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Room: The Play
Kidnapped as a teenage girl, Ma has been locked inside a purpose built room in her captor’s garden for seven years. Her five year old son, Jack, has no concept of the world outside and happily exists inside Room with the help of Ma’s games and his vivid imagination where objects like Rug, Lamp and TV are his only friends. But for Ma the time has come to escape and face their biggest challenge to date: the world outside Room.
Adapted for the stage by author Emma Donoghue from her 2010 novel Room, which was a Man Booker Prize finalist and has sold almost two million copies worldwide; her screen adaptation was nominated for an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Adapted for the stage by author Emma Donoghue from her 2010 novel Room, which was a Man Booker Prize finalist and has sold almost two million copies worldwide; her screen adaptation was nominated for an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.
- GenresPlays
96 pages, Paperback
First published May 7, 2017
5 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
About the author
Emma Donoghue
78 books13.2k followersGrew up in Ireland, 20s in England doing a PhD in eighteenth-century literature, since then in Canada. Best known for my novel, film and play ROOM, also other contemporary and historical novels and short stories, non-fiction, theatre and middle-grade novels.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 8, 2021
This book is about a little boy and his mother and how they escaped being encaptured in a shed called the room. I like the plot of the book and how it shows the long-lasting effects of kidnapping and abuse and how it affects everyone around the survivors. I didn't like how annoying the boy was but that's a personal problem. If you don't like triggering topics and heavy situations this book isn't for you.
October 20, 2025
Inspired by the horrible, real Fritzl case, Shortlisted for The 2010 Booker Prize – Room by Emma Donoghue
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Booker_...
10 out of 10
There is a strange coincidence, or a troubling psychological explanation, such looking for shelter, the manifestation, projection of some need for a ‘real home, or maybe refuge’ or some such mental issue, but the fact is that in the timeframe of just a few weeks, it could be just twenty days, the under signed has taken on The Glass Room by Simon Mower http://realini.blogspot.com/2021/08/s... The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner and now Room, The Dutch House by Anne Patchett, four books one after the other with Room and House at the center
The film adaptation might be better known than the book (it seems that this is what happens these days, if we are not talking Dan Brown, Fifty Shades of Grey and even then, it is clear that more earthlings see the films than read the books, though in these cases, they sell in the millions of copies) it has been nominated for four Oscars and won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Brie Larson as mom, though Jacob Tremblay, in the role of Jack, the hero, was even more impressive, if you ask me.
For the first few chapters, this reader has been more or less puzzled, confused and not favorably impressed with the narrative, but it was all his fault…I was thinking that the lack of information could be blamed, but who’s to blame, if he had not looked for it – so I took up this with the sole knowledge that it has been nominated for The Booker Prize and since this appears to be the most relevant, prestigious literary award for the English speaking world – Goncourt might be for the French – in that perhaps it covers more territory than the Pulitzer, I have decided about one decade ago to try and read first the winners of the prize and then the shortlisted works, together with the Pulitzer list
Only for quite some time, Room seems to be about a five-year-old, Jack, and his mother, in a dialogue that looks like it would end up boring yours truly, involving some characters from children’s stories, mentioning at one point the Count of Monte Christo, things seen on television, but without the perspective of this moving into more sophisticated territory, with dialogue, observations that could bring in art, religion…yes, the latter is touched upon, there is the figure of Jesus – when an escape is prepared, mother speaks about the plan wherein the boy will play dead and he mentions Jesus, but he is told Jesus was dead for three days and then came back to life and this is not what is being prepared here…
There is a dramatic chance of pace and scope, when I see that Jack and his mother are in fact captive and then I remember seeing the movie and this is when I checked on the net and saw more about the narrative…in other words, one essential ingredient had been missing in the ‘reading’ of the fist chapters, and that was attention, without concentration, we do not reach The Optimal State or Flow http://realini.blogspot.com/2014/02/f... the best moments, when nothing else matters…
Unexpectedly, the narrative does not end when we except it – at least I did – as happens in movies and most stories, novels we read, after reaching a climax, the moment when nothing else appears likely to happen, not at the same magnitude, intensity, there seems to be no point, or even worse, a big mistake to carry on with the plot, only to have the reader disappointed that after the captivating, intense action in the previous chapters, we have a monotonous, eventually boring, or anyway a letdown in the final segments…as in Room, we could be looking at a zenith, with a potential escape, thrilling moments of panic, fear for the lives of the main characters, only to entertain the prospect of television interviews in the last part.
