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.