A few months ago all (and I really mean pretty much 'all') of my friends were reading this book. Actually they were raving about this book. So I asked the stupid question: "Isn't it depressing?" The friend I asked said: 'You'd think so but it really isn't." (actually the question was pretty smart - believing the answer was stupid) Think about it ... a 19 year old girl is kidnapped and held by a sexual predator for eight years. Now she and her 5 year old son are living in Room. How can that not be depressing?
Don't get me wrong, 'ROOM' is a seriously great book. Easy to read. Flows well. The characters are well developed and, given that I know nothing about how a person might behave in a situation like this, felt real to me. Ma is an amazing woman - she really rises to the occasion. Her creativity in raising a well rounded child under the circumstances speaks volumes to maternal instinct. Her son is her life.
Jack is sweet and smart and impossible not to love. His insights about life Outside show us a new way to look at things we tend to take for granted.
I am seriously glad I read this book ... BUT ... it is depressing.
I was so afraid to read this book cos of the horrible parts. So good choice to have him narrate it. Great book
ReplyDeleteOh, I agree, if it hadn't been narrated by Jack I couldn't have read it.
ReplyDeleteI have also been wondering about this one - premise intrigued me and I have been very curious to see how she would handle it (I've read her before and enjoyed her stuff), but afraid it would be too dark/horrid, especially for summer reading!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the awesome review. In the reviews I have read, people have left out the fact that it is depressing. I guess I could have figured that out for myself. I'm not sure if I'm in the mood for a depressing read. Isn't the real world depressing enough as it is? Or is it me because of the environment I'm in at the moment? Anyways...Lovely review. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteOK - I've been taking some heat. Apparently many people find the book uplifting and NOT depressing because Ma is so resourceful and Jack is so sweet (and Jack is the narrator so the book by associaltion is sweet as well) I still found it depressing.
ReplyDeleteI think I would find it depressing too, I try to avoid books like that! Thanks for the headsup. so many other books to read that dont make me sad :)
ReplyDeleteWell, I can't decide what I'll think of this one once I get to it, but we'll see.
ReplyDeleteOh I'm so glad you were brave enough to admit you found this book depressing. I haven't read it because of that and now I feel...well quite justified in my feelings! :-D
ReplyDeleteI am glad I read this book too. I also just didn't love it as much as others did.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to know I'm not the only one.
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