In case you've forgotten, I previously mentioned that I am in a book club and that I am going to occasionally post our thoughts here after we've had some (if I think you all might like the book).
We all know this won't be a standard review, but I will tell you our overall reactions. The nature of the book pretty much means that I have to spoil things in order to talk about them, but I'll try to avoid that as much as possible. This will probably confuse all of us, so just ask me if you don't get something.
This is a book about an unconventional relationship between a mother and her son. They have literally spent every moment of his life together (with only one other person ever making an appearance), and, more than anything else, the story is about the development of those two people over that time. It's about what a mother (in a very shitty situation* ) feels is necessary to teach her child and when and how, and (later) what the world thinks of that.
As the title suggests, this situation is shaped by a physical shell, called Room. The author very much meant for this space to become a character, and I think she managed it in many ways. The story is completely dependent upon the concept of boundaries, both physical and mental. The lack of the former and necessity of the latter between the mother and child are the main drivers of the narrative.
The POV is from the child. He is five years old, and just mature enough to have begun to occasionally sense that their situation isn't quite normal. He doesn't understand why though, and in some cases this works very well to sneak some major realizations on the reader. Since he's five (and his development can in no way be called "normal" ), he doesn't think the way we're used to from a narrator. Consequently, it can take a minute to decipher the things he is seeing, and there are a couple skin-crawling "...ohhh..." moments, because of context clues embedded in his thoughts/questions.
... I keep trying to continue, but I'm stuck. I think I will put the rest in a reply, because I cannot figure out how to keep from spoiling the story. Be warned! The reply will not hold back.
Also, I've linked Larry's review. Mostly just because I can. It is also spoilery.
*understatement of the year
