Room in Oly Reads

Apr 23, 2013 Whitney rated it it was ok

One of the most overrated books I’ve ever read. Yes, it deals with very intense issues, but it offers no insight about those issues or the psychology of the people involved in them.

I won’t bother rehashing the plot; I figure everyone has the basic idea by now from other reviews. I am in agreement with those who find Jack, the five-year old narrator, to be annoying and frequently unbelievable. In the hands of a better writer, telling the story from Jack’s perspective would lead to revelations ab ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Apr 02, 2012 Keri rated it really liked it

I recommended this book, unread, to my book group based on the reviews. The looks of horror I saw on the face of the other members when i described the topic of the book was amazing to me. Now that I have read it and can speak to the subject personally, I will recommend it one more time. This is NOT a sad, depressing and horrifying story. While the topic is not one any of us care to experience, the story is really about the relationship between a boy and his mother, about the wonder of a five ye ...more

1 like · Like · see review

May 10, 2011 Carrie rated it really liked it

I was ready to dislike this book until I got about halfway through the 2nd section. I can handle only so much of the day to day life of a 5 year old, from the point of view of a 5 year old.

For me the story picks up when you find out why they, Jack and Ma, are in Room. From then on I breezed through the book, but became frustrated with the characters. I wanted to reach in the book strangle people. The entire time it had me thinking about what I would do if I was in a similar situation. Often I b ...more

Like · see review

Mar 15, 2011 jess rated it liked it

Shelves: 2011, fiction, audiobook-d

The first half of this book was a four star read. It was so emotionally gripping that there were times I literally couldn't breathe while I was reading it. The second half of the book was maybe a 2 star read. So I'm averaging it to three. The totally "ripped from the headlines" storyline and "unique" narrator landed this book on several of the top 2010 book lists (which is how it ended up in my To Read pile) but I'm not convinced that position was well-deserved.

The narrator of the book is five- The first half of this book was a four star read. It was so emotionally gripping that there were times I literally couldn't breathe while I was reading it. The second half of the book was maybe a 2 star read. So I'm averaging it to three. The totally "ripped from the headlines" storyline and "unique" narrator landed this book on several of the top 2010 book lists (which is how it ended up in my To Read pile) but I'm not convinced that position was well-deserved.

The narrator of the book is five-year-old Jack. He lives in Room with his mother. He's never been anywhere else because he & Ma are locked in Room. Jack doesn't realize they live there against their will. He's just five and his world is very small. Room & the world on TV are all that he knows. His mother was kidnapped seven years ago and imprisoned in the soundproofed shed in the backyard by "Old Nick" (not his real name).

In the beginning, the precocious voice of the narrator seems like an interesting perspective. Jack's scope is so narrow and his world is so limited that his voice is believable in this context. I spent a lot of time thinking about how Emma Donoghue built that character, and how real-life people who have lived through that experience might cope/feel/think. It was the kind of character that really hooks into your brain.

In the second half of the book, the perspective is widened and the gimmick falls apart. Jack's voice becomes contaminated and unrealistic. The character knows things that he couldn't really know, and not in a precocious, "oh that kid is so smart" way. His emotions and perspective seem inauthentic. It reads so much like a grownup trying to tell a story in the voice of a kid that it became grating. In the second half of the book, the story would have benefited from other voices. The voice of Ma, especially, would have fleshed out the telling in a more believable way.

So, I liked this book but apparently not as much as everyone else. I was compelled to keep reading it, and the story dragged me along even when my hands were over my eyes and I didn't really want to know. There is a lot of darkness in this story, and the incredible capacity of humans to be giant pieces of shit. There is also a lot of resiliency and hope in the face of truly difficult circumstances, and it was impossible not to cheer Jack on. Gads, it is hard to talk about this book without being all spoileriffic. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Aug 23, 2012 Janie rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction

Sometimes strains credulity. Sometimes rather horrifying. Heartrendwarming. (Word sandwich, anyone?)

Like · see review

Mar 23, 2012 Agathafrye rated it it was amazing

Shelves: awesome

FANTASTIC.

Like · see review

Jan 19, 2016 Leanna Hammond rated it really liked it

Told completely from the boy's perspective, a very interesting read. At times sorrowful, and others joyous. Would recommend. ...more

Like · see review

Jan 07, 2011 Sara rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-in-2011, adult-books, bibliosnack

I wasn't necessarily expecting this book to live up to the hype, but I really loved this book. There's something special about a book that manages to combine suspenseful page turning story with great, well written characters and good writing, and substance. Well done, Emma Donaghue.

For a more substantive review/book-talk: http://bibliosnack.blogspot.com ...more

1 like · Like · see review