Wednesday, September 15, 2010

ROOM - book review

A novel by Emma Donoghue takes you to a whole new world of a rather horrific tale ripped from today's headlines. In the tradition of Dead Girl Walking, you are given the perspective of what its like to grow up in a Room that you were born in and could never leave. All five year old Jack has is Ma and Old Nick who brings supplies to them and gives them food when he feels like it.

"Emma Donoghue's writing is superb alchemy, changing innocence into horror and horror into tenderness. Room is a book to read in one sitting. When it's over you look up: the world looks the same but you are somehow different and that feeling lingers for days." Audrey Niffennegger, author of the Traveler's wife says about this novel. "I loved Room. Such incredible imagination, and dazzling use of language. And with all this, an entirely credible, endearing little boy. It's unlike anything I've ever read before." Anita Shreve admits about this novel.

'Today I'm five. I was four last night going to sleep in Wardrobe, but when I wake up in Bed in the dark I'm changed to five, abracadabra. Before that I was three, then two, then one, then zero. "Was I minus numbers?"' You'll be hooked on the first paragraph. Its the tale of a 19 year old college student who's been kidnapped and how she uses her ingenuity to survive, told through her 5 year old son's voice. It might be one of the best books this year.


Born in Dublin in 1969, Emma Donoghue is a writer of contemporary and historical fiction whose novels include the bestselling "Slammerkin," "The Sealed Letter," "Landing," "Life Mask," "Hood," and "Stirfry." Her story collections are "The Woman Who Gave Birth to Rabbits," "Kissing the Witch," and "Touchy Subjects." She also writes literary history, and plays for stage and radio. She lives in London, Ontario, with her partner and their two small children.

7 comments:

  1. It really looks like an excellent novel.

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  2. Hi, this is Abs! I thought I should clarify some things regarding Mix Tape since it has become rather chaotic.

    1. The idea that the posts should ascend as 101, 102, 103... was made with the assumption that a post would be written on the subject every week, however that has not been the case since everyone has been so busy with school. So, in order to keep Mix Tape more accessible to our readers, posts on subjects shall be numbered for the week it was posted (Monday through Sunday). I have taken the liberty of changing the numbers in past entries so that we are currently up to date. This week is week #12, so all posts this week including Sunday shall be numbered as 112. Monday will be 113.

    2. As I said, most of us have been pretty busy with school and work and don't have time to write our posts that week. This is perfectly fine! Though consequentially, I suggest that if you know that you will not be able to write your post for the week, then save a blank draft with the title labeled "[Subject] [#]: UP FOR GRABS". This will allow another contributor to write an entry on the subject if they choose to. Remember to delete the draft once the entry has been claimed or passed up.

    3. If you think you're way too busy to write absolutely any of your assigned entries, then please inform Lizzie or myself of whether or not you'd like to quit as a contributor. We won't hold it against you--we understand!

    4. We're currently looking for some contributors for fashion posts. If you're interested in adding it to your workload, then please inform Lizzie or myself. If you don't want the weekly responsibility, but are interested in writing one or two posts every once in a while, feel free to step in on Wednesdays to do so. Otherwise, it would be awesome if you could help let your own blog readers know that the position is open!

    Please direct any questions, comments, or concerns towards Lizzie or myself by email or blog comments, whichever suits you best. Thank you, and great job on all of those spectacular posts!

    -Abs

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  3. Oh, the books looks totally a great read.

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  4. Sounds like a suspenseful and scary story.

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  5. I have never heard of her before, but I am going to have to keep an eye out for this book. It sounds great :)

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  6. Great review! This sounds like such an interesting book - I may need to pick a copy up for myself!! :)

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