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Read Harder Challenge Plans: 2016
By Book Riot · 284 posts · 3115 views
By Book Riot · 284 posts · 3115 views
last updated Dec 19, 2017 10:57AM
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By Book Riot · 9 posts · 3392 views
last updated Jan 19, 2016 06:00AM
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What Members Thought
It was sadly beautiful.
Jack has just turned five. He lives with his mother in Room, and to Jack, Room is his whole world. His mother was kidnapped 7 years ago by Old Nick and has been kept captive in Room; she keeps thinking of trying to escape, but Jack balks at the idea, for Room is home. One day, both Jack and his mom are surprised when one of their plans actually works and totally unprepared for what comes afterwards.
Wow. This is a powerful book, made even more hard-hitting as it’s told from the point of view of J ...more
Wow. This is a powerful book, made even more hard-hitting as it’s told from the point of view of J ...more
Super creepy and hard to "enjoy" given the subject matter. However, I really appreciated reading from a child's perspective (I was reminded a bit of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close). Jack has spent his first five years of life living in small room with his mother. He knows this world very well and is accustomed to a limited repretoire of activities that develop his creativity, literacy, articulation, and muscles. With his mother as his so
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I had no intention of ever reading this book. It seemed too sensationalistic and silly. When my book club picked it for our next meeting I groaned, and groaned, and groaned until I finally decided, OK, I'll give it a shot. I was pleasantly surprised to realize there was an audio version of it at the library. I could listen in the car instead of wasting my precious reading time.
The first few chapters were difficult and tedious. Listening to a 5 year old prattle on is tiresome. As the story progre ...more
The first few chapters were difficult and tedious. Listening to a 5 year old prattle on is tiresome. As the story progre ...more
I would actually like to give this book 4.5 stars
I think the reason this novel works so well is the POV used. Writing from the little boy's perspective you truly feel you're walking several brutal miles in his little shoes and that's what makes this read the "experience" I kept seeing it referred to as in critic's reviews.
The little boy does seem to have language skills well beyond his years, but this is nicely acknowledged within the text.
When I heard the plot of the novel I was worried it migh ...more
I think the reason this novel works so well is the POV used. Writing from the little boy's perspective you truly feel you're walking several brutal miles in his little shoes and that's what makes this read the "experience" I kept seeing it referred to as in critic's reviews.
The little boy does seem to have language skills well beyond his years, but this is nicely acknowledged within the text.
When I heard the plot of the novel I was worried it migh ...more
Room is all Jack knows. He was born in Room. He's never left Room. But when Jack turns five, his Ma tells him the truth: she was kidnapped and has been trapped in this room for seven years. Now it's time to try to escape.
I can see why so many people are talking about this book. It's intense and unique. I felt like the pacing was a little uneven, but there were certain parts that seriously had me on the edge of my seat and I read the majority of the book in one day. It's interesting to take a ri ...more
I can see why so many people are talking about this book. It's intense and unique. I felt like the pacing was a little uneven, but there were certain parts that seriously had me on the edge of my seat and I read the majority of the book in one day. It's interesting to take a ri ...more
The narration was as almost convincing, yet I could never really get into this book. I felt like I stood slightly outside it. And maybe this is just because the child's point of view is just too far removed from what I can really imagine. Jack seemed too old for his years. I wanted to buy into his worldview, but in the end, it just seemed like a good fictional experiment in narrative voice and nothing more. Good but not completely successful, and in the end, that made it disappointing.
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This was one of those great reading experiences where I wanted to reschedule social and work events and tell people around me to Shut up, will you? I'm reading!
A seriously intense and great book with two powerful characters who live through an unbelievable (though based in fact) experiences. I loved this start to finish. ...more
A seriously intense and great book with two powerful characters who live through an unbelievable (though based in fact) experiences. I loved this start to finish. ...more
Very interesting & thought-provoking. I'd absolutely recommend this book, but I'm nite sure I'd say I "really liked it."
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Emma Donaghue made me believe in Jack, and the optimism that a 5-year-old boy could have despite his difficult situation. The book was a good read but did not meet my expectations given all the hype. I wonder what gimmick Donaghue is going to use to interest readers in her next book.
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Feb 05, 2011
Alison
marked it as to-read
Mar 27, 2011
Ms. McGregor
marked it as to-read
Oct 25, 2012
Meghan Brannon-Reese
marked it as to-read
May 23, 2015
Anna West
added it
