Room - Emma Donoghue - How are you getting on?

[Kath]

It's refreshing to get some comments similar to my own feelings. I found the child's language absolutely unbelievable. He was 5 years old and had been raised by an articulate woman. Why the flip couldn't he use definite or indefinite articles? The complete unbelievability of that ruined the whole thing for me.

[Elle]

What kinda annoyed me was the fact when he got out no-one could understand him?

[Kath]

I had a bit of bother meself!
Parental abuse, letting him talk like that.

[Jane]

Ignite wrote: I found the child's language absolutely unbelievable. He was 5 years old and had been raised by an articulate woman. Why the flip..."

Exactly!

[Elle]

Yeah but going into it I know for a fact I'm reading made-up crap. Going into that I knew it was based on a real life situation and it was meant to be *real*

[Ruby]

I found it very claustraphobic (of course) but that held me for about 100 pages. At that point I was ready to give up because it was like Chinese water torture. drip, drip, drip, they'll never get out of this. Are we into full discussion now?

[Kath]

The thing about fantasy is that, yes, it's unbelievable but it has to hold by its own rules. You set those out as ground rules at the start. If your goblins can't fly you can't suddenly have them flying later in the book. In fantasy we willingly suspend our disbelief but it has to keep to its own rules to be a coherent story. In a 'real life' book, it has to be believable within real life. I can't believe a sensbile adult (which she seemed to be) would allow or condone speech like that in a 5 year old for any reason. Especially so since she hoped to allow him to escape and bring help.
I just didn't buy it.

[Elle]

I didn't say it was non-fiction.
I said it was based on real life events, totally different.
I'm not stupid.

[Elle]

Ruby wrote: "I found it very claustraphobic (of course) but that held me for about 100 pages. At that point I was ready to give up because it was like Chinese water torture. drip, drip, drip, they'll never get ..."

No the thread hasn't been put up yet so still no spoilers on this please!

[Ruby]

Righto, mum's the word.

[Philip (sarah)]

Only started Room this morning,hope to join you all in the discussion soon. 10% in and reserving judgement at present.

[Lynne (Tigger's Mum)]

I take on board Ignite's comments about Jack's lack of language skills and agreed on some pointss, but having read a factual report today in a newspaper from a primary teacher detailing the under development of some children with language, toilet training and eating skills I found myself re-evaluating the book. It made it far more credible.

[Elle]

I read that too. Was quite disturbing.

[Elle]

Aside from the language, I still didn't enjoy the actual book

(the discussion thread is now open for this book - jump on over to continue this and spoilers are allowed in that one)

[Patti (baconater)]

Lynne (Tigger's Mum) wrote: "I take on board Ignite's comments about Jack's lack of language skills and agreed on some pointss, but having read a factual report today in a newspaper from a primary teacher detailing the under d..."

Where was the article please? I'd like to read it if I could find it online.

[Elle]

it was on the daily mail!

[Patti (baconater)]

Okay. Thank you.

[Elle]

Jeepers that took forever to find.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/artic...

[Patti (baconater)]

Oh! Thank you so much Elle! I was having no luck finding it.

[Elle]

daily mail site is a pit. i feel like i loose IQ points even being on it

[Patti (baconater)]

Lol Yeah it's a bit of a rag. Sadly though, the article is spot on.

[Maureen (Mews)]

I have to confess to reading the daily mail site sometimes....the comments are often absolutely hilarious and more interesting than the articles.

Hoping to start Room soon. Life keeps getting in the way though.

[Elle]

I like reading the comments too! I was particularly proud of the comments on that article above, it made me kinda believe in parents again after reading the article.

[Lynne (Tigger's Mum)]

Its the readers comments that put me off some of the genuine articles - there are buckets of vitriol on them. Its very fashionable to slag off the "right wing" papers but they do sell. Its a bit like Tony Blair, nobody will admit to voting for him. The same with the DM. Its a very easy site to read from abroad, you get the headlines quite easily. I only buy newspapers for the crosswords these days, and now I've got my Kindle I hardly ever do crosswords.

[Elle]

i buy the crossword books as the paper ones are always too hard for me.

[Lynne (Tigger's Mum)]

I bet you look at the answers at the back ;0)

[Elle]

shamelessly.

[Maureen (Mews)]

I started reading it today and I want to like it, but I am not sure I can get used to the way it's written. I am not ready to give up yet though.

[Philip (sarah)]

Finished and really enjoyed it!