March 2011 - Book 8

 Room by Emma Donoghue

Jack lives with Ma in Room - a space of 11 feet by 11 feet. Everything on TV is not real our "out in space on another planet". The only person Jack ever sees or talk to is Ma and evil Nick is just a voice and a shadow. 

Just after his 5th birthday Ma makes a confession and Jack's whole idea of the world is blown apart. Driven by anxiety of her son growing up in total isolation, the delicacy of their safety and extreme dental pain, Ma plots a plan for Jack to escape outside of Room.

Told in Jack's own words and voice, this is a thrilling story about one woman and her son's ordeal at the hands of a mad man and monster. It is however also the story of how they adapt back into the outside world. I can see why is was on the Man Booker Prize 2010 short list at is truly brilliantly written.

A unique story well told - 9/10