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bella_likes_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Miscarriage, Rape, Suicide attempt, and Murder
blumerlamotte's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
rosie_eastwood's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
megb09's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Death
Minor: Confinement
aparker89's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Forced institutionalization, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Slavery, Excrement, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Abandonment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
hannalng's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
pkldpklz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
beesbookss's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
simple_alien's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I really liked that the story is from the perspective of the 5 year old boy Jack. I think it is an interesting lens to view such a story. The focus on Jack's limited but expanding view of the world is really cool, how his Ma teaches him a child-friendly version of the world to protect him, and how this starts getting challenged. It is very thought provoking to put yourself in his shoes as the story progresses and he experiences new and terrifying things about the world.
It reminds me of Plato's Allegory of the Cave: "A group of humans live their whole lives in a cave, tied down to stare at a singular cave wall. Behind them, other people, puppeteers, use fire to project shadows on the wall. To the prisoners, these shadows are reality."
As is Jack's reality of himself, his Ma, Room, Space, and the things he sees on TV.
With all this in mind, there are times where the narration gets difficult to read. While Jack has a large vocabulary for a 5 year old, he still uses made up words, and the narration has purposefully child-like grammar. As a reader, you will either appreciate this as a novelty or it will frustrate you to no end. I personally thought it was great.
I watched the movie before I read the book. They are very similar. The book offers a little more in terms of expanding the details of their every day lives, but not too too much. The most interesting thing the book offers that the movie doesn't, is a more direct line into Jack's thoughts, as he offers a really interesting frame for the story. But again, you will either love that or hate it.
Not a perfect book - at certain points it gets a little slow. But there are some parts that will really stick with me, and were quite gripping and emotional.
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Miscarriage, Slavery, Vomit, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy