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

Jan 06, 2016 Andreea rated it really liked it

I really enjoyed the audio book version where the book is actually narrated by a 5 y/o kid!

I think I will post a more in depth review on my blog, so here are some notes:
* At first I had no idea what the book was about and when I realized I was shocked.
* The story is not a thriller, it's not about (view spoiler) The story is about Jack and Ma. What Ma had to do to protect Jack, to raise him and to teach him, and more importantly about Jack ...more

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Apr 20, 2011 Karen (EarthAngel2911) rated it really liked it

Shelves: audio-books, do-not-own, library-overdrive-ebook, literary-fiction, library-overdrive-audio

I just finished listening to this book yesterday, and it elicited such mixed emotions for me. I was captivated in the beginning of the story, listening to this little kid process all of the input around him.

However, it didn't take long for that to annoy me. And it wasn't the fact that the story is being told in a child's voice; that's what I liked about it. What bothered me was that this 5-yr-old child spoke like a 3-yr-old. I don't think it was the fact that all the objects in the room had gen I just finished listening to this book yesterday, and it elicited such mixed emotions for me. I was captivated in the beginning of the story, listening to this little kid process all of the input around him.

However, it didn't take long for that to annoy me. And it wasn't the fact that the story is being told in a child's voice; that's what I liked about it. What bothered me was that this 5-yr-old child spoke like a 3-yr-old. I don't think it was the fact that all the objects in the room had genders and were treated as proper nouns. I think it annoyed me that the mother chose to allow the baby-speak to contine for so long. I know this is only a book, but you would think she would have prefered to have her son speak more coherently. He's obviously capable.

Once I got past that, I appreciated the way the author chose to get different points of view across to the reader. I especially liked the game the mother played with Jack, called "Parrot." (At least I think that's what it was.) I actually thought, "What a great game for a kid!" Until I realized that I don't think I would want my kids so aware of everything going on. They are aware enough as it is... my husband calls my older son "radar ears." We're pretty sure he hangs around the corner listening to our private conversations! Anyway, little Jack was able to parrot so much of what he heard, I figured that's how we were able to find out some of the adults' viewpoints at various points in the story. He may not have understood what he was repeating, but it helped the reader see past the 5-yr-old's viewpoint. I thought that was a very subtle, but very ingenious way for the author to keep the tone consistent throughout the story but still give the reader more to digest.

I liked the fact that the mother and Jack were rescued halfway through the story, because no doubt, there's so much more ahead of them now that they're Outside.

I confess that in the beginning I was wondering what the point of this book was. Until I realized that it's the story of an abduction, the life they try to make for themselves with what they have, the pain of recovery, and the resilience of spirit. The thing that makes this story unique is the voice of the storyteller.

Definitely a book worth reading! ...more

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Aug 05, 2013 Nancy rated it liked it · review of another edition

I didn't hate this book, but nor did I love it. I wasn't sure how I felt about it in fact. I couldn't really relate to any of the characters although I appreciated the clever use of the 5 year old narrator. It was a strange and eerie premise, and I was sure the whole book was going to be the story of this boy and his mother in the locked room, so I was quite glad that that only took us halfway. I have to admit, I couldn't stop reading it so I guess that should mean it was good. I wish I could gi ...more

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Jun 03, 2013 Nicole rated it liked it

Shelves: own

I'm not sure how to rate this book. I enjoyed it well enough, I guess, but I couldn't connect with the characters. Especially 5-year-old Jack. I found myself irritated from page 1 that everything in the room (or Room) was referred to as if it were a proper noun (Bed, Duvet, Lamp...). The story was interesting, though, and I do think it was, in part, due to the nature of the storyteller. Still, I could not connect with Jack and found him annoying a lot of the time. It also took me out of the stor ...more

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Feb 05, 2011 Kim Benouski rated it liked it

Shelves: thriller-suspense-mystery, modern-and-noteworthy

This told the story of a boy who grew up in a shed with his kidnapped mother as the product of the abductor. His existence kept her alive. Interestingly enough, this was told through the boy's voice. I both liked and disliked this aspect. Having the story told through a five-year-old's point-of-view was limiting, yet intriguing. Perhaps a shifting point-of-view would've worked better. Still, it was a quick and unique read. ...more

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May 18, 2015 Gabriela rated it really liked it

Shelves: nytimes-bestseller, world-book-night-2012

Sad, overwhelming and oh so strange. This was my reaction while reading the book. It's just so unreal, so amazing, yet it can definitely be a real story - that's the strange sad thing about Room. ...more

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Jan 04, 2011 Nicole rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2011

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 25, 2011 Kimberly rated it really liked it

Loved it-don't want to say too much because it might spoil the book. All I can say is--read it!
...more

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Oct 17, 2010 Tien rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, contemporary, own-audio

I'm not a fan of this book, unfortunately, mainly due to being uncomfortable with the subject matter and the style of writing. It's strong issue being dealt in there but there are just times I felt like dropping it off but being myself, I can't not finish (very rarely anyway).

So I finished it and I think I quite like the way it's ended - it's a very rounded and therefore, I guess, provided closure to the whole story. ...more

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