06 January 2011

Room ~ Emma Donoghue

***** FAVOURITE *****

Shortlisted : 2010 Man Booker Prize 2012
Tournament of Books : 2011

Wonderful use of “voice” of a 5 year-old.

A straightforward narrative - but with a twist. It is told through the voice of a five-year-old, Jack, who knows little of the outside world.

The “room” is the room that Jack and his Ma are imprisoned in. Ma was kidnapped as a 19 year-old and has been held captive for 7 years by a pervert.

A quick read but it stays in your thoughts after finishing. The narrative stays focussed and is well paced and plausible. It takes you through the background to the kidnap and imprisonment, the escape and the difficulty of adjustment to the world.