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A review by luluwoohoo
Room by Emma Donoghue
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Room by Emma Donoghue
☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️
▪️A powerhouse book that manages to be equally harrowing and heartwarming in its entirety, highlighting the perfectly imperfect mind of a child and their resilience in the face of anything
▪️By choosing to write the story from five-year-old Jack's perspective, Donoghue gives this novel it's most powerful asset. The vocabulary and oftentimes stream of consciousness thought process enables for a completely compelling and naive point of view, challenging our perspective on their life within Room and the freedoms of life Outside
▪️The relationship between Jack and Ma is multi-layered and complex, with each relying on the other completely within Room for their survival. Ma's mental health struggles in particular, both before and after escaping, as shown through the eyes of a child were especially confronting to read but a triumph of storytelling
▪️ Examining the world as we know it with fresh eyes is difficult to comprehend, but Donoghue manages this feat with skill and humour. Jack's education out in the world and his manu observations, particularly about language and word play, felt authentic and age appropriate
▪️Despite being a book about such a horrific situation, the connection between Jack and Ma elevated the depressing reality into a magical, awe-inspiring journey of love and life that won't easily be forgotten.
☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️
▪️A powerhouse book that manages to be equally harrowing and heartwarming in its entirety, highlighting the perfectly imperfect mind of a child and their resilience in the face of anything
▪️By choosing to write the story from five-year-old Jack's perspective, Donoghue gives this novel it's most powerful asset. The vocabulary and oftentimes stream of consciousness thought process enables for a completely compelling and naive point of view, challenging our perspective on their life within Room and the freedoms of life Outside
▪️The relationship between Jack and Ma is multi-layered and complex, with each relying on the other completely within Room for their survival. Ma's mental health struggles in particular, both before and after escaping, as shown through the eyes of a child were especially confronting to read but a triumph of storytelling
▪️ Examining the world as we know it with fresh eyes is difficult to comprehend, but Donoghue manages this feat with skill and humour. Jack's education out in the world and his manu observations, particularly about language and word play, felt authentic and age appropriate
▪️Despite being a book about such a horrific situation, the connection between Jack and Ma elevated the depressing reality into a magical, awe-inspiring journey of love and life that won't easily be forgotten.
"When I was four I thought everything in TV was just TV, then I was five and Ma unlied about lots of it being pictures of real and Outside being totally real. Now I'm in Outside but it turns out lots of it isn't real at all."