Room

(via)

Finally!  A book review!
I'll be honest: my gut reaction to the plot of this book is depressing.  Emma Donoghue has crafted the story of a woman and her five-year-old son who are forced to live in an 11'x11' room, with only a skylight for a glimpse of outside.  Seven years ago, Ma was kidnapped by Old Nick, and she has been his prisoner ever since.
The amazing thing is, this book is enthralling.  The story is told from the point of view of Jack, the five-year-old, who doesn't see his life as missing anything.  Ma has done such a wonderful job of creating an entire world within the room that Jack doesn't even realize there's another world outside of it.  His contact with Old Nick is almost non-existent, as Ma has him sleep in a closet when Old Nick visits at night.  Jack and Ma spend their days doing Physical Education (seeing who can run back and forth in the small room fastest), creating toys out of eggshells, doing laundry in their bathtub, and occasionally watching TV, among others.  Ma becomes anxious to get out and have Jack experience life outside of Room, though.  Can they escape their prison?  And does Jack even want to?
