This Man Booker longlist title, inspired by the stories of Elizabeth Fritzl and Natascha Kampusch, is being hailed as ‘the next Lovely Bones’. We got a copy each from the British and American publishers, so we could give two of you the opportunity to read and review it.
Room is the story of Jack, a five-year-old boy who lives in Room with his Ma. Room is just what it’s called, a room, with Bed, Table, TV and Door, which is always locked. Jack was born in Room, because his Ma was snatched from the street seven years ago, when she was nineteen, and held prisoner in Room. For Jack, Room is the entire world and Outside doesn’t exist. Everything in TV is just fantasy and only Ma and Room are real.
Jack describes his routine with Ma in Room. They watch TV, play made-up games, eat canned food, and at night Ma puts him in Wardrobe, in case He comes. Jack doesn’t like it when He comes, but besides that, he is content with his world and his Ma.
But Jack’s growing and Ma feels they need to escape, or they won’t survive. Miraculously, Ma’s plan works and they are rescued. Now, the biggest challenge turns out to be (re)adjusting to the strange and overwhelming Outside.
Room is a remarkable book and I honestly don’t think I can do it justice in these 250 words. It’s told in Jack’s voice, and uses convincing five-year-old’s speech, without being annoying or distracting. You really get sucked into his world, and feel his fear and wonder when he has to understand the most basic things like shoes or rain.
The story is horrifying and heartbreaking, but at the same time kind of sweet, because of the special bond between Jack and Ma and the amazing ability of people to bounce back after a trauma. Jack and Ma really came alive for me, and I’m sorry to let them go now that I’ve finished the book.r
The story in this novel is told from the perspective of five year old Jack, whose whole world consists of Room, a small room where he lives with his mother. Room is Jack’s world, his only notion of outside is the television he watches. This trusted enviroment leaves him enough space to have fun with his mother. Jack is happy with his situation.
Until Jack’s mother tells him that there is a world outside, and some of the things on the TV really exist. To reach this world and be free, they must outsmart the man who holds them captiver. A man who Jack only knows as “Old Nick”.
The story focuses on the relationship between Jack and his mother. It is a very powerful subject, however I found the story unconvincing at crucial moments, which really broke the spell. Secondly, sometimes I didn’t like the author’s style, which seems over-manufactured to appear child like. And lastly, there were too many sideways references to current pop culture. (To add realism? To make it relevant to current readers?) I don’t want to read about Kanye West, ever.
I never really was able to enjoy the book, constantly aware of unconvincing plot twists or style that irritated me ( that’s not usual for me, even when reviewing books I don’t particularly like). Yet, in the end I found it rather a touching story. Too bad the style and the sometimes silly plot detract from it.
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WOW is a graffiti crew founded in Utrecht in 1989 who started spray-painting Dutch trains with their work. Their colorful, large and detailed pieces, the likes of which had never been seen before in The Netherlands made an incredible visual impact.
Just 1500 copies of War of Words will be printed. 325 copies will be available for sale at The American Book Center and a handful of other exclusive points around the world. After reserving a few copies for themselves, the group burned every single remaning copy of War of Words from their print run. You can see them go up in flames in the video below.
So don’t be afraid to write a negative review if you didn’t like the book!
