Room in Bound Together

Dec 04, 2010 ☮Karen rated it liked it · review of another edition

I have wanted to read this book since it first came out. At first the 5 year old's narration was really aggravating, and seemed more like a 3 year old. As the book progressed into the real world and we saw it more and more through Jack's eyes, it got much better for me. I still think, though, that for a 5 year old who has been taught to read at such an early age, who watched television, and interacted with a very intelligent and loving mother, his vocabulary and grammar should have been much mor ...more

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Oct 14, 2010 Bucket rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: psychology, child-narrator, identity, reviewed, life-and-death

This book starts off quietly, as the reader is immersed in the mind of a young boy and getting to know his reality (both as he sees it, and the terrible actuality of it). In the middle comes an escape and rescue scene that is action-movie intense. The last third of the book is part psychological study as we see the impact of the those first five years on the young boy, Jack, as well as their very different impact on his mother.

This is a pretty sensational story line, but I found it very well ex ...more

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Feb 15, 2011 Barbara rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

I have been going back and forth with 4 or 5 stars. The reason being I really liked this book and it is well written and it keeps your attention. Not sure I thought it was amazing though which is the 5 star rating. So, in the end I'm giving it a 4.5 star rating.

I listened to this on audio and the author has a different person reading each character which I love. Hands down this is a great audio book. The people selected to read each part were excellent.

This story is about a woman who was kidna I have been going back and forth with 4 or 5 stars. The reason being I really liked this book and it is well written and it keeps your attention. Not sure I thought it was amazing though which is the 5 star rating. So, in the end I'm giving it a 4.5 star rating.

I listened to this on audio and the author has a different person reading each character which I love. Hands down this is a great audio book. The people selected to read each part were excellent.

This story is about a woman who was kidnapped when she was 19 yrs. old. She has two babies, one of which doesn't survive and then she has Jack, who at the time of this story is telling his thoughts at age 5.

Everyone thinks she is dead but her mother has always held out hope. Jack's ma is trying to figure out a escape plan and had to wait till Jack was old enough to understand. Jack and his mother are held in a small room in the back yard with surrounding foliage so the neighbors don't suspect anything.

Old Nick (the kidnapper) had thought about the kidnapping for awhile. He went to great measures to make sure everything was right including making the room sound proof and putting a wire fence under the building so they couldn't dig their way out. He even puts in a sky light which is the only sunlight they have and the only way to see out. The only thing they see is the blue sky and a plane flying overhead.

The mother of Jack can't stand being captive any longer and doesn't want to wait till Jack is older so she comes up with a plan of escape. Jack has a hard time paying attention sometimes and they have to go over the plan over and over. Jack believes "room" is the only world in his mind. It's the only thing he's ever known and is scared about the outside. Old Nick brings them Sunday treat unless he's mad at them. Jack's mother doesn't let Old Nick see Jack so she has him get into the wardrobe till Old Nick leaves. Old Nick really doesn't want anything to do with the boy whom is his out of rape.

The story unfolds till they escape and then they have new issues in the real world. Jack has to learn alot of things and ways of not being afraid of everyone. Jack's mother has to relearn how to live outside of the room she was confined in for seven years. Last time she was out is when she was just going to start college.

A real moving story for sure. ...more

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Feb 19, 2011 Pat rated it it was amazing

I listened to this book, and although it was excellent it was one of the saddest audio books I have EVER listened to! I can't get Jack's child voice out of my head. I resisted this book for a year and after hearing it, I'm not sure I should have picked it up. ...more

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