Room
2 journalers for this copy...
Given to me by my aunt and her friend for registration and release. (Incidentally, this is also one of my favorite books!)
Changing the status of this to TBR - I've decided I'm going to reread it before I release it.
Still one of my favorite books, but upon rereading, I do think I like the film just a bit more! I only wish it had kept the crater metaphor, because that's one of my favorite threads throughout the book and the way it resolves is pitch-perfect.
I'm reserving this for Dena; when I've also finished Alias Grace, I'll send them both off to her.
Mailed off this afternoon! Enjoy!
Received from a NH/Bookcrossing friend! Thank you! To be read.
During the Covid-19 Pandemic I've found reading, specifically concentrating difficult. This book has been on my reading list for awhile and a kind Bookcrossing friend sent it to me. But I read the novel Room by Emma Donoghue in practically one sitting. This is the second novel I've read by Donoghue and she has an exceptional style that pulls you into the narrative. Some spoilers follow.
This is a fictional book but it is a very similar narrative to real life, non-fiction events including the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart and other abductees -- especially J.C. Dugard -- kidnapped at 11 years, held in a backyard shed/tent/compound, that tragically authorities never found on site visits to her captor's house because apparently case workers and various law enforcement agencies never went into the back yard or did a thorough search/investigation on her captor despite calls/visits.
The story here is an eerie echo -- a teenaged college student kidnapped, while wearing head phones, grabbed on the way to class, and held captive in a backyard shed and raped by her captor "Old Nick." Jack her son (the result of these actions) is the main narrator of their story -- third person but largely from his point of view. Jack details their life -- including all their possessions in Room: Rug, Bed, Sink -- almost a humanizing in his naming of objects as key members of the only environment he has ever known. Jack is fond of TV but it seems Ma has told him some things are only "TV" and not real in order to perhaps tread time and fend off questions. Jack details their daily exercise routines, games and meals and also when they go up to Skylight and scream. At night Jack sleeps in Wardrobe -- on some nights Old Nicks visits and Jack hears Bed squeaking and falls asleep counting -- other nights when it is past the appointed hour and Old Nick has not arrived -- he is allowed to emerge and join MA in Bed.
Jack is full of questions and the novel starts on the celebration of his birthday -- cake a present that is a drawing from Ma and then a belated present from Old Nick a remote control toy, which starts off a chain of events. Ma is making the efforts she can but the situation continues to be dire -- it is difficult for her to keep them in food. When Jack uses the remote toy to waken Old Nick he attacks Ma. This prompt a severe depression but when she pulls out of it Ma decides change can no longer wait.
The dynamics shift as Ma tries to explain to Jack that things on TV are outside Room and are real. It is hard for the boy to process -- he rebels at first, not believing her but he is devoted to Ma previously his only push backs include trying to keep both a spider and a mouse as pets. Eventually though they come up with a plan to escape Room. There is trial and error as they compose the plan, and the responsibility sits heavily on Jack to escape from Old Nick and bring help to Ma in Room -- which does happen although all does not exactly go according to plan. And failure may have ensued if not for a female police officer being patient with Jack asking him questions over and in different ways piercing together the story, and eventually that he escaped from captivity in a shed and his Ma still there. She was also able to get Jack to describe how far he was driven, to narrow down and check the neighborhood.
The book does crest there but does not end. Their story continues as the Jack and Ma go into a private clinic donating their care/services. Jack struggles to figure out the outside world and at some point wishes for the confinement of Room -- for peace and quiet and distance from the overwhelming noises and experiences. At the treatment center, there are ups and downs as Ma is reunited with her family and struggles to accepts all the changes, her parents are divorced, her mother remarried and overwhelming realization of years of her life that were stolen.
Donoghue is a careful architect with building this part of the story because even post rescue -- Ma is victimized all over again by the medical staff sometimes unintentionally and even her own family. There is a lawyer, bills to worry about and media coverage -- all to a woman trying to ground herself and socialize her young son. Jack does struggle deeply with understanding the world outside Room including boundaries. He freaks out his Uncle and his Aunt by inappropriately touching his cousin but they seem to realize he just doesn't understand proper behavior after another time where he takes a book he recognizes, not understanding it's from a store and the concept that you have to pay for it. Their frustration and horror though is palpable and Jack as a small young boy -- especially without Ma seems continuously adrift with everyone seeming to want him to magically know better without taking the time with him.