Evidently, ‘it is not what happens, but what you make of what happens’, as the Stoics used to say, meant here to emphasize that it is not spectacular happenings that would make a great book, but the style, insight, intuition, talent of the author – it is frustrating for yours truly to think of his past, that is so filled with book worthy events, such as taking part in the Revolution that deposed Ceausescu (well, in some ways, for in others we still have the Red Plague hanging around and that means his legacy, his acolytes are still sniffing at the doors of power), then having some Heavenly and Satanical months alongside, as ‘lover’ of Miss Romania(?), working for the number five company in the world, being at the Atlanta Olympics (albeit not as an athlete, but a sort of impresario-operator), being in touch with a Pulitzer Prize winner (again, this is just briefly, but It Is) taking the number one spot on goodreads, locally, but such a thing to be triumphant about…
There is a quandary for the undersigned, who feels that the Room is fabulous on so many counts (most likely on all, it is just that this reader is such as pain in the ass, pompous, self-important none entity who dares think his silly opinion counts for anything) and takes you to the point where you are breathless, trying to figure if Jack will be able, at his five years of age, to outsmart the kidnapper, and struggle out of the rug, jump from the truck and find safety somewhere, and when they meet the man walking the dog with one child, it seems that there is a chance, but as in the best thrillers, our hopes are dashed…
Instead of getting help, poor Jack is bitten by the dog, Rajah, and if we excepted him to shout for help, well, he is unable (and this of course is so credible, what we see in the movies and books that are there just to tease, please and sell is not what happens) to speak and when he tries to get out of his underwear the note written by his mother (who is obviously at ‘home’, in Room) he has peed on it (he has also pooed and this is another thing that happens with young, and adults when they are in apocalyptic situations, but I must say that I was so keen to read repeatedly about bathroom, number two and all that…squeamish and pretentious…well, again…yes) the kidnaper gets his hands on the paper and it looks hopeless…
The interview is a chance to look at media and its excesses (we have after all Fox and likeminded outfits that spread disinformation about the pandemic, the Big Lie, the Very Stable Genius aka Ultimate Idiot and his cult, because they think in terms of audience, ads, money that they want and care for nothing else) for they focus on what is less important than the outrage of what happened leading to and in the Room, they insist on the fact that the mother breastfeeds Jack even now (which is admittedly more than outré, but then the calamity that they had been through over the past seven years in Room makes this peculiarity pale to insignificance, almost)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Booker_...
10 out of 10
There is a strange coincidence, or a troubling psychological explanation, such looking for shelter, the manifestation, projection of some need for a ‘real home, or maybe refuge’ or some such mental issue, but the fact is that in the timeframe of just a few weeks, it could be just twenty days, the under signed has taken on The Glass Room by Simon Mower http://realini.blogspot.com/2021/08/s... The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner and now Room, The Dutch House by Anne Patchett, four books one after the other with Room and House at the center
The film adaptation might be better known than the book (it seems that this is what happens these days, if we are not talking Dan Brown, Fifty Shades of Grey and even then, it is clear that more earthlings see the films than read the books, though in these cases, they sell in the millions of copies) it has been nominated for four Oscars and won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Brie Larson as mom, though Jacob Tremblay, in the role of Jack, the hero, was even more impressive, if you ask me.
For the first few chapters, this reader has been more or less puzzled, confused and not favorably impressed with the narrative, but it was all his fault…I was thinking that the lack of information could be blamed, but who’s to blame, if he had not looked for it – so I took up this with the sole knowledge that it has been nominated for The Booker Prize and since this appears to be the most relevant, prestigious literary award for the English speaking world – Goncourt might be for the French – in that perhaps it covers more territory than the Pulitzer, I have decided about one decade ago to try and read first the winners of the prize and then the shortlisted works, together with the Pulitzer list
Only for quite some time, Room seems to be about a five-year-old, Jack, and his mother, in a dialogue that looks like it would end up boring yours truly, involving some characters from children’s stories, mentioning at one point the Count of Monte Christo, things seen on television, but without the perspective of this moving into more sophisticated territory, with dialogue, observations that could bring in art, religion…yes, the latter is touched upon, there is the figure of Jesus – when an escape is prepared, mother speaks about the plan wherein the boy will play dead and he mentions Jesus, but he is told Jesus was dead for three days and then came back to life and this is not what is being prepared here…
There is a dramatic chance of pace and scope, when I see that Jack and his mother are in fact captive and then I remember seeing the movie and this is when I checked on the net and saw more about the narrative…in other words, one essential ingredient had been missing in the ‘reading’ of the fist chapters, and that was attention, without concentration, we do not reach The Optimal State or Flow http://realini.blogspot.com/2014/02/f... the best moments, when nothing else matters…
Unexpectedly, the narrative does not end when we except it – at least I did – as happens in movies and most stories, novels we read, after reaching a climax, the moment when nothing else appears likely to happen, not at the same magnitude, intensity, there seems to be no point, or even worse, a big mistake to carry on with the plot, only to have the reader disappointed that after the captivating, intense action in the previous chapters, we have a monotonous, eventually boring, or anyway a letdown in the final segments…as in Room, we could be looking at a zenith, with a potential escape, thrilling moments of panic, fear for the lives of the main characters, only to entertain the prospect of television interviews in the last part.
