From the Bookshelf of Nothing But Reading Challenges…

Room

Emma Donoghue

Start date: September 2, 2012

Finish date: September 30, 2012

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What Members Thought

Dec 23, 2010 Judy rated it really liked it

Even after reading the rave reviews of this book, I was reluctant to read it. I really didn't want to share the holiday season with a book about a woman and child being held in an 11 foot square room by a kidnapper--especially since we know that things like this have happened in reality. But I gave in at the urging of a friend and I'm glad that I did. This is a fascinating book that raises as many questions as it addresses. Five year old Jack has been living in the room, a soundproof room in a c ...more

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Jul 11, 2011 Sindryc rated it really liked it

This book is a fairly quick read, only took me a couple of days. It might have taken less, as it's written in a 5 year old child's voice but the subject matter was disturbing and haunting. However, it is one of the most original tellings I've ever read. What struck me is how Donoghue made Jack so completely fresh and innocent... in many ways portraying a newborn/toddler exploring his world but with the advantage of having language and the means to explain his new discoveries. His world in the be ...more

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Jul 31, 2010 Amy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, busy-as-a-bee-books-group, read-in-2010

I was really concerned that this book wouldn't live up to the hype that I kept hearing about it. The premise sounded amazing, the reviews were fantastic! I shouldn't have worried ... this one was fantastic! I wavered between 4 and 5 stars, ultimately settling on 5 because of the emotional impact this book had on me! It's a really strong book - one of my favorites this year!

The point of view in this book is AMAZING! Having a 5 year old narrator is the very thing that gives the book its impact and I was really concerned that this book wouldn't live up to the hype that I kept hearing about it. The premise sounded amazing, the reviews were fantastic! I shouldn't have worried ... this one was fantastic! I wavered between 4 and 5 stars, ultimately settling on 5 because of the emotional impact this book had on me! It's a really strong book - one of my favorites this year!

The point of view in this book is AMAZING! Having a 5 year old narrator is the very thing that gives the book its impact and it could have gone very, very wrong! Fortunately for the reader, the execution of this book is FANTASTIC!

I've said it before but I rarely 'feel' a book. I rarely find myself emotionally involved to the point that a book brings me to tears, for example. But, this book did. There were moments when I just put the book down and sobbed, sad for this little boy and this woman who are having to deal with the effects of living in the Room. I think part of it was being the mother of two five year olds so they voice of the narrator was extremely impactful to me. I kept imagining my own children and how they'd react to the situation that Jack found himself in.

In the end, it was a good story that ultimately left me hopeful. It wasn't harrowing or frightening, despite the material/subject matter. It was fantastic. An excellent character study and a fantastic example of the use of voice in a story. WOW.

I will say that it took me some time to get into the book which surprised me but once I found a rhythm with the book, I began to fall in love with Jack and his view of the world. It did take me a bit to get there but I think the later impact of the book made the initial slowness of connection irrelevant for me personally. I don't think this is a perfect book but I do think it is an excellent book. Well worth the read!

I can't recommend this one enough. VERY good book, very good writing. Really impactful. Very timely, particularly since there have been several cases lately of this sort of thing around the world. It's left a mark on me and I suspect I'll carry this story and this narrator around with me for some time! ...more

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Jun 04, 2011 Deyara rated it it was amazing

Shelves: time-contemporary, abusive-relationships, living, captivity

I liked this book - not the events but the way they were portrayed. While the narration was a bit unusual, it was fairly believable - who doesnt name and talk to the things around them? I had a "Binnie" (purple rubbish bin) when I was a kid, and you cant tell me that all those kids you see on tv with a "Blankie" or a "Snuggly" werent based on something real. My main problem with the narration was that it was so full on it made it hard to stop reading, this 5 year old just kept going and going an ...more

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Apr 15, 2011 Darcy rated it it was amazing

I loved this book. It was surprisingly uplifting despite the depressing circumstances of the main character - Jack, a five year old boy who grew up with only his mother in a shed in the back yard of his mother's abductor. The topical nature of the subject matter also made this book so fascinating, imagining what real-life Jaycee Dugard and her children went through. I listened to this book and the different character's voices really bought the story to life. ...more

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Jan 01, 2012 Rhonda rated it really liked it

What a heartbreaking tale.

I felt the author took a huge risk in attempting a novel of this nature, especially telling it from a five year old's vantage and in that little boy's voice. It's the kind of stunt where most authors would crash in flames, but I really feel Donoghue pulls it off. ...more

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Apr 08, 2011 Darcie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: rate-5

This book is such a different concept. I really enjoyed it though there were some difficult parts to deal with and I think there are some plot lines that just are not what the characters would do, which made me want to discuss it with someone. It was a book that you can't put down once you start. ...more

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Apr 08, 2011 Beth rated it it was amazing

I loved this! That little five year old boy felt so real to me, I missed him when the story was over. The plot is different and intriguing and very well done.

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Jun 13, 2012 Olympia rated it it was amazing

I cried at the start of this book and at the end.A very powerhouse book told from the view of a five year old.
You are born into one room for five years its the only world you have known. Beautiful story.

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