atrocity. Another story of human spirit at its best. by Karl Bridger
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Good but not Great
Reason for Reading: With this subject matter, who is *not* wanting to read this book?
A 26 year old woman has been kidnapped and held captive in a soundproof, escape-proof 11 x 11 foot Room for 7 years. She has a five year old son, Jack. She cares for him fiercely and has created a world for him out of that Room, giving him everything she possibly can that he needs to grow properly, physically and emotionally. They do daily exercises, she teaches him, etc. This is their story, of their day-to-day life, their escape and how they cope on the Outside. A truly fascinating story to start with is only topped by the fact that it is told in the first person narrative of five year old Jack.
I'm going to start by saying this is a hard review for me to write. I agonized over my rating. There is not doubt that Room is a wonderful piece of writing. The subject matter is enticing and the reality of the situation has been explored to such detail that one is amazed the author could have thought of some things without having actually experienced captivity herself. The book is divided into distinct sections, each one focusing intensely on a certain stage of Jack and Ma's story. Donoghue has managed to write about a horrific situation without ever actually putting in print any scenes that show the obvious s*xual violence that was perpetrated. In the hands of a lesser author this could have become a much more graphic story thus losing Ms. Donoghue's perceptive touch. The book reads fast, is compelling and is tremendously well written.
So why is this review hard to write? I didn't love the book. Yes, it was good. Good enough to keep me reading, and reading quickly too. The second half was better than the first, as in enjoying the story and the characters. I really enjoyed the introduction of Grandpa Leo, Steppa. He was the most real character in the whole book. I often found myself annoyed while reading the book. The child's narrative just didn't win me over. I didn't hate it but it felt detached somehow and thus I felt detached from the characters. I never had any great emotional response to the boy and his mother, which *really* wanted to have. None of the other characters were fully developed, even Steppa , but he at least had the behaviour of a real person and came to life for me.
As you can see I had problems with the book, while appreciating it. Now that I've finished it, my immediate response is "Yeah, it was good." I wouldn't grab people and say you *must* read this book, but if anyone asked me I'd recommend it with my reservations as noted above. I may feel differently about my rating a month (a year) from now but it's been 6 days since I've written this review and I still feel the same way. Very well written, but only good, not great. by Nicola Mansfield -
Top review
Brilliantly written
I have never read a book like this before, I usually stick to horror and other such fiction. I bought this book by chance and I could not put it down when I started. Such a hard story to read because of the content, but it is made easier by the fact its told through by a 5 year old. The innocence and love little Jack has make this book a must read. The review on the cover is correct, it did leave a lingering feeling for days afterward.
An amazing book with amazing characters .... brilliantly written. by Chrysta
Excellent book, would highly recommend it!! by 
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