Book lovers discussion

I haven't started it yet, but those of you who are already reading it should feel free to begin a discussion. I'll join in when I start reading it.

I started it today. Did you end up buying it, or are you on wait list at the library?

Without giving anything away, I have to say it is a very interesting way to write a story. Even though it is written in Jack's voice, it is very clear to understand what Jack is talking about:

"dirty on your neck" "having some". It is also very clear how much Ma loves Jack.

It's an interesting book for me to read, having no children.

I agree, Diane, that this is an interesting way to tell the story - a 5 year old's view of the world that he knows is so different to that of an adult.
I found that I got a bit irritated by some of the things Jack said - having known quite a few 5 year old children,his "voice" didn't always seem authentic. But then, there are few children that I've known who have had such an odd upbringing! I'm just being "picky" here, I think!
Anyone feel claustrophobic?

I'm up to page 88 and I am surprised at how quickly the book is going. In fact, it's picked up quite a bit now so that I'm having trouble putting it down. Dang that I have to go to work. I've read about Ma's background, but not yet how she ended up in "Room".

Angela, excellent point about feeling "claustrophobic". For me, yes.

I read the book really quickly - for me, that is. Once that feeling of discomfort - claustrophobia? grubbiness?- passed, I really wanted to find out more. A compelling read, I think.

I started Room over the weekend and could not put it down. I agree with Diane that Jack's voice is quite distinct and original.... He does seem quite advanced in his language development for a five year old, but perhaps this is realistic since he's spent so much time getting one-on-one language stimulation with Ma. But most of all it is the child's imagination and ability to make so much out of so little that capture my imagination. I have just read to the point of Jack and Ma's escape and I can't wait to see how the plot thickens in the second half!

Ex Lit Prof
www.the-reading-list.com

I think the problem with Jack's voice is not what he says, but the way he says it. With all the one-to-one with Ma, I would have thought that his sentence structure would have been better. As I said earlier, I may appear to be picky, but something just doesn't ring true in my old school teacher's ears! However, I do agree about his imagination and ingenuity.

I read Room in one sitting and afterward I wished I had not read the book. I just didn't like it at all. I felt that there was so much potential for the book to be great, but it fell short due to Jack being the narrator. There was so much more to explore that was left out that I believe would have added a new level of depth to the book that I felt was missing. Having to read Jack's voice was rather annoying at times and disappointing, because I would rather have been reading Ma's thoughts on the situation before, during and after Room.

For me, using Jack as the narrator made me think about Ma's reactions more than if she had been the narrator. It made me question why she reacted or organized their lives as she had -for instance, making Jack sleep in the wardrobe. The more I think about the book, the more I'm appreciating it!

Maybe if we could have had the story told via Jack and Ma, then the story would have had more depth to it.

Jo wrote: "I think the story wouldn't have had the same impact if it was told through Ma's perspective. Seeing everything through Jack's eyes was so different because he didn't see things the way we would hav..."

Jo, I think that's a great analogy.

UPDATE I am on page 166. **SPOILER** if you are not that far. Jack's escape was intense! I was so stressed reading that part. Exellent story.

Nadia wrote: "I read Room in one sitting and afterward I wished I had not read the book. I just didn't like it at all. I felt that there was so much potential for the book to be great, but it fell short due to J..."

Nadia, I was also underwhelmed by this book. It was alright. I get the story. The room was all Jack knew. Most people are afraid of change. Kids are resilient and young children especially adapt to their situation. I found the mom's story much more interesting.

For me, the fact that life in Room was "normal" for Jack highlighted the horror of Ma's life. I think that if the story had been told explicitly, detailing the horrors that Ma had, and was, facing, it would have taken something from the novel.

ms.petra, I'm so glad I wasn't the only one who felt underwhelmed by this story. I completely agree with you that Ma's story was much more interesting - I would have preferred to read about her much more than Jack.

Finished this morning! I will back later today to discuss.

I thought this book was very well done.

