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Room by Emma Donoghue #inbetweeny

I was a little apprehensive reading Room, a story about a woman and her son living inside a small room following the kidnapping of the woman several years earlier, as I didn't enjoy Our Endless Numbered Days which I read quite recently and was similar in concept.

The book was told from the boy, Jack's perspective and the writing style does take a bit of getting used to as the reader adjusts to Jack's vocabulary. Seeing the Room from Jack's perspective was an original idea and such a good move by Donoghue.

Where as I really couldn't get away with Our Endless Numbered Days, finding I couldn't stomach the abuse, Room was different in that it almost wasn't about abuse, it was about Jack living in a very small room and how he, with his Ma, dealt with it. I did question whether I accepted the abuse more readily because it was only against a woman as opposed to a child and there was no prior relationship in Room. Whilst I strongly believe no type of abuse is acceptable I did seem to find Room more palatable and again can only assume this is because the story wasn't really about that, Jack was the star of the show.

I do think the front cover (which on my version is from the film) gave a little too much away for me, although I did still read Plan B with my heart in my throat. What if Old Nick taped the rug together and then buried him alive??!?

I did however enjoy the second half of the book almost as much as the first which surprised me as it could so easily have tapered off.  The moment Jack came across steps, shoes, the mall, the playground - equally hopeful and heart breaking and really well thought out by Donoghue. I really felt for Jack who, in quite a few ways, was left to get on with it. Surprising I also really liked Steppa/Leo whose presence initially made me angry with Jack's grandma. I could see Leo and Jack really bonding in the future. Grandma also warmed to me with the week in the hammock house being a turning point for all, including the reader.

The one character I didn't really get was Ma which surprised me. She was kidnapped and systematically abused yet managed to raise a son in horrendous conditions, why did I not feel sympathetic? Maybe as the book was from Jack's point of view and in the second half where Jack was so obviously struggling she fell away. Donoghue did address this by introducing the second 'Gone' period which really made you realise how Ma was every bit as much struggling too.

I read the book pretty much in a day and whilst I didn't cry it was probably the most emotional book I have read in a while. It was very original and, like with the very excellent Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine I do think that both Jack and Ma will be OK.

If you liked this, have a go at reading Our Endless Numbered Days and let me know how you think it compares.



Comments

  1. Rob13 July 2018 at 08:12

    This could have been such a gimmicky novel (and some people think it is), but I thought she pulled it off perfectly. Really enjoyed it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cramlington Book Club13 July 2018 at 10:56

      Agree Rob, I thought Donoghue did an excellent job with both parts of the book.

      Delete

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