Comments on: Room, by Emma Donoghue

By: KevinfromCanada

KevinfromCanada — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 19:23:09 +0000

I certainly don’t disagree with you but have to admit that by the time the attempted suicide arrived there had just been too many improbabilities in the story for me.

By: NMRose

NMRose — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 19:20:39 +0000

For me, the glaringly unbelievable part of this story is the attempted suicide. Obviously, the author reailized it was the only way to get Ma away from Jack for a while; but from beginning to overdose, Ma states, and gives overwhelming evidence that Jack is her world, her savior, etc., and would do everything to protect him. Imagine Ma leaving him behind to survive without her, and be raised by her own mother, the woman she remembers she can barely tolerate. Some will say all is possible in the grips of depression. Nope, not in THIS case, with THIS Ma.

By: Jess

Jess — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 21:05:42 +0000

The speech pattern was annoying and after I finished the book I went and read some bronte sisters, some hamlet and some emliy dickinson. I felt as though I couldn’t talk probably and because I spent so much time with Jack, I felt as though I might start talking like him. I felt that all the big words had been sucked from my vocabulary.

By: KevinfromCanada

KevinfromCanada — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:46:38 +0000

Sherri: I can only say that judging from the continuing searches and hits on my review, Room continues to be a book club favorite. I'll admit that I don't have much to say about it that has not already been said in the original review and following comments. It wasn't for me, but I can understand why others like the book.

By: Sherri Hext

Sherri Hext — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:12:35 +0000

This is the book our Bookworms discussed last month. Having read it sometime ago I gave it another reading & really was more impressed on the second time through. I let myself identify more with the characters & situation & left off the critical approach.
Having taught Kindergarten for 31 years I had some predisposed ideas about young children & had to set aside these in order toy enter the limitng & limited world of a “one-to-one classroom”.
The creativity of mom using whatever was at hand & the setting up of interesting physical challenges with a fairly rigid schedule worked for them.
However I did find it a bit hard to fathom some of the details of language patterns of Jack as well as the unawareness of the outside world, even though he had been exposed to it through TV.
Sherri

By: beth

beth — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 20:41:15 +0000

My mom handed me Room and said tell me what u think, i cant get into it. I read the first page and wasnt put off by the grammar and style. I read this book in two days. I have an 11 month old girl and havent been able to finish a magazine lately. I liked the book and I remembered through the whole read that it is fiction, saying that i do not know how a child would be after this experience. Whether he would be mature or able to connect the dots of his mother’s bruising. Every child is different.
I read the entire book riveted by the journey of these two people. I breastfeed and i was surprised that Ma still breastfed but why shouldnt she if she can? Its comforting for both mother and child. I had seen other reviews that were almost disgusted that Ma still breastfed Jack. I think its a good thing for both.
I admit I cried twice. Once when Jack was forced to wean, and the second time when they went back to Room and Jack said bye to Wall, Bed and everything he had known his whole life. Poor kid. I just wanted to hug him. He never thought bad of that place. I felt equally as bad for Ma. I cant believe she went back there but she lives for her son and that is honorable seeing as how he came into her life.
As kid are all different, i realize readers all have different opinions. I dont think my mom would read this book but I am glad she handed it to me. I havent read a book so intriguing in a long time.

By: KevinfromCanada

KevinfromCanada — Fri, 20 May 2011 20:00:17 +0000

Shawna: While it has been some time since I read the book (and visits to the site confirm that people continue to check it out, so you are not late by any means), for me time has confirmed the impression in your comment.

While the first part was not without its weaknesses, it was innovative and had my interest. Disappointment grew rapidly when the story moved Outside — it became descriptive rather than perceptive and added little to my interest.

By: shawna

shawna — Fri, 20 May 2011 19:43:11 +0000

I know I’m a while behind the trend here, but I just finished this book and so finally have some thoughts to contribute.

Overall, I agree that this book could have been so much more than it was. I found the first part somewhat interesting but was hoping the second half would offer a lot more insight into what the developmental/psychological impacts of growing up in a confined world would be on a child.

Instead, the author seemed to try and use Jack’s limited narrative voice to pass commentary on society (i.e. everybody seems busy and tired in Outside, in Room we were never too busy). For me, these insights were neither interesting or well developed and so fell a little flat.

By: Twelfth

Twelfth — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 10:40:42 +0000

I put it down after ten pages. Bleh. I thought I could just find the short version with a google search. I’m glad I found this site. Great insight everyone.

Although I think a five year old would totally associate neck bruises with the source, I agree with Nadine’s comments. My thoughts find so much more unrealistic with the story. Does Ma never lash out her emotional stress toward her child? Seriously? Basically a child herself when first captured, and she has presence of mind to not become addicted to pain medication? Really? A book about the effects/affects of abuse, and the abusive scenes are never breached? That boy’s deepest scars would be his experience after 9 pm!

Alas, I guess this book is really just about his relationship with his Room more than anything else. Well, that about sums it up for me- ignorance is bliss and human nature longs for the simple days of childhood ignorance. Wow! What a grotesque route to describe that point.

I may be too harsh. Bottom line for me- the writing style gave me a headache, and caused my mind to think less rather than more.

By: KevinfromCanada

KevinfromCanada — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 19:27:04 +0000

chaz: She is one of Canada’s greatest authors. Right up there with Alice Munro in my opinion.