Room - Emma Donoghue

This was the 40th novel I read in 2018 and probably one of my favourites all year. A deep, insightful yet disturbing reflection of the life of a kidnapped mother and her son. "Room" had my mind racing and my heart exploding as the characters grew and changed. It is a novel that I would definitely read again. 

Jack lives with Ma in Room. It has a skylight, a locked door and sound proof walls. It measures eleven feet by eleven feet. Jack knows that everything he sees on TV isn't real, only him, Ma and Room are truly real. On Jack's fifth birthday, Ma explains something to him that changes everything. Maybe there is a world outside Room.

The idea behind "Room" is fascinating and insightful yet brutally disturbing at times. It goes into depth about important issues, increasing awareness about the experiences of victims of abuse and trauma. I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the novel which introduced Room and led into the climax and first part of the resolution. I found it gripping and suspenseful. The novel is written from Jack's point of view and having grown up in such a confined environment it is intriguing to read his opinions and beliefs about the world. On the other hand, his point of view came directly from his thoughts which meant that there were many intentional grammar errors. Although this was frustrating, it also added to Jack's unique voice and created a sense of mystery as both Jack and the reader create discoveries together. The second half of the novel went into depth about what it was like for Jack as he learned to live a life outside Room that he never knew existed. It highlights that the struggles for Jack and Ma didn't stop after they got out of Room and was a side of the story that most authors wouldn't usually bother to explore. Despite the significance, I found it a little anti-climatic  compared to the intensity of life in Room. Throughout the novel, "Room", I felt joy, fear, sorrow, pride and love for Ma and Jack as they struggled through their long and difficult journey.

"Room" is an insightful and unique novel which sheds light on darker issues in a way that pulls the reader into the story. 

As Audrey Niffenegger said,

"Room is a book to read in one sitting. When it's over you look up: the world looks the same but you are somehow different and that feeling lingers for days."

Thank you for reading my blog.

~Inkpot Blogger