Room by Emma Donoghue

Room

Emma Donoghue

Seen through the eyes of five-year-old Jack, 'Room' tells a compelling story of abuse, imprisonment and escape. Both Jack’s language and his skewed perspective create a sensation of claustrophobia – and at times you can really feel the panic rising – even from the safety of your armchair. All in all, an amazing imaginative feat which rings true throughout.

Extract
I hold on to her hand. She wants me to believe so I'm trying to but it hurts my head. 'You actually lived in TV one time?'
'I told you, it's not TV. It's the real world, you wouldn't believe how big it is.' Her arms shoot out, she's pointing at all the walls. 'Room's only a tiny stinky piece of it.'
Ma wipes her eyes again.
Parallels
  • The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night by Mark Haddon
  • In the Country of Men by Hisham Matar
  • Taken on Trust: an Autobiography by Terry Waite