Book Review: Room by Emma Donoghue

Scared is what you’re feeling. Brave is what you’re doing

I watched the movie Room a few days earlier, which inspired me to read the book. I was a bit hesitant because it is a book with a pretty hard subject and I was worried it would be to difficult to read because of the emotions.

Book Review: Room by Emma Donoghue

Rating:


Title & Author: Room by Emma Donoghue
Genre: Contemporary, Drama
Release Date: September 13 2010
Series: standalone
Publisher: Little, Brown

Synopsis

To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it’s where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits.

Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for Jack. But she knows it’s not enough…not for her or for him. She devises a bold escape plan, one that relies on her young son’s bravery and a lot of luck. What she does not realize is just how unprepared she is for the plan to actually work.

I originally saw this book when it first came out, but put it back because it seemed to much for me. Now that I have seen the movie, I thought I was more up for it and so I picked it up.

You notice Ma is dying to give Jack a life as normal as can be, but in the mean time protect him from what Old Nick might do to him. I think she has great courage.

In the book and movie Ma gets asked the question on whether she ever though she should have given Jack to Old Nick for adoption. That was one of my thoughts too at first. But then I also understand that she uses Jack to hold on to sanity and she could never be sure the man brought the baby boy to a hospital.

Jack is this beautiful boy, he loves the world he lives in, except for Old Nick, but he does not really understand what is going on most of the time.

I think the way Emma Donoghue has written the story, makes it less hard to read about such a difficult topic. It is from Jack’s POV and that makes it super airy. I do think Jack presence in the scene where Ma does her interview is forced. But that is the only part I did not really like. But overall the story is very well written.

The Movie

The movie Room came out back in 2015 staring Brie Larson and Jacob Treblay. I had never heard of the boy, but had of Larson. Although I could not remember from which movies or tv-series.

But I really think the director did his best to get the audience to see Ma’s ordeal and Treblay does a great preformance. I was really amazed a 8/9 year old can convey he does not know the world.

Compared to the book, I think I like the book better, but it is because it is just that bit more realistic.

Let me know what you thought of this book and/or movie!
If you have any requests for which book I should talk about next, please let me know in the comments down below.

For now, let books enrich your life!

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