ROOM
Room by Emma Donoghue was also labeled as one of the best books of the 21st century by List Challenges. I've been challenging myself a lot throughout this year, with books of different genres and difficulties. Now, since the end of school year is coming to an end, I choose to read this fiction book that I've been keeping a part for a very long time.
First Impression
Room is a fiction book, which narrates the story of a kidnapping case, in which a woman was kept captive in a room for 7 years. However, she gives birth to a child in Room. For the child, the room in which he was born in is the whole world. His mom lies to his child, for his own good, by telling him that the entire world is Room.
The major factor which differentiates this novel from the others is the narrator. The novel is narrated through the eyes of the 5-year-old protagonist, Jack. The narrator choice lets the reader view the world from a completely different point of view. Still, the author was able to convey several stylistic devices in order and maintain the reader's attention. Donoghue often uses personification, which is underlined by capitalising the personified objects, in order to create an imagery in which children tend to attribute human qualities to objects, "Today I'm five. I was four last night going to sleep in Wardrobe, but then 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?" Also, the innocence of Jack and the choice of the narrator constantly create a nostalgic mood in which the reader relates his infancy to the protagonist. The innocence of Jack is expressed through the use of silly questions, sometimes rhetorical when the protagonist narrates a dramatic monologue, "" Well, you've got a kid nose right now." I hold it. "Will it fall off and an adult nose grow?""
Emma Donoghue's novel is mainly characterised by dialogue, in order to really express the state of mind of a 5 year-old kid. In this way, the characterisation of the protagonist, along with the use of stylistic devices, clearly stands out. In this way, this book targets the reader's memories and their early years, as they will surely relate to the context of many scenes. For these reasons, although I only read the first chapters of the novel, I rate it 4.5/5 stars.
Josef Fritzl Trial
While reading the book, a question rose in my mind, "What inspired the author to write this book?" This question usually comes up in mind when I encounter a creative or unusual plot. After conducting some research on TheGuardian, I found out that Room is based on a real story and the author was inspired by it. The Josef Fritzl Trial all began when the daughter of Josef Fritzl, Elisabeth Fritzl, helped his father to set the door of a cellar the father has been building for months beneath the house's garden. During the 1970s, in Lower Austria, it wasn't hard to get the approvals to build an underground construction such as a cellar, since it was the peak of the cold war. As a matter of fact, nuclear bunkers were common in Austrian homes. Josef's cellar was planned in every detail, with secure concrete and supplies. To reach the actual cellar, eight doors had to be opened. A map of the cellar can be seen below:
If you want to start reading the book online, click here.
First Impression
Room is a fiction book, which narrates the story of a kidnapping case, in which a woman was kept captive in a room for 7 years. However, she gives birth to a child in Room. For the child, the room in which he was born in is the whole world. His mom lies to his child, for his own good, by telling him that the entire world is Room.
The major factor which differentiates this novel from the others is the narrator. The novel is narrated through the eyes of the 5-year-old protagonist, Jack. The narrator choice lets the reader view the world from a completely different point of view. Still, the author was able to convey several stylistic devices in order and maintain the reader's attention. Donoghue often uses personification, which is underlined by capitalising the personified objects, in order to create an imagery in which children tend to attribute human qualities to objects, "Today I'm five. I was four last night going to sleep in Wardrobe, but then 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?" Also, the innocence of Jack and the choice of the narrator constantly create a nostalgic mood in which the reader relates his infancy to the protagonist. The innocence of Jack is expressed through the use of silly questions, sometimes rhetorical when the protagonist narrates a dramatic monologue, "" Well, you've got a kid nose right now." I hold it. "Will it fall off and an adult nose grow?""
Emma Donoghue's novel is mainly characterised by dialogue, in order to really express the state of mind of a 5 year-old kid. In this way, the characterisation of the protagonist, along with the use of stylistic devices, clearly stands out. In this way, this book targets the reader's memories and their early years, as they will surely relate to the context of many scenes. For these reasons, although I only read the first chapters of the novel, I rate it 4.5/5 stars.
Josef Fritzl Trial
While reading the book, a question rose in my mind, "What inspired the author to write this book?" This question usually comes up in mind when I encounter a creative or unusual plot. After conducting some research on TheGuardian, I found out that Room is based on a real story and the author was inspired by it. The Josef Fritzl Trial all began when the daughter of Josef Fritzl, Elisabeth Fritzl, helped his father to set the door of a cellar the father has been building for months beneath the house's garden. During the 1970s, in Lower Austria, it wasn't hard to get the approvals to build an underground construction such as a cellar, since it was the peak of the cold war. As a matter of fact, nuclear bunkers were common in Austrian homes. Josef's cellar was planned in every detail, with secure concrete and supplies. To reach the actual cellar, eight doors had to be opened. A map of the cellar can be seen below:
Josef Fritzl converted his own daughter into a sex slave for 24 years. He told the community around him that her daughter ran away to join a sect, and people believed in him as she was already a troublesome child. The living conditions of the cellar were unbearable, characterised by the cold, the rats and the damp, as well as humid temperatures during the summers. In 24 years, Josef Fritzl raped his daughter 3,000 times, causing the birth of seven babies. Three of the babies remained in the cellar with their mother. On the other hand, the other three lived above with Josef Fritzl, probably due to the lack of space in the room. Finally, the last child died 66 hours after birth.
During Elizabeth's captivity, her father constantly threatened her, "If you do not do as I say, your treatment will get worse and you will not escape from the cellar anyway." Additionally, he also physically abused her and used violence on her, with both physical and psychological damages.
How did they escape?
Elizabeth and his children escaped from the captivity thanks to the serious illness her 19-year-old daughter Kerstin. Fritzl, incapable of dealing with the illness, brought her to the hospital. However, the doctors became very suspicious as Kristen was covered with physical injuries and a very weak and pale physique. At the hospital, the police and doctors didn't believe the stories made up by Fritzl and Elizabeth was called up by the police. After the interrogatory, Fritzl was arrested and Elizabeth, along with her daughter were finally freed on March 20, 2009.
It is very evident that Emma Donoghue was inspired by the Josef Fritzl Case, since the very first chapter. The plot is really similar. However, although it is clear that the mother of the protagonist is being sexually abused, fortunately, the author doesn't narrate such scenes, in order to convey a broader age-range of readers.
If you want to know more about the author, click here.
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