I saw this book around for a while before I picked it up. From what I’d heard, it seemed almost too much to bear – a child forced to live in one room for his whole life, unable to go outside or have any contact with the world.
Finally, after hearing such rave reviews, I decided to give it a shot I’m glad I did. Author (and London, Ontario native) Emma Donoghue, has infused this seemingly tragic story with such warmth and innocence that I couldn’t put it down. I’m not going to give away how the pair end up in Room – too many facts will spoil the story for you if you choose to read it.
The story is told in the voice of Jack, who is five years old and has never known a world outside of Room, his beloved Ma and the TV. He is oblivious to the underlying horror of his situation.
Donoghue captures Jack’s voice so beautifully – it is clear and bright without being cloying or overly childish. The characters in his contained life have vitality, as evidenced in this quote:
“Spider’s real. I’ve seen her two times. I look for her now but there’s only a web between Table’s legs and her flat. Table balances good, that’s pretty tricky, when I go on one leg I can do it forages but then I always fall over. I don’t tell Ma about Spider. She brushes webs away, she says they’re dirty but they look like extra-thin silver to me. Ma likes the animals that run around eating each other on the wildlife planet, but not real ones. When I was four I was watching ants walking up Stove and she ran and splatted them all so they wouldn’t eat our food. One minute they were alive and the next minute they were dirt. I cried so my eyes nearly melted off. “
He loves his mother desperately, and within the confines of their little home, they play games, do “gym”, read and play. Despite their limitations, he is undoubtedly happy and loved. The mother-child bond shines in this novel. This story underscores that love is indeed blind to its surroundings and circumstances.
Kristin says
LOVED this book – his references to nursing were so endearing.