ROOM: Discussion Topic One
Room tells a harrowing story, but Donoghue’s decision to have a 5-year-old boy narrate the novel blunts some of the horror as it is filtered through his perception. What did you think about Donoghue’s decision to use Jack as the narrator? What were the benefits and drawbacks of this decision?
I didn’t expect to relate to a five-year-old, but once finishing it I can’t imagine the book being told another way. And even though it’s being told from the world of a five-year-old who doesn’t understand the world outside of Room, Donoghue skillfully develops his mother, giving her dimension and depth. The reader takes the observations of Jack and understands his world far differently than he does. As the details and layers of Jack’s reality unfold, it’s fascinating to see life through Jack’s eyes, and his nature keeps this book from becoming too dark. He has a child’s optimism, love of life, fascination and genuine happiness. He’s a boy who has never been away from his mother, whom he adores. I’m not sure I saw any drawbacks to using Jack as the narrator, although I’d like to see a sequel, and maybe that could be told through his mother’s point of view.