Book Review #1: Room by Emma Donoghue

Book Review #1: Room by Emma Donoghue


Room is about a boy and his mother. They live in an 11x11 foot room and he has been there his entire life; he doesn't think that "outside" is real. The mother was kidnapped at 19 by a man that they call Old Nick. He brings them food every week and sexually assaults the boy's (Jack) mother. When the mother finally thinks that Jack is old enough, she creates a plan to escape the room she has been in for 7 years. (Don't want to spoil the rest) Emma Donoghue has written 16 books, with Room being her second most recent novel. The book isn't a part of a series but it is an international bestseller, with over 2 million copies sold.

I loved the beginning of the book where you were just being introduced to the scenario through the perspective of a 5 year old boy who had always been in an 11x11 foot room. He didn't know what grass or wind felt like, and there was the suspense of if he and his mother would ever get out and beat the sick and twisted man, Old Nick. They had a tv in the room so he knew what things looked like, but he didn't think that they were real. Its crazy to even imagine only knowing a small room and thinking that is the only thing in the world! I also liked how brave he was when he escaped to save both of their lives at only 5 years old, especially since he had no concept whatsoever of the world outside.

Jack is the main character and the narrator so he is a very strong character. You read how he thinks and speaks, so that you feel like you know this funny and curious 5 year old boy. His mother is another strong character because of all the characters Jack describes her the most, so you also feel like you know her and her personality. A weaker character would be Old Nick, just in comparison to Jack and his mother because Jack doesn't see much or interact much with him. All we know is that Old Nick is a mysterious old man that brings them supplies and takes advantage of his mom.

One big idea that this book is dealing with is the bond of a mother and her child. The mother is very clear that she was saved by Jack instead of thinking negatively and about Old Nick. She does everything that she can to raise Jack; she reads to him, she has 'gym' class with him, they draw and work on vocabulary. She keeps him away from Old Nick as much as she can in that small room, and makes him brush his teeth and eat healthy. It is amazing that she can do so much with such a small amount of resources. Another big idea is how great justice is. When the police find the secret shed and rescue Jacks mom, you feel so much relief and joy. You feel even better when they catch Old Nick and he is sent to jail.

Using your brain and being patient instead of sudden violence in a tricky situation is always the better way.

I would describe this books genre as partly dramatic because it is about a horrible kidnapping and events that don't usually happen in our lives. The writing style is first person narrator, Jack. Two words to describe this writing style would be blunt and somewhat optimistic, because Jack actually likes the room and doesn't see the problem with it yet since he is so young. "“Goodbye, Room." I wave up at Skylight. "Say goodbye," I tell Ma. "Goodbye, Room."
Ma says it but on mute.
I look back one more time. It's like a crater, a hole where something happened. Then we go out the door.”" In this quote Jack and his mother have returned to the room because Jack wanted to get some of his belongings. He doesn't understand how hard it is  for his mother to go back to the place she spent 7 years trapped in . This quote shows the writing style because it is all from a 5 year old boys point of view; it shows the way he talks and thinks since he is very young.

Overall I give this book an 8 out of 10. It was very suspenseful and sad in the beginning, thrilling during the escape, and heartwarming in the end when they were free and met the mothers family and got their own apartment to start their new life.