I agree with Angela's comment. The reader knows exactly what was going on with the relationship between Ma and Old Nick, and the captivity of Ma and Jack in Room, but without any explicit, gory details. I think that's a major accomplishment for an author.

**ENDING SPOILER** I loved the closure at the end. Even for me. It was actually very touching that Jack was insistent in wanting to go back to Room and how he said goodbye to everything. Room did not represent any negatives for Jack (all thanks to Ma), it was all that he had known. I was glad that the author chose to end the book this way rather than going on with a trial scene for Old Nick.

Diane D. wrote: "I thought this book was very well done.

I agree with Angela's comment. The reader knows exactly what was going on with the relationship between Ma and Old Nick, and the captivity of Ma and Jac..."

I agree with Diane D. about the ending. I found the ending subtle and evocative - I was left aware of how greatly Jack's scope of experience had widened since his departure from Room, and yet it was as if he could now take the best memories of Room (i.e. his memories of Ma) with him.... Paradoxically, his memories of captivity were not all bad, thanks to the child's sense of wonder and delight. Can't wait to blog about this novel!

Ex Lit Prof
www.the-reading-list.com

I need to defend grandma (because I am thinking that she is probably in her late 50's/early 60's). It had to be overwhelming enough to have a 5 year old come and live with you -- not that she didn't love him, but seriously, it's a complete turnaround of your life-- but to have a 5 year old 'celebrity' and one that had such a unique upbringing for the past 5 years, made it even more challenging. I'm 53 and I can't imagine having the energy/lifestyle to take care of a 5 year old 24/7 even if it was temporary. Given all that, I think she did a pretty good job of it. Steppa, on the other hand, was excellent dealing with Jack, but being the man, I think grandma had the most responsibility.

It's so interesting, reading different people's perceptions of characters and so on.
Personally, I could identify with Grandma. I'm nearly 62 and have 4 children and 5 grandchildren. I love my family without reservation, but to be absolutely honest, the thought of having to look after one of our little ones for more than 24 hours is a daunting thought. In "Room", I really felt for Grandma. The daughter that she thought she had lost forever returned, but - understandably- didn't want to share her experiences with her mother. Then, she had to come to terms with the fact that her daughter wanted to die... and then, she has to have Jack to live with her and Steppa. She obviously loves Jack, but what an upheaval! I felt that although she sometimes appeared to lose patience, in fact, she tried very hard to accomodate Jack's needs and introduce and support him in the "normal" world.
I felt most annoyed with Ma's brother and sister-in-law, who didn't appear to have thought through the implications of their trip with Jack. I felt so sorry for Jack when they were in the shopping arcade.
What a resilient little boy he turned out to be!

LOL, Jo regarding your comment about being 22 :)
We'll see how you feel about Grandma in about 30 years **wink**

Jo wrote: "Lol I'm not going to age! Don't burst my bubble!!"

Hahaha!!!

Ah, Jo, it happens to the best of us ;)
Remember, like fine wine, we get better with age!

I've been listening to this on audio and it's been a struggle because the Jack's voice really grates on my nerves. Of course, now that it's beginning to get interesting I have to return it to the library because there's a hold on it. Grrr.....

Sarah wrote: "I've been listening to this on audio and it's been a struggle because the Jack's voice really grates on my nerves. Of course, now that it's beginning to get interesting I have to return it to the l..."

Interesting what you say about Jack's voice. When I read it, I found that aspect difficult to get used to and can imagine it would be very difficult with an audio book. You might be better off now trying to get hold of a hard copy to finish it off.

Maybe Room is definitely a better read than audio. I can't imagine listening to Jack's voice.

Angele - I was able to check out a hard copy of the book, so hopefully it will be a little easier to handle Jack's "voice" on paper rather than having to listen to it.
Jo - I'm not sure what age the narrator is. I don't know if you've ever seen the PBS Kids show Caillou, but it sounds just like the voice of that character.

You're not missing anything, trust me.

