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Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies's Reviews > Room
Room
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by
This book was awful. Emotionless. Annoying.
Look, I get it, it's quite difficult to write from the perspective of a 5-year old as a grown up. I can hardly remember what it was like being five, and I can't even begin to write from the POV of one. I do, however, know an enjoyable story when I see it, and I know when I'm annoyed. And I know that this book annoyed me greatly.
The hallmark of any brilliant novel is the ability to make the reader empathize for the characters in the book. I want to be able to understand and experience the joy, suffering, frustration, anger, whatever it is that the main characters and the main narrators feel. I got none of that here, due in part to the emotional immaturity and lack of comprehension on the very young main characters' part, and in part due to my frustration and annoyance at the five year old narrator.
The little boy's is haphazard, almost a stream of consciousness narration.
Maybe this kid is annoying because he doesn't know anything outside Room. Maybe he's immature because of his seclusion. Maybe this. Maybe that. I don't want to have to make excuses for the book's shortcomings.
This book takes place in a room. Have you ever been locked up for an entire day in a room (without a computer or an iPhone for company?) It is as boring as it sounds, and this book is as boring as it sounds. But it's not boring because the mom has the kid and they love each other! That makes it awesome, right? Not for me.
I have a little sister. She's 10 years younger than I am. Consequently, I had to put up with a hell of a lot of little kids growing up. They were intelligent, bright, precocious. I still couldn't stand their company. This book was hell.
The story of Ma is pretty awful, because she's been kidnapped and raped and locked up. We got no sense of that. There is no emotion, there is no horror, there is no knowing what happened to her because the story is told from the perspective of a stupid little child. The choice of the narrator completely ruins what should have been a heart-wrenching tale.
Look, I get it, it's quite difficult to write from the perspective of a 5-year old as a grown up. I can hardly remember what it was like being five, and I can't even begin to write from the POV of one. I do, however, know an enjoyable story when I see it, and I know when I'm annoyed. And I know that this book annoyed me greatly.
The hallmark of any brilliant novel is the ability to make the reader empathize for the characters in the book. I want to be able to understand and experience the joy, suffering, frustration, anger, whatever it is that the main characters and the main narrators feel. I got none of that here, due in part to the emotional immaturity and lack of comprehension on the very young main characters' part, and in part due to my frustration and annoyance at the five year old narrator.
The little boy's is haphazard, almost a stream of consciousness narration.
I choose Meltedy Spoon with the white all blobby on his handle when he leaned on the pan of boiling pasta by accident. Ma doesn’t like Meltedy Spoon but he’s my favorite because he’s not the same.And I have to tell you, it is annoying as fuck. In that sense, maybe the book is fairly true to the depiction of kids, because to be honest, a lot of kids are pretty damn annoying to me.
Maybe this kid is annoying because he doesn't know anything outside Room. Maybe he's immature because of his seclusion. Maybe this. Maybe that. I don't want to have to make excuses for the book's shortcomings.
This book takes place in a room. Have you ever been locked up for an entire day in a room (without a computer or an iPhone for company?) It is as boring as it sounds, and this book is as boring as it sounds. But it's not boring because the mom has the kid and they love each other! That makes it awesome, right? Not for me.
I have a little sister. She's 10 years younger than I am. Consequently, I had to put up with a hell of a lot of little kids growing up. They were intelligent, bright, precocious. I still couldn't stand their company. This book was hell.
The story of Ma is pretty awful, because she's been kidnapped and raped and locked up. We got no sense of that. There is no emotion, there is no horror, there is no knowing what happened to her because the story is told from the perspective of a stupid little child. The choice of the narrator completely ruins what should have been a heart-wrenching tale.
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Started Reading
November 16, 2015
– Shelved
November 16, 2015
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Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 53 (53 new)
message 1:
by
Jasmine
(new)
Nov 16, 2015 02:29PM
Dear lord I would have thrown this out the window (just like I'd throw a child). Short but sweet review, Khanh. ;)
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This sounds like story that would've been better in third person? I see so much hype, but never read this and don't plan on it.
Hahaha that's a major spanking to the book. I might have overshot on the five stars
Awww, I think I bought this one. I hope I like it 0_0
I agree with this review so deeply. I quit halfway through this book because I couldn't stand the child near the halfway mark. Ugh
And I have to tell you, it is annoying as fuck. In that sense, maybe the book is fairly true to the depiction of kids, because to be honest, a lot of kids are pretty damn annoying to me.Well, that could be it. It could be that hearing baby speak through a whole book would drive anyone crazy.
They are making a movie off this book. :/
Oh how I totally agree with you! My review for this book is just like 2 sentences because it was so straight to the point (like yours), I hated it. I understand and connect with every aspect explored in your review.Loved your review! Hated the book.
And I am absolutely livid they are making this into a movie :| Maybe the movie will have some type of emotion or SOMETHING behind it..
I liked this book precisely because it was narrated by a child, who could not comprehend his real situation. But then , I simply love children, so I understand why someone could hate this book because of the child's POV.
Sounds like it had the same narrative issues that turned me off of A Clockwork Orange: narration that actively distances the audience.
Ouch. I knew this one was bad but not this bad. I do love children but that doesnt mean I'd want to read a book like this one with a narrative like that. No, thanks.
I was annoyed at times, but I'm pretty sure I liked it more than you.
Nandakishore wrote: "I liked this book precisely because it was narrated by a child, who could not comprehend his real situation. But then , I simply love children, so I understand why someone could hate this book beca..."I think the best child-narrated book I've ever read is The Ocean at the End of the Lane. There's even one amazingly written & very brief sex scene that's not written for titillation in any way where Gaiman perfectly describes sex the way an uncomprehending little boy spectator would view it.
K.T. wrote: "I think the best child-narrated book I've ever read is The Ocean at the End of the Lane. There's even one amazingly written & very brief sex scene that's not written for titillation in any way where Gaiman perfectly describes sex the way an uncomprehending little boy spectator would view it."I've yet to read that one. But I thought the child narration in this book was also well done.
I think as much as we could ever tell she did get into the mind of a socially and environmentally stunted yet precocious 5 year old, but as a reader I didn't want to stick with this character for a whole book. Good review.
I felt so torn over this book. I really wanted to like it, but then I also loathe five year old children and their perspectives so . . .
I feel like this is a love or hate thing! I read it a few years back and really enjoyed it, but it definitely has a narration style some people might hate. Read the sample chapters before buying! Lol
There is a lot of Oedipal and mythical subtext in the story (for example, the names "Jack" and "Old Nick", and the constant references to breast-feeding and early morning erections), which have not come across to most readers, I feel. Or maybe I am inferring something that the author never intended. :/
The hallmark of any brilliant novel is the ability to make the reader empathize for the characters in the book.Yeap. Right there is everything that needs to be said about just any book.
Very few authors can pull off stream of consciousness, which is the main reason I've stayed away from this. Sorry to hear it disappointed!
Christina wrote: "I will say that I share your opinion, but I am not a fan of most children (I'm just not, and people love to vilify me for this), and the kid in this book is so annoying and selfish that it made my ..."Lol! Love that imagery
Laura wrote: "Well, that could be it. It could be that hearing baby speak through a whole book would drive anyone crazy. "i never do baby talk.i babysat many toddlers (including my own nephew) and i never have done it. i always speak real words just less and dumb down the vocab. just like i tell them the real words for things like bottle not baba. a child can't pronounce bottle and will naturally say baba or maybe, just maybe they can get it. you never know.
i do know they claim boys develop language later than girls and my nephew "talked" to us as soon as he was able. and he talked A LOT.
i wonder why she never switched to the mother's point of view or a third person. a gimmick? the book did receive lots of hype. i can't imagine trying to listen to the thoughts of a 5yrold for an entire novel especially a five year old that has his own definition of things. if she translated the words then i could maybe do it ... probably.
Why do you delete all of the reviewers that disagree with you? And must you keep bumping everything all the time?
You also indicated in your "About Me" that:I am sarcastic at times, but I am never malicious.
You are most certainly malicious. The more of your reviews I read the more I see it...
Your rating average is very low. So is it that you are jealous of the authors? Was your book turned down? It's just odd that you find THAT many books are worth only a one or two star? C'mon now....
message 26:
by
Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies
(last edited Nov 18, 2015 11:15AM)
(new)
-
rated it 1 star
1seeurJealous wrote: "Why do you delete all of the reviewers that disagree with you? And must you keep bumping everything all the time?"When have I done that? I never do. And malice means I have a personal vendetta to attack someone. I criticize. I do not attack.
And from recent comments. You have a vendetta against me. Blocked.
Khanh (Clowns, Nightmares, and Bunnies) wrote: And from recent comments. You have a vendetta against me. Blocked. "Troll denied access- yes!
from the name - 1seeurJealous - and the fact the person joined this month the trolliness could not be more obvious.
Ugh, this book. (The trolls always come out for this one, too.)
What people don't understand is, disagreement need not mandatorily be trolling. One can always express oneself politely.
I defiantly don't think that this book needs movie adaptation . ...
Brandy wrote: "I defiantly don't think that this book needs movie adaptation . ..."i dunno the trailers look good. not a one had a voiceover in some little boy's voice or vocabulary. and said boy looks very much like a girl. i think i'll watch the movie so i don't have to read the book. do they escape early on in the book? cuz the trailer showed mom and child in the real world more than in a room.
I'm hating this book so much.
Personally, I really liked the novel. I thought the choice of narration was a brave choice, even if it may be a hit or miss situation for many readers.I thought that the narration made the novel fascinating. If it was from the mother's perspective, sure it would be emotional and harrowing ... but what the story explores I feel would have been different from the mother's perspective.
Isabelle wrote: "Personally, I really liked the novel. I thought the choice of narration was a brave choice, even if it may be a hit or miss situation for many readers.I thought that the narration made the novel ..."
hmm such mixed reviews. i'm going to see the movie first then maybe read the book.
Agree so much with your review. And I really don't think it was an accurate depiction of a 5 year old(from a developmental viewpoint).
Hey Khanh, this one came up as a suggestion for our next read at my book club this week - I argued against it for the very reasons you state in your review - I cant imagine anything more boring than reading a whole book from the supposed perspective of a five year old - I have three children, and loved that little child speaky, but hell not a whole book in it !! thankfully your review has vindicated my argument!! Thanks :D :D :D
:D! Glad to hear it!
Looks like I'll be skipping the book and just watching the movie...I heard it was good
I wish I would have read this review before watching the movie... I didn't read the book, but holy shit was this kid so annoying. Makes me not want children.
so i just finished the movie. i liked it. the kid did some voice overs that i am assuming are lines from the book since they were all in kid speak. the voice overs were not that annoying and explained what was happening and moved the story along. i would not want to read a book full of those kind of sentences though. the movie was good and of course made me think of the women and girls who were in the news for having been held for years like this and some did have children.
i don't get why the boy was nominated for an Oscar or anything else. Dakota Fanning did more acting in her lil pinky when she was his age but i digress.
crying at kids are pretty damn annoying, i couldnt agree more but i still want to check this book out. loved your review !
As the mother of a 5 year old, I found it very easy to connect with Jack.He told the story very well and I think any emotionally intelligent person would feel empathy for Ma and Jack as they read.
The story would have been completely different had it been written by Ma. I would love to read her side of the story.
I loved this book. It made me cry, laugh and had me on the edge of my seat in some parts.
I developed such a love and understanding for Jack and loved that it was written from his perspective.
Definitely not a book for everyone but as a lover of children and all things childish I though it was a triumph.
Room by Emma DonoghueOur Diversity in All Forms book Club is reading this for May. We’d love to have you join the discussion on it. :)
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I disagree with your thoughts of the book being written by the point of view of Jack, a five year old boy. I found it quite intriguing because it was unlike any book I had read in the past. As for empathy, being in Jacks perspective it only made me empathize for Ma more because we, as a reader got an inside view and could relate to how hard it would be to explain the world to Jack. Overall, I saw a different view to the book being narrated by a five year old and enjoyed it for the opposite reasons that you didn't like it!
I completely disagree. I feel the characters were very relatable.
I loved this book, yes in truth it isn't a hard read which and if that is what you're looking for then I don't recommend it. However, I truly believe that people who can write from a perspective that is hard to achieve like a child have a talent because very few authors can make the language sound like a child. If any of you who have criticised Donoghue simply for in your mind not capturing an underdeveloped 5 year olds mind; who has no knowledge of the outside world I suggest you try and write a book using that perspective and see how well you do.
It's funny, I read your review and I was nodding along with many of your points. I'd go out of my mind locked in one room with no computer, phone, limited books, etc. I wouldn't be entertained, as Jack is, by melted spoon handles or rugs or egg cartons. But perversely enough, that's one of the things I found so fascinating. It IS entertaining to Jack because that's all he knows. And when he gets out into the world where all the things you mention are there and available to him, it's too overwhelming and he wants to go back to the world of Room. I felt like I was looking at the "outside" though the eyes of not necessarily a five year old but anyone who'd been kept away from most of the things in it his entire life. Like Jack they would likely be terrified of other people, dogs, cars, even things like blue dishes instead of white because they didn't exist in the world he lived in. It was a very different perspective on the world I know. It's kept me thinking about this book several years after I first read it (and occasionally picking up my copy and reading it again.) Which is not to say your opinion isn't valid, I completely see how reading this could be tedious to other people. It's one of those books where all the readers seem to fall into either Team Loved It or Team Hated It. I think those are usually the best ones :)
Suzanne wrote: "It's one of those books where all the readers seem to fall into either Team Loved It or Team Hated It. I think those are usually the best ones :) "very true.
I complete agree. I’m so glad I wasn’t the only one who found this to be the most annoying unrealistic book ever!
I was gifted this book and thought eh what the hell could be good. Your review sums up my opinion perfectly. I was so annoyed and as much as I wanted to have empathy for the child I just couldn't get over the baby talk and how annoying he was.
