Question #5: Jack's Questions & Observations

[[deleted user]]

On page 138, Jack experiences being in “the Outside” for the first time. “I’m not in Room,” he observes, “Am I still me?”

Room asks many existential questions like this one in Jack’s voice. Did Room get you thinking? What passages stood out to you?

[Eric]

That exact passage stood out to me. I can still picture myself doing dishes while listening and actually freezing and thinking about how profound it is for a five year old to be asking himself such a philosophical question.

I found it interesting that Jack gave human qualities to many of the objects in the room like Plant, Table, Rug, and they seemed to be his friends. It got really exciting when there were actually live creatures like a spider and a mouse and I felt so sad for Jack when he lost them. I keep bringing this up but listening to the audio and hearing him cry really made this emotional - he lost the closest thing he had to a friend.

[[deleted user]]

Eric wrote: "That exact passage stood out to me. I can still picture myself doing dishes while listening and actually freezing and thinking about how profound it is for a five year old to be asking himself such..."

That is so true, Eric - that passage really caught me as well, for the same reason. What does it mean to be ourselves, and how much do our surroundings / routines have to do with that? I often think of the time when my grandparents were still living at home, but would soon move to long-term care. They functioned fairly well at home, making their own meals and taking care of themselves, but when we would bring them out to dinner or someplace they were unfamiliar with, they would lose their bearings and become very anxious. Identity and comfort can be so tied up in what we are accustomed to.

[Terry]

Eric wrote: "I found it interesting that Jack gave human qualities to many of the objects in the room like Plant, Table, Rug, and they seemed to be his friends."

I came to find this sweet and endearing - and sad also, that this was all he had and his mother clearly had to foster his joy in interacting with anything - but it was also what drove me bonkers for the first 30 minutes of listening! Until I more fully realized Jack's situation and perspective, the use of first-person 'names' for Table, Wardrobe, Trash, etc. just sounded like poor grammar that I wasn't sure I could stomach for an entire book.
(I did, and am glad for it.)
To more align that thought with the question, upon first listen I also wondered how long term jack would emotionally handle Outside, as he'd come to learn that 'his friend Table' really wasn't one, and that there are many tables, they don't have feelings or participate, etc... and what would that do to his sense of familiarity with everything? Or do all of us that were taught to have a sense of imagination and play in the early years, to some degree naturally have to adjust away from feelings of camaraderie with items... and it's just easier because we (assumably) had both real people friends and thing-friends (dolls, named trucks, etc.) to better understand a difference all along?

(I'm only 60% of the way through my re-read so can't recall how well that point gets addressed with Jack... and I think I posed more questions than I answered, haha. Oops!)

[[deleted user]]

Terry wrote: "Eric wrote: "I found it interesting that Jack gave human qualities to many of the objects in the room like Plant, Table, Rug, and they seemed to be his friends."

I came to find this sweet and ende..."

That is great, Terry - all the more discussion to enjoy!

[Rocio]

Oakville wrote: "On page 138, Jack experiences being in “the Outside” for the first time. “I’m not in Room,” he observes, “Am I still me?”

Room asks many existential questions like this one in Jack’s voice. Did R..."
I liked many of Jack's observations as he discovers this new world. One of the comments that I recall is when he says that on the outside time goes faster and it is spread like butter, everybody is rushing and there is not enough time for doing things. There were several of this kind of reflections that I found interesting and I was anticipating as I reached the second part of the book.

[Rocio]

I went to the presentation of Emma Donogue last night and enjoyed the evening very much. Her address to the audience was so natural, an open conversation, just as you would have on a one to one basis. It was very interesting to hear about her different projects and the practical aspects of her writting too. I am looking forward to read her new book Wonder and have my kids read the book for children that will be out in the srping. Thank you to the OPL for organizing this type of events, we are lucky here in Oakville to have such a wonderful library.

[Dana]

Agreed, I had a great time!

[Terry]

Sorry I had to miss it... But I agree Rocio, with your comment about being lucky to have the OPL. :)

[Allison]

I agree with all of you! OPL has really been rocking the author events! It's wonderful to see so many of you there.