Evidently, ‘it is not what happens, but what you make of what happens’, as the Stoics used to say, meant here to emphasize that it is not spectacular happenings that would make a great book, but the style, insight, intuition, talent of the author – it is frustrating for yours truly to think of his past, that is so filled with book worthy events, such as taking part in the Revolution that deposed Ceausescu (well, in some ways, for in others we still have the Red Plague hanging around and that means his legacy, his acolytes are still sniffing at the doors of power), then having some Heavenly and Satanical months alongside, as ‘lover’ of Miss Romania(?), working for the number five company in the world, being at the Atlanta Olympics (albeit not as an athlete, but a sort of impresario-operator), being in touch with a Pulitzer Prize winner (again, this is just briefly, but It Is) taking the number one spot on goodreads, locally, but such a thing to be triumphant about…
There is a quandary for the undersigned, who feels that the Room is fabulous on so many counts (most likely on all, it is just that this reader is such as pain in the ass, pompous, self-important none entity who dares think his silly opinion counts for anything) and takes you to the point where you are breathless, trying to figure if Jack will be able, at his five years of age, to outsmart the kidnapper, and struggle out of the rug, jump from the truck and find safety somewhere, and when they meet the man walking the dog with one child, it seems that there is a chance, but as in the best thrillers, our hopes are dashed…
Instead of getting help, poor Jack is bitten by the dog, Rajah, and if we excepted him to shout for help, well, he is unable (and this of course is so credible, what we see in the movies and books that are there just to tease, please and sell is not what happens) to speak and when he tries to get out of his underwear the note written by his mother (who is obviously at ‘home’, in Room) he has peed on it (he has also pooed and this is another thing that happens with young, and adults when they are in apocalyptic situations, but I must say that I was so keen to read repeatedly about bathroom, number two and all that…squeamish and pretentious…well, again…yes) the kidnaper gets his hands on the paper and it looks hopeless…
The interview is a chance to look at media and its excesses (we have after all Fox and likeminded outfits that spread disinformation about the pandemic, the Big Lie, the Very Stable Genius aka Ultimate Idiot and his cult, because they think in terms of audience, ads, money that they want and care for nothing else) for they focus on what is less important than the outrage of what happened leading to and in the Room, they insist on the fact that the mother breastfeeds Jack even now (which is admittedly more than outré, but then the calamity that they had been through over the past seven years in Room makes this peculiarity pale to insignificance, almost)
August 28, 2017
Category: Emotional
Synopsis: Jack is a 5-year-old boy who has never set foot outside the confines of the tiny shed where his mother is held captive by her abuser. Narrated from Jack’s innocent perspective, the novel follows his ‘Ma’ and her attempts to save him from their desperately mundane and unnatural existence. But even if she can find a way to escape, will she and Jack be able to survive in a world that has been a stranger to them for years?
Review: The most unusual aspect of Room is that it is narrated entirely from the little boy’s point of view. Some readers might find such simplicity of language trying, especially alongside the inevitably poor grammar! Other reviews have also expressed frustration at the inherent restriction in this approach, as they are unable to access the thoughts of Jack’s mother throughout her ordeal. However, I found myself enchanted with his view of the world; Donoghue perfectly captures a child’s wonder and creativity. My favourite example of this is Jack’s description of a sunset:
‘I watch God’s face falling slow slow, even orangier and the clouds are all colours, then after there’s streaks and dark coming up so bit-at-a-time I don’t see it till it’s done.’
I thought this bright imaginative perspective was a stark contrast to Ma, whose suffering is evident. She sometimes falls into a dark depression that Jack calls ‘Gone’. In my opinion, his naïve descriptions make the realities of the pair’s situation even more haunting.
The plot of Room moves relatively steadily, but slows down a touch in certain places. I did not find this an issue; rather I enjoyed the opportunity to savour Jack’s captivating observations. Some of his remarks can be disarmingly accurate: ‘I remember manners, that’s when persons are scared to make other persons mad.’ Donoghue’s incredible realisation of her characters was strong enough to keep me continually engaged. Jack and Ma are certainly going to stay with me for a long time after finishing this book.
Favourite quote: ‘I guess the time gets spread very thin like butter over all the world… so there’s only a little smear of time on each place, then everyone has to hurry on to the next bit’.
Read if: you want a unique novel that is touching and life-affirming
Did you find this review helpful? If so, please do check out my blog: https://miscellanypages.wordpress.com
I post reviews, recommendations and all things literary!
