Room

A Novel

By: Emma Donoghue

Narrated by: Michal Friedman, Ellen Archer, Robert Petkoff, Suzanne Toren

Length: 10 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it's where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits.

Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for Jack. But she knows it's not enough...not for her or for him. She devises a bold escape plan, one that relies on her young son's bravery and a lot of luck. What she does not realize is just how unprepared she is for the plan to actually work.

Told entirely in the language of the energetic, pragmatic five-year-old Jack, Room is a celebration of resilience and the limitless bond between parent and child, a brilliantly executed novel about what it means to journey from one world to another.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2010 Emma Donoghue (P)2010 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"The award-winning best seller that became one of the most talked about and memorable novels of the decade, Room is "utterly gripping...a heart-stopping novel" (San Francisco Chronicle).

"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 Niffenegger, author of The Time Traveler's Wife and Her Fearful Symmetry)

"This is a truly memorable novel, one that can be read through myriad lenses - psychological, sociological, political. It presents an utterly unique way to talk about love, all the while giving us a fresh, expansive eye on the world in which we live." ( The New York Times Book Review)

Simply wonderful!

I finished this within 36 hours, which is quite a statement for a homeschooling, business owner with 2 small children. Riveting. At times, Jack's monologues could have been cut a bit, but overall, I thought this was one of the best listens I've had in years. Incredibly believable detail in regard to Jack's developmentally appropriate reactions and interpretations of events. Suspense galore during the various escape plans. A character to be admired and revered in the case of Jack's mother, who is revealed to be quite human in the end. A fabulous tale of the human spirit and the beauty of children.

This is the #1 NOVEL of my many listens

I listened to this novel sometime ago. The novel is written so well, the plot is clear, the characters seem to walk among us, they could be a part of your or my life. The novel is a representation of today's society. The main character is kidnapped while she is walking on a college campus. The title is true in the truest sense of the definition found in the Webster's dictionary. As I write this review, three women and a child of one of the women, born while in captivity, are rescued after TEN YEARS. You have to listen to this novel. It so touched my heart and soul, that I will unconsciously think about it after all this time. I did read it twice and I will probably read it again. In my "opinion," this novel is better than any Jodi Picoult has ever written.

Good story but narration could use some work.

As I started listening to this story, I was put off a little by the voice of the 5-year-old boy being the main narrator. But, the more I listened, the more I got involved in the story and didn't mind the high pitched voice. I did find that the voices for some of the other characters were too similar and this bothered me somewhat. The story did keep me hooked but I found that there were certain sections that went on too long and other areas that could have used a bit more development. Because of the content of the story, I do not recommend this book for the weak hearted or someone looking for a feel good read/listen.

Must have been better in print.

The book must have been better in print. The audible version is narrated by a whiny voice pretending to sound like a child and it's extremely annoying. I would not recommend this version of this book to anyone. I kept on hoping the voice was only for the first couple of chapters for mood, but it's the entire book. I couldn't take it seriously.

Meh!

I never write reviews but I felt compelled after reading the ones for this book. TBQH Jacks' voice didn't bother me. I did take me a bit to get caught up with the narration but I have started to like it. What bothered me was Ma's voice. Man, it sounds just like Siri. very monotone and without any inflection.
I'm almost done with the book and then I'll watch the movie.

Amazing

What an amazing story! I could not stop listening, this was great. loved it!

I laughed; I cried; I cheered

Would you consider the audio edition of Room to be better than the print version?

this book was addicting from page one. From the moment you hear young Jack telling us what his environment consists of, you cannot help but cheer for him when he's being "scave" Prince Jacker Kack. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Unique and compelling

This is such an interesting and delightful way to tell a very compelling and disturbing story. Telling the story from the perspective of a child was brilliant. Very worthwhile read.

Profound and Touching Tribute to Human Survival

Who could not love Jack? His curiosity and zest for life in the confines of Room is such a tribute to his mother. What she saw as a prison, he saw as a conforting warm place.

Stunning

One of the most original books I have ever listened to. I finished it a week ago and cannot stop thinking about Jack and his mom. I was hesitant to listen to this at first because I thought it would be depressing and the voice of a five year old annoying, Not at all-it is just incredible. Because of my job, I listen to audiobooks almost everynight-across all kinds of genres and this is one of the best.