I think this is one book that stays with you long after the last page is read, and I must admit to shedding a few tears along the way.

The author's decision to describe the events through Jack's eyes was inspired, as this story could so easily have degenerated into a voyeuristic look at serial abuse and kidnap, and yet although uncomfortable reading most of the abuse is left to your imagination, and the story is about much more than that, with some of the more disturbing details only emerging later in the story.


I think Ma did an excellent job in raising Jack and never took away his belief in himself, even when her own self esteem was at rock bottom, she maintained Jack's world and his safe environment. She did everything she could to keep him away from old Nick. She made Room seem magical, and yet when they returned and saw the dingy place in which they had lived...

Ma's turned round, she's looking at a gray shed in the corner of the yard "That's it ",she says.
"What?"
Room."
"Nah."
"It is, Jack, you've just never seen it from outside".

I agree that to see the world through Jack's eyes was enlightening and quite humbling - we take so much for granted...."the sky's so big, it nearly knocks me down"

This book will stay on my keeper shelf....and in my heart, I hope that Ma and Jack find their place in the world and are allowed move on with their lives....

This book is definitely staying with me and I thought it was a great read.

I think Jack is likely to move on quite well with his life. Not immediately, but he is adjusting and kids are quite resilient. I think it will be much tougher for Ma after her 7 year ordeal to discover a new place for herself in the world. Not that she can't, but it will be hard since her life is obviously not at all like what she would have expected when she started college years ago.

I picture Ma as getting a degree in psychology or something and helping other abused survivors. Jack is so intelligent that but with his protective streak, I wouldn't be surprised to find him in law enforcement in the future saving other "victims."

Very good thoughts about their future careers, Pauline. I can see both of those happening.

I finally received the book from my library yesterday afternoon and will comment on it soon in the BOTM discussion thread.

This is not my typical reading material, but I must admit that I enjoyed the book more than I thought I would. It received so many good reviews that I figured I would give it a try. I immediately fell in love with Jack, who is a saint indeed. Seeing the world through his eyes was the best part of the book, following the dramatic escape. Ma raised him well and he clearly was a precocious child for just having turned five and being able to read and mimick so well. Some of his comments made me smile, including

"I'm actually wearing Dora" when his uncle buys him a backpack;

". . . that man's putting himself on fire" when he sees a man smoking a cigarette;

"Do you like the left best" to the child nursing; and

when talking about Ma -- "She's in the Clinic because she tried to go to Heaven early." ... I'm a bonsai."
I could go on and on with Jack's touching observations.

I was angry with Ma (Sharon) for trying to overdose. After all she had been through to then give up and leave Jack, her savior, behind was surprising. Then again, she was dealing with so many changes, grasping to reality and taking several medications that must have affected her physically and emotionally. I questioned why Noreen didn't watch her closely, knowing that Ma was extremely depressed and possibly suicidal, especially after that nasty interview.

When the reporter asks Ma how she felt being forced to bear a child, she responds that she felt saved. Jack was the best thing to happen to her, he was everything to her. I felt a moment of shock when the same reporter asked Ma why she didn't try to give Jack away and thought that was a moment of truth for Ma -- why hadn't she sacrificed him for his safety? How could she was my first thought? Jack needed his mother's love and she needed his beautiful innocence.
Following this brief discussion, the reporter observes that some viewers might be startled to know that Ma was still breastfeeding Jack, to which Ma appropriately responds "In this whole story, that's the shocking detail?" (p. 233) Bravo.

Some favorite characters for me include Grandma and Steppa who introduce Jack to the outside "outside" world. During this time Jack is separated from his mother over 24 hours for the first time, which could have been more traumatic than it turned out to be in the end. Instead he goes to the beach, shopping, the laundromat, etc. and even experiences his first sunburn and bee sting -- all while hanging on to the "dead spit" tooth of his Ma. How I laughed when Jack convinced Grandma to get in the bath tub with him. Now, Grandpa was a different story. I disliked him from the beginning and kept on thinking "This is not about you and how you feel. For goodness sake, your daughter is back!"

I agree with Pauline and ABL's comments above that Jack and Ma eventually will help other children who have been victimized. Jack even mentions to himself that he plans to rescue other children. Ma and Jack are survivors and whether they want to or not, they hold precious hope for others in need.

Thank you all for wonderful insightful comments - I'm really glad that you gave the book a chance even though it may not be in your usual comfort zone. I think Emma Donoghue is a wonderful author, and she has captured the scene quite perfectly. She admits that the inspiration for "Jack" came from listening to her own then 5yr old son, and I think she has managed to create a child's view of the world perfectly.

If anyone likes historical fiction her book Slammerkin is a wonderful romp through 17th century London and whilst very different to "Room" it is no less enlightening. It was published in 2002 - so may well be sitting on a lonely library shelf somewhere - if you see it do give it a chance !

Amazon link to Slammerkin

Incidentally a "Slammerkin" is a loose gown worn by a prostitute - rather like the "ladies" in Madame Jean's establishment would wear in the brothel in Edinburgh (Voyager)