Let me preface this entry by saying that this novel is quite intense and the material discussed certainly requires a mature mind. While we did offer this text in TK's library, I would only recommend this book to my older students who have first received parent permission. I know this book isn't on the reading list, but it has truly opened my mind and heart to an unkind and perverted world.
Room is the story of 5 year old Jack and his "Ma". Jack narrates this captivating story, telling readers about his life in "Room". From the start it is evident that Jack and Ma are held against their will in this room and unable to experience any life outside-other than the nightly visits from Old Nick. I don't want to get too much into the text itself, but if you're into heart-wrenching stories that open your mind to society, you'll enjoy this read!
The topic I want to touch on is that of seclusion. When I think of being secluded in one room for five years as was Jack (it was much longer for Ma, whose real name we never learn), I cannot fathom all of the opportunities I would miss out on. At my age, I would likely miss out on getting married, continuing my education, starting my own family and SO many more things. Being born into seclusion, however, seems as though it would be worse. No interaction with family members or other children, no learning to ride a bike or starting school and the list goes on and on. For Jack, however, we see something much different.
Numerous times throughout the text, Jack realizes just how scary the outside world is. "In Room I was safe, " Jack says, "and Outside is the scary." Definitely an interesting idea. To me, being secluded from life and all that it offers is scary, but to Jack a new world full of new ideas, people and objects is something that is overwhelming and hard to grasp. "In Room, we knowed what everything as called but in the world there's so much, persons don't even know the names." Before this book, I had never seen seclusion as a positive thing. Even as a young child we learn that being secluded, or put in time out, is what a person gets for doing something bad. To Jack, seclusion was his safety net...it was all he knew. The outside world had so much to offer, that it was impossible to know it all. Never once had I looked at this idea in this way. It is interesting to see how all of our differing experiences allows us all to see the world in such a different light.
With that being said, I certainly do not believe that any person deserves to be held against their will for years and years without having committed some atrocity. After reading Jacks' story, my mind is fluttering with ideas. What do you all think? Would there be pros to living totally secluded from all other people and technology? Or, as I mentioned earlier, would you rather deal with society despite its vastness and often overwhelming nature? I'm interested to hear your all's thoughts and ideas!
I'm going to leave you all with one last quote from the book. Something to think about, if you will. "In the world I notice persons are nearly always stressed and have no time. Even Grandma often says that, but she and Steppa don't have jobs, so I don't know how persons with jobs do the jobs and all the living as well. In Room me and Ma had time for everything. I guess the time gets spread very thin like butter over all the world, the roads and houses and playgrounds and stores, so there's only a little smear of time on each place, then everyone has to hurry on to the next bit."
I hope I sparked some interest in all of you readers out there! As for my next book, I'm thinking about re-reading some texts I read in middle school. Perhaps The Giver or Night. I've also heard great things about Book Thief and Sarah's Key. Any suggestions?