Angela wrote: "I agree, Diane, that this is an interesting way to tell the story - a 5 year old's view of the world that he knows is so different to that of an adult.
I found that I got a bit irritated by some o..."

I felt this same way.

Nadia wrote: "I read Room in one sitting and afterward I wished I had not read the book. I just didn't like it at all. I felt that there was so much potential for the book to be great, but it fell short due to J..."

I can totally see this...I ended up liking the last part ok...but did not like the beginning at all.

Nadia wrote: "Maybe if we could have had the story told via Jack and Ma, then the story would have had more depth to it."

I agree...especially in the beginning...ugh.

Jo wrote: "I agree about the ending too. I think it was important for Jack to see that Room wasn't the same anymore and it was no longer the place where he felt safe all through his life. Then could then leav..."

I must defend Grandma too...she made the book for me...she was awesome....she had tons of patience!!!! You're so young Jo...just wait....I didn't have half that much patience with my own kids some days!!!

Angela wrote: "It's so interesting, reading different people's perceptions of characters and so on.
Personally, I could identify with Grandma. I'm nearly 62 and have 4 children and 5 grandchildren. I love my fami..."

Here again...I think Paul did great....so did Jack...it was their little girl who freaked out! I see this every time I step foot in a mall...that whole scene seemed really realistic to me and I think they handled it well....to go in in the first place wasn't the brightest idea, but they are only human. I was just glad it worked out.

It's also a lot different when you are older! I hope I have any patience left when/if I'm a grandma!!

Strangely enough, I find that I've got far more patience with my grandchildren, than I had with my own! My grandsons are 8 and 2 and granddaughters are 5,5 and 1. They make me tired, but I love being with them - had a lovely time this morning with Jack (2) and Aimee (1) - drawing,reading, rough and tumbling!

Yup, that's probably true! One of my granddaughters is a little rascal with her mum and dad, but generally does as she's told with Nannie Angela!!

Jo wrote: "I think the story wouldn't have had the same impact if it was told through Ma's perspective. Seeing everything through Jack's eyes was so different because he didn't see things the way we would hav..."

I think this is great, Jo, and I completely agree with you. I think this story through Ma's eyes would have been unbearable for me to read.

Kerri wrote: "Jo wrote: "I think the story wouldn't have had the same impact if it was told through Ma's perspective. Seeing everything through Jack's eyes was so different because he didn't see things the way w..."

I don't think I'd want the story just from Ma's perspective, but just not all from Jack's.....maybe a combination of perspectives.

Like Shelli, I also think a combination of perspectives would have given this story more depth. I feel that Jack's perspective was essential to the story - especially after he escaped from Room and was having his first experiences in the real world - but his narration was hard for me to read and identify with. I would have liked to hear Ma's perspective - how she managed to stay sane and raise a child in captivity, her feelings about escaping and being the center of media attention, how she felt about reuniting with her family as a grown woman and mother when she'd last seen them as a carefree young adult. There were so many things about this story that could have been explored but weren't. However, I am so glad that Old Nick did not play a larger role in this story. He was sick and twisted and that was all we needed to know about him.

I agree with you about Old Nick...that would have been worse.

Lots of details were left out, mostly because we only see things through Jack's eyes; it's almost as if Emma Donoghue wants us to fill in the gaps with our own imaginations.

Jo wrote: "I prefered the fact that we were allowed to think about the missing gaps. I thought a lot about all the things that could have happened without having to read about all the brutal stuff that would ..."

My thoughts exactly, Jo!

Jo wrote: "I prefered the fact that we were allowed to think about the missing gaps. I thought a lot about all the things that could have happened without having to read about all the brutal stuff that would ..."

Totally agree.....Jack's story definitely filtered the horror and made it "readable." I don't know that I would have been able to read it from Ma's perspective....especially at the beginning of her captivity.

Sarah, I agree with you that we had enough of Old Nick in the book; I was very glad too that it ended as it did, and did not carry on with a trial, etc. It would have totally lost the real focus, IMO, if it had gone on with that.