I have to admit that Jack's voice was so unlike any other I've read before that it took me a little while to get comfortable with it. That being said,...moreI have to admit that Jack's voice was so unlike any other I've read before that it took me a little while to get comfortable with it. That being said, once I got used to it I couldn't put this book down. You'd think that seeing the world only through the eyes of a 5-year-old who's never experienced anything outside of this 11X11 foot room would feel limiting, but somehow Donoghue manages to do the opposite, opening the reader's eyes to truths about our world that we take for granted. Jack's relationship with his mother (and the incredible sacrifices she makes for him) is one of the most touching depictions I've read in ages.
For such a dark subject matter, Room is actually a book full of hope. (less)
This book completely blew me away. It's one I'll reread my whole life, and every once in a while, I might walk by my shelf and read a line or two just...moreThis book completely blew me away. It's one I'll reread my whole life, and every once in a while, I might walk by my shelf and read a line or two just to make my day better because every sentence is THAT beautiful.(less)
I'm Peruvian, so when I found out this book was based off the Japanese Embassy Hostage Crisis in '96 I was intrigued. I was living in Miami at the tim...moreI'm Peruvian, so when I found out this book was based off the Japanese Embassy Hostage Crisis in '96 I was intrigued. I was living in Miami at the time, and I still remember the tension in the house as we wondered every day what would happen next, and how, the day it finally ended, a cashier at the store said to my mom, "you must be very proud of your country today."
What I loved about Bel Canto is that it gave me an entirely new perspective on a situation like this. At a time when we were watching the news and only worrying about the hostages, Patchett managed to remind us of the humanity in every single person there, in all their complexities. I loved the omniscient narrator, and how even the most minor characters felt incredibly real. I loved that she managed to honestly depict a love story that overcame the boundaries of language and fear. (less)
If you like dark, slightly twisted beautifully-written books, you'll enjoy this. Harington's homage to Lolita, told in reverse, traces the affair betw...moreIf you like dark, slightly twisted beautifully-written books, you'll enjoy this. Harington's homage to Lolita, told in reverse, traces the affair between a female Russian immigrant and a 12-year-old boy. It's so much more than that, though. Since I last read it in 2007 I think I'm due for a reread, but what I loved most about this book was the voice. Few can pull off an entire book told in 2nd person POV, which I usually only see in short stories, but the voice grabbed me right away from beginning to end. (less)
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