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Original poster

Room by Emma Donoghue

35 replies

myflabberisgasted · 23/02/2012 15:27

Hi,

I have just downloaded Room to my Kindle with the chance of hopefully starting tonight.

Has anyone read this?

I just wondered if anyone had any reviews they would like to share? Smile

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bitweepy · 23/02/2012 15:32

Be prepared to put your life on hold until you have read it... fantastic book, just amazing, beautifully written and absolutely gripping, not because it is gasp a minute suspense, but because you just want to know how the characters got to where they are and what happens to them. Enjoy! One of those books I wish I had not read so that i could read it for the first time IYSWIM!

Original poster
myflabberisgasted · 23/02/2012 15:36

oh brilliant bitweepy I will definatley start it tonight then! I get a bit like that with books where I cant put them down.

2 more i really enjoyed and couldnt put down were -

Lasting Damage by Sophie Hannah and Before I go to sleep by S.J Watson, I hope this will be another one of those books!

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justhavintheone · 23/02/2012 15:38

hi, just finished room, it was brilliant, i loved before i go to sleep so maybe similar tastes.

ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 23/02/2012 15:40

A great book. It had me still thinking about it for weeks after finishing it.

mimbleandlittlemy · 23/02/2012 15:40

I thought Room was absolutely gripping but Before I Go To Sleep is leaving me rather cold and I'm not sure why. I even managed to accidentally delete it from my kindle this morning on the way in to work so I'm not sure what that says (something deeply psychological or just confirmation of my total idiocy? Confused) but it was bloody irritating as I've got to get it read and I'm over half way through so might as well finish it.

QueenKong · 23/02/2012 15:41

Ooh I've just downloaded 'before I go to sleep' - is it really good?

I enjoyed Room a lot. But I did find the child-voice quite wearing after a while, not least because I don't think it was really an accurate reflection of how 5 year olds really talk. But I guess he isn't an ordinary 5 year old. Overall though, it's a great read.

Original poster
myflabberisgasted · 23/02/2012 15:56

I loved before I go to sleep, I just couldnt put it down so it does sound like I will enjoy this one too!

MIMBLEANDLITTLEMY I dont think you have to buy it again I think you can put it back on your kindle by logging onto your amazon account and doing it from there, i'm not 100% sure on this so dont quote me!
I really think it is worth finishing.

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GladysLeap · 23/02/2012 16:04

I started reading this, found it really dire and put it away. When I picked it up again months later I found it gripping and finished it almost in one go. So I think you have to be in the right mood. I agree with Queenkong that the child's speech was irritating.

mimbleandlittlemy · 23/02/2012 16:06

Myflabberisgasted - thank you, yes I can download it again but to continue with my display of gobsmacking stupidity I stood on the station platform trying to do this very thing until my kindle rather irritably pointed out that I wasn't actually near any wifi. Well honestly - why can't stations install it for us useless kindle readers, that's what I want to know... Grin.

I'll definitely finish it - I think I might just have hit a slight hiatus, however the upside of the hiatus and the managing to hit the wrong button saga is I started the new William Boyd which is very good so far as you can tell from being 12% in.

Original poster
myflabberisgasted · 23/02/2012 16:25

I agree mimble there should be free wifi everywhere!
To make you feel better I tried to buy a book the other day in the middle of no where - I didnt think about the wifi situation! Grin

Where abouts did you get to in before I go to sleep before you gave up stopped?

What is the new William Boyd book?
I dont think I have heard of him before?
I am a new(ish) convert to more thriller type books as I was before 100% into Chick Lit and "frothier" books!

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rylime · 23/02/2012 17:34

Room is a FANTASTIC book! I read quicker than any other book - I just couldn't put it down!

DuchessofMalfi · 23/02/2012 17:51

I've got Room on my now enormous pile of books by my bedside Grin, and I'm looking forward to reading it shortly. However, I've just finished reading Before I Go To Sleep, and really didn't enjoy it at all. I found it quite disappointingly rushed at the end. I don't want to spoil it for anyone who plans to read it, but I felt the author could have spent a bit more time explaining things at the end, and I can't really say what I mean without it being a plot-spoiler Sad.

BabyKong · 23/02/2012 19:59

I really like William Boyd myflabber - 'Any Human Heart' is really touching and easy to read. 'Ordinary Thunderstorms' is a great thriller. Would recommend!

stargirl1701 · 23/02/2012 20:00

It is amazing! I stayed up all night to read it cover to cover. Well worth buying.

Truffkin · 23/02/2012 20:03

I enjoyed 'Room' and have just downloaded 'Before I go to Sleep' on the recommendation of everyone I know! Have just finished 'Me Before You' which I really liked.

Original poster
myflabberisgasted · 23/02/2012 21:34

duchess I get what you mean about the ending, it was a little bit rushed but I didn't see the plot twist coming at all! I thoroughly enjoyed the whole book. I read it in 2 days!

I am 1 chapter in already of room, and so far so good! Grin

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Original poster
myflabberisgasted · 23/02/2012 21:35

babykong thanks I might give him a try next then!

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Original poster
myflabberisgasted · 24/02/2012 08:46

Quick question... Does the boys narrate all the way through the book? Do you ever get used to it?

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4madboys · 24/02/2012 08:48

yes the boy does narrate all the way through and yes i got used to it, i couldnt put the book down i LOVED it!

Original poster
myflabberisgasted · 24/02/2012 08:55

Thanks 4mad I only started it last night and it took a while to get used to I must say!

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Devora · 24/02/2012 09:00

I think Room is fantastic. I thought the child's voice was very convincing - not for a 'normal' child, but absolutely right for a child who has experienced nothing but 24/7 maternal companionship for his entire life.

I found the second half weaker than the first, but still compelling because by then you're so invested in the characters and want to follow their story.

Scholes34 · 24/02/2012 09:01

Room wasn't as good as it might have been. Finished rather abruptly.

LouMacca · 24/02/2012 09:31

Absolutely loved this book, didn't want it to end!

BiscuitNibbler · 24/02/2012 09:39

The thing I couldn't get over in Room (aside from the child's annoying turn of speech) was that the dimensions of the Room were completely rubbish.

From what they described to be in the room furniture wise then the dimensions were impossible. It annoyed me so much, because it made it just unbelievable if the author couldn't even get that detail right.

Definitely an "easy" beach read, though, but nothing more than that.

usingapseudonym · 24/02/2012 09:53

One of the most gripping books I have read in the last few years. Amazing. Other things I've read since just haven't been the same.

I think she did think through the dimensions - here's a link to her website with a representation of how she had it in her mind. www.roomthebook.com/inside/