And Jack's step grandfather seems to be the voice of reason and/or a cushion for him many times, especially when he is sent away from the center to live with his grandparents as Ma struggles with a deep depression, and tries to overdose on pills/pain medication. Ma though is able to eventually leave the center for more of a group home/supervised apartment situation. Jack is thrilled when the police return some items from Room -- notably Rug. Ma is not happen but concedes to let him keep it as a comfort item. To note, I'm not sure about evidence being returned or being sent to a private mental health treatment center right away -- logistically I would think at least a few days in a regular hospital for physical/tests before being cleared to be sent to a mental health facility -- and I doubt any psychiatric hospital would let a patient self medicate for insurance reasons alone, but these are some technical points only.
This is beautifully written but a tragic story that does end on a hopeful note.
This is a fictional book but it is a very similar narrative to real life, non-fiction events including the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart and other abductees -- especially J.C. Dugard -- kidnapped at 11 years, held in a backyard shed/tent/compound, that tragically authorities never found on site visits to her captor's house because apparently case workers and various law enforcement agencies never went into the back yard or did a thorough search/investigation on her captor despite calls/visits.
The story here is an eerie echo -- a teenaged college student kidnapped, while wearing head phones, grabbed on the way to class, and held captive in a backyard shed and raped by her captor "Old Nick." Jack her son (the result of these actions) is the main narrator of their story -- third person but largely from his point of view. Jack details their life -- including all their possessions in Room: Rug, Bed, Sink -- almost a humanizing in his naming of objects as key members of the only environment he has ever known. Jack is fond of TV but it seems Ma has told him some things are only "TV" and not real in order to perhaps tread time and fend off questions. Jack details their daily exercise routines, games and meals and also when they go up to Skylight and scream. At night Jack sleeps in Wardrobe -- on some nights Old Nicks visits and Jack hears Bed squeaking and falls asleep counting -- other nights when it is past the appointed hour and Old Nick has not arrived -- he is allowed to emerge and join MA in Bed.
Jack is full of questions and the novel starts on the celebration of his birthday -- cake a present that is a drawing from Ma and then a belated present from Old Nick a remote control toy, which starts off a chain of events. Ma is making the efforts she can but the situation continues to be dire -- it is difficult for her to keep them in food. When Jack uses the remote toy to waken Old Nick he attacks Ma. This prompt a severe depression but when she pulls out of it Ma decides change can no longer wait.
The dynamics shift as Ma tries to explain to Jack that things on TV are outside Room and are real. It is hard for the boy to process -- he rebels at first, not believing her but he is devoted to Ma previously his only push backs include trying to keep both a spider and a mouse as pets. Eventually though they come up with a plan to escape Room. There is trial and error as they compose the plan, and the responsibility sits heavily on Jack to escape from Old Nick and bring help to Ma in Room -- which does happen although all does not exactly go according to plan. And failure may have ensued if not for a female police officer being patient with Jack asking him questions over and in different ways piercing together the story, and eventually that he escaped from captivity in a shed and his Ma still there. She was also able to get Jack to describe how far he was driven, to narrow down and check the neighborhood.
The book does crest there but does not end. Their story continues as the Jack and Ma go into a private clinic donating their care/services. Jack struggles to figure out the outside world and at some point wishes for the confinement of Room -- for peace and quiet and distance from the overwhelming noises and experiences. At the treatment center, there are ups and downs as Ma is reunited with her family and struggles to accepts all the changes, her parents are divorced, her mother remarried and overwhelming realization of years of her life that were stolen.
Donoghue is a careful architect with building this part of the story because even post rescue -- Ma is victimized all over again by the medical staff sometimes unintentionally and even her own family. There is a lawyer, bills to worry about and media coverage -- all to a woman trying to ground herself and socialize her young son. Jack does struggle deeply with understanding the world outside Room including boundaries. He freaks out his Uncle and his Aunt by inappropriately touching his cousin but they seem to realize he just doesn't understand proper behavior after another time where he takes a book he recognizes, not understanding it's from a store and the concept that you have to pay for it. Their frustration and horror though is palpable and Jack as a small young boy -- especially without Ma seems continuously adrift with everyone seeming to want him to magically know better without taking the time with him.
And Jack's step grandfather seems to be the voice of reason and/or a cushion for him many times, especially when he is sent away from the center to live with his grandparents as Ma struggles with a deep depression, and tries to overdose on pills/pain medication. Ma though is able to eventually leave the center for more of a group home/supervised apartment situation. Jack is thrilled when the police return some items from Room -- notably Rug. Ma is not happen but concedes to let him keep it as a comfort item. To note, I'm not sure about evidence being returned or being sent to a private mental health treatment center right away -- logistically I would think at least a few days in a regular hospital for physical/tests before being cleared to be sent to a mental health facility -- and I doubt any psychiatric hospital would let a patient self medicate for insurance reasons alone, but these are some technical points only.
This is beautifully written but a tragic story that does end on a hopeful note.
1/20/21--Sending out/via media mail by the end of the week -- en route to a Bookcrosser in the great state of Georgia!
