Book Review: Room by Emma Donoghue

Room by Emma Donoghue
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many others struggled with the fact that Room is narrated by a little boy. I enjoyed Jack's point of view and I didn't find him irritating or repetitive. Although I work with children, so maybe
that helps.
Room is a rather desolate story of a little boy and his mum who live confined in a room. It is the only life Jack has ever known, although his mum makes it clear that she is here under another person's will. That other person is known as Old Nick, who brings them Sunday treats and regularly rapes Jack's mum.
Jack describes the room in innocent detail and his discovery of the real world is both funny and enjoyable.
The story gathers speed and interest after Jack escapes from the room, with his mum's guidance and planning. Discovering how they treat the world and how the world treats them is fascinating and Emma Donoghue thinks of so many things, such as the fact that Jack has never been in direct sunlight before.
All the characters we meet are well written and easily distinguishable and the story kept me intrigued right through to the end. My only criticism is that it ended suddenly and I wanted more. I hope Donoghue writes a second novel exploring where Jack's life has taken him.

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Book Review: Duma Key by Stephen King

Duma Key by Stephen King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Stephen King's Duma Key is the tale of Edgar Freemantle. After losing an arm and gaining a head injury in a work accident, Edgar's life turns upside down. He divorces his wife and takes a break to Duma Key, an island off the coast of Florida. While there a passion for art emerges, but with serious consequences.
King creates a range of eclectic characters, in Edgar; Elizabeth Eastlake, a local landowner; Wireman, her carer with a shady past and Jack, Edgar's helper and chauffeur. On Duma Key nothing is as it seems and everybody has their own secrets. Edgar's artistic skills develop with the support of Elizabeth, but he soon learns that through his art other talents are revealed.
As well as the characters, King's descriptions of the locations are detailed and impressive. He really paints a picture of the old Eastlake house and the supernatural occurrences. Flipping between the island's past and present is not a challenge and in fact, I could have read this book forever and ever. King writes beautifully and the images he creates stay in your head long after you've closed the book.

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