Room

So this book has been a long time coming for me. I have wanted to read it. Everyone said I should read it. But as I was expecting or had an infant for most of this year a book about an abducted woman raising a boy in confinement wasn't something I could emotionally handle. And now, I have bought and read it and loved it! Not as much as I thought I would but it still moved me in so many ways.

**WARNING- small plot revelations**

I found it engaging and I couldn't put it down. I expected it to be hard to read. I had been told it was easier to digest because it was told by a child. Have you read Lullabies for Little Criminals? That's told by a child but it makes it all the harder to digest! However the voice of a 5 year old provided a different take on an abduction that I don't think many would ever consider. This unique point of view is what had me for the entire novel.

I loved the beauty of Ma's understanding of Jack's situation most of the time. And the moments where she lapses allow you to really sense the struggle she faces when being strong for Jack. A good example of that is when Jack wants to go back to the room and Ma allows them to despite the pain she must feel.

However I really still don't understand why she would attempt suicide. She had so much strength throughout all of the novel that I don't understand what the tipping point was for her. Her wisdom as a character, for me, was strongest during the interview with the press. If she had that kind of strength and attitude I really do not understand the suicide attempt.

The other question I would love to know is why is Ma adopted. I am still trying to figure out what the purpose of that was in the novel. With so much else going on emotionally why add that element. Plus, I don't think that element was well developed. Stated, touched upon once or twice and that is all.

These are minor concerns though. The strength Ma gives Jack his strength and courage to develop throughout his story. I feel proud of him throughout the novel and love that you can "see" him growing. I love the mother's creativity in Room as well. I can only hope I'm that genius even without necessity!

For me the characters really make a novel and I really felt that the characters were done well. I actually wished that some of the characters were left out though so that the story could've been a little tighter. The mention of the old friends, the introduction and exit of the father- I feel they could've been dealt with differently or left out entirely because there are so many emotions in the book as is. And those brief interactions leave you wanting to know how those relationships are, how Ma handles them. Keeping it simpler would've allowed more focus on the other characters and story lines. That being said, I love Steppa's character and how he balances out Grandma. I love the scene with Uncle Paul and the reflection of "normal" child against Jack but I do wish the chaos of them in the mall would've been balanced out with a positive event similar to the way when a negative event happened at Grandma's it was balanced with a positive event that gave you hope that Jack would do well in regular society.

Fantastic insights and ingenuity, loved it.