From the Bookshelf of Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge…
Find A Copy At
Group Discussions About This Book
No group discussions for this book yet.
What Members Thought
so. i think the three star 'it's okay' thing that goodreads has is exactly how i feel about this.
i don't think i liked the five year old POV. i liked jack, i think. i hated that i still don't know what the mother's name is. i mean, he has heard it, so why can't we know it? stupid book and stupid filtering for narrative whatever.
what i did think was interesting was the "after" the part. in a way, i thought it was very much like an autistic child entering the world, but then it didn't play out q ...more
i don't think i liked the five year old POV. i liked jack, i think. i hated that i still don't know what the mother's name is. i mean, he has heard it, so why can't we know it? stupid book and stupid filtering for narrative whatever.
what i did think was interesting was the "after" the part. in a way, i thought it was very much like an autistic child entering the world, but then it didn't play out q ...more
Sep 30, 2010
Rae
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
true-crime-and-forensics
On the one hand, this is such a distasteful book. On the other hand, this is such an intriguing read.
It deals with the abduction, rape, and long-term captivity of a 19 year old girl, who is forced to raise her son in horrific conditions (a small shed he calls "Room"). The five-year-old narrator tells the story from an understandably warped point of view. I have always wondered how victims are able to heal and adapt to society after such a crime.
Although I thought that the subject matter was qu ...more
It deals with the abduction, rape, and long-term captivity of a 19 year old girl, who is forced to raise her son in horrific conditions (a small shed he calls "Room"). The five-year-old narrator tells the story from an understandably warped point of view. I have always wondered how victims are able to heal and adapt to society after such a crime.
Although I thought that the subject matter was qu ...more
I''ve started my review of this book about a half-dozen times. In the book trailer (and I hope you watched it), Audrey Niffenegger writes:
"Room is a book to read in one sitting. When it’s over you look up: the world looks the same but you are somehow different and that feeling lingers for days."
I picked this book up around 7:00 in the evening. I put it down at around 3:00 the next morning. When I closed my eyes out of sheer exhaustion I had dreams that centered around Room. I woke up feeling da ...more
"Room is a book to read in one sitting. When it’s over you look up: the world looks the same but you are somehow different and that feeling lingers for days."
I picked this book up around 7:00 in the evening. I put it down at around 3:00 the next morning. When I closed my eyes out of sheer exhaustion I had dreams that centered around Room. I woke up feeling da ...more
Gripping read. The real life stories this is modeled on tend to horrifying me like nothing else; luckily having a 5 year old narrator mitigates a lot of that. To quote an awesomely apt review Mairead told me about, it's like a horror movie where the main character doesn't know he's in one.
I did think the middle section strained belief, but it was still so intense I thought I was going to have a heart attack. In the latter half of the book there was at least one character who I found really inept ...more
I did think the middle section strained belief, but it was still so intense I thought I was going to have a heart attack. In the latter half of the book there was at least one character who I found really inept ...more
(NOTE: I listened to this on audio)
I have mixed feelings about this book. At first, because I was listening on audio, the kid's voice drove me nuts, but eventually I got used to it. All of the excitement happens about halfway through the book and the beginning and end are kind of repetitive and almost boring. That said, it's a pretty fascinating concept. So, yes, I found it both boring and fascinating. I don't understand it either. ...more
I have mixed feelings about this book. At first, because I was listening on audio, the kid's voice drove me nuts, but eventually I got used to it. All of the excitement happens about halfway through the book and the beginning and end are kind of repetitive and almost boring. That said, it's a pretty fascinating concept. So, yes, I found it both boring and fascinating. I don't understand it either. ...more
Sometimes I read a book and I marvel at the author’s ability to pull of their story. This is such a book. Her protagonist is a five year old in a horrific situation. Even with a story that could be so dark and depressing, Donoghue fills her story with humor and light. Jack and his Ma are so real and, though their ordeal is so unthinkable, Donoghue makes them relatable.
This novel is at turns unbearably tense, touching, emotionally draining, claustrophobic, and heartbreaking. It never rings false ...more
This novel is at turns unbearably tense, touching, emotionally draining, claustrophobic, and heartbreaking. It never rings false ...more
I really enjoyed this book! So different. It took a little bit to get used to reading from a 5 year old perspective, but then it was very interesting.
I'm not sure if I would have liked this book as much if I hadn't listened to it as an audiobook. It's a pretty horrific story told in a fascinating way. At times the things coming out of Jack's mouth don't really seem consistent with a 5-year-old, which was mildly annoying. I appreciated the author's examination of what life might be like after the rescue, which is where most stories might end.
...more
When I first started this book I thought there was no way I could get through the whole thing. It took about 25 pages or so to get past the fact that the book is created through a 5 year old's eyes. The writing took some getting used to.
Eventually I found it to be a good read, but I never really felt a connection to the book and the characters. I never felt any pull for it. I read it fairly quickly and found certain things interesting (obviously not a topic I had put a lot of thought into previo ...more
Eventually I found it to be a good read, but I never really felt a connection to the book and the characters. I never felt any pull for it. I read it fairly quickly and found certain things interesting (obviously not a topic I had put a lot of thought into previo ...more
This was one of the most emotionally draining books that I've read (or in this case, listened to) in a very long time. I needed to have a box of tissues in the passenger seat during my commute, yet I would find myself laughing at the most unexpected moments.
This book will stay with me for a very long time. ...more
This book will stay with me for a very long time. ...more
Jan 05, 2011
Cindy
marked it as to-read
Feb 05, 2011
Alison
marked it as to-read
Feb 20, 2011
Danielle
marked it as to-read
Mar 12, 2011
Wendy
added it
Apr 04, 2011
Kate
added it
May 16, 2011
Mandy
marked it as to-read