Synopsis: Jack is a 5-year-old boy who has never set foot outside the confines of the tiny shed where his mother is held captive by her abuser. Narrated from Jack’s innocent perspective, the novel follows his ‘Ma’ and her attempts to save him from their desperately mundane and unnatural existence. But even if she can find a way to escape, will she and Jack be able to survive in a world that has been a stranger to them for years?
Review: The most unusual aspect of Room is that it is narrated entirely from the little boy’s point of view. Some readers might find such simplicity of language trying, especially alongside the inevitably poor grammar! Other reviews have also expressed frustration at the inherent restriction in this approach, as they are unable to access the thoughts of Jack’s mother throughout her ordeal. However, I found myself enchanted with his view of the world; Donoghue perfectly captures a child’s wonder and creativity. My favourite example of this is Jack’s description of a sunset:
‘I watch God’s face falling slow slow, even orangier and the clouds are all colours, then after there’s streaks and dark coming up so bit-at-a-time I don’t see it till it’s done.’
I thought this bright imaginative perspective was a stark contrast to Ma, whose suffering is evident. She sometimes falls into a dark depression that Jack calls ‘Gone’. In my opinion, his naïve descriptions make the realities of the pair’s situation even more haunting.
The plot of Room moves relatively steadily, but slows down a touch in certain places. I did not find this an issue; rather I enjoyed the opportunity to savour Jack’s captivating observations. Some of his remarks can be disarmingly accurate: ‘I remember manners, that’s when persons are scared to make other persons mad.’ Donoghue’s incredible realisation of her characters was strong enough to keep me continually engaged. Jack and Ma are certainly going to stay with me for a long time after finishing this book.
Favourite quote: ‘I guess the time gets spread very thin like butter over all the world… so there’s only a little smear of time on each place, then everyone has to hurry on to the next bit’.
Read if: you want a unique novel that is touching and life-affirming
Did you find this review helpful? If so, please do check out my blog: https://miscellanypages.wordpress.com
I post reviews, recommendations and all things literary!
July 14, 2021
I think I read the book not the play 🤦🏻♂️
The story of a 5 year old boy who has spent his entire life locked away and trapped in a tiny room with his mum. This situation is bleak, the mum being kidnapped and doing her best to shield the boy from the mellon collie existence of living in the room.
It’s interesting getting into the mind of a child that only vaguely understands the outside world through watching TV and staring up at the sky through a tiny skylight.
If you’re into the above - give this a read.
It was ok 🤷🏻♂️
2.5/5
The story of a 5 year old boy who has spent his entire life locked away and trapped in a tiny room with his mum. This situation is bleak, the mum being kidnapped and doing her best to shield the boy from the mellon collie existence of living in the room.
It’s interesting getting into the mind of a child that only vaguely understands the outside world through watching TV and staring up at the sky through a tiny skylight.
If you’re into the above - give this a read.
It was ok 🤷🏻♂️
2.5/5
July 25, 2020
Ooops. I read the wrong book. I was supposed to read the novel for book club but the library sent me the e-reader version of this instead.
Pros: a quick read. You can zip through this in an hour and get the general idea. Like the cliff’s notes version of the novel.
Cons: misses a lot of nuance that the novel provides.
I would be interested to watch the play now though and see how it compares to the movie (which I believe more closely follows the novel).
Pros: a quick read. You can zip through this in an hour and get the general idea. Like the cliff’s notes version of the novel.
Cons: misses a lot of nuance that the novel provides.
I would be interested to watch the play now though and see how it compares to the movie (which I believe more closely follows the novel).
September 7, 2024
A book that you experience constantly so many emotions. As you read it you manage to understand how a man can have done such a thing and parallel to understand the power of a human who wants to survive and of course the power of motherhood that I personally consider to be the driving force of the plot. Very sentimental book and nice writing and of course a book that rewards the reader at the end.
May 5, 2020
A rewrite of her novel. I think I prefer the novel mainly for the fact I struggled with the fact there is singing in the play while you are dealing with serious content. I couldn't meld the two together, especially after reading the book.
September 3, 2023
"stupid persons always say 'welcome home' but home is Room and Room's where we belong."
the weird charm of modern plays without the usual too-muchness of the absurd. the play reads almost like a news story and it must be really interesting to see it played out on the stage.
the weird charm of modern plays without the usual too-muchness of the absurd. the play reads almost like a news story and it must be really interesting to see it played out on the stage.
Read
October 11, 2017I enjoyed reading this book because Emma'Donoghue manages to capture the reader's attention from the first moment. We feel that the author teases and plays with our sensations, revealing to us the few, the destination and the lives of her characters. It is a beautiful story, because it is about creating a fantastic world for a child that was kidnapped along with the mother.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews