Room

The Book

The story takes a while to get used to because its told from the point of view of a five year old boy, Jack, who lives with his Ma in a single room. He has never left it and objects in the room are treated as people, addressed with capital letters, as they are his only friends. They have a TV but the things he sees on it are perceived as not the outside world (as he knows nothing but the room and his mother does not want him to believe there is more out there) but unreal.

Old Nick provides food and clothing and removes the trash. He is the father and visits in the night to have sex with Ma while Jack sleeps in Wardrobe. It is gradually revealed that Ma was abducted while at college and been held captive for seven years. Two years into her captivity she gave birth to Jack.





The book is divided into three parts - life in the room, a thrilling and tense escape and then Jack and his mother adjusting to the outside world. This last part is the most emotional and Jack develops as a really endearing character. I expected him to be full of wide eyed wonder at the world, experiencing things for the first time, but, like an Amazonian tribesman brought to New York, he isn't impressed; commenting on seeing a second play area as they drive past "Lots of the world seems to be a repeat".

It has echoes of Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time in Jack's interaction and interpretation with the world and in a further reading and viewing addition at the back of the book, Emma Donoghue cites this among others. 

If you find the beginning difficult, it is definitely a book worth persevering with as the rewards are great.



Official film website

The Film

The film has some narration by Jack but occasionally it presents the mother's point of view (something we never get in the book), for example stifling her sobs when Jack is asleep so as not to wake him or the anguish when looking at high school photos of old friends who have led a normal life, which hers can never be again.

Generally the film is a pretty accurate adaptation of the book. Less time is spent in hospital and they do not move out to their own apartment, as the film wants to concentrate on the family dynamic - the coming to terms with the situation, reconnecting with parents and building relationships.

The moment  that Jack says "I love you Grandma" after he has had his hair cut (I couldn't wait for that to happen!) is a real tear jerker, as you know he is beginning to trust other people apart from his mother.


Even the TV interview takes place in the front room of the family home, so as to make the media and the line of questioning more invasive into the safe protection the Newsome's are precariously developing.

Despite the escape, the final goodbye to Room, the site of their imprisonment, doesn't lift the spirits, as the trauma and loss of years can never be recovered.


If you like this book try the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time or The Bunker Diary by Kevin Brooks

If you enjoyed the film, try The Lovely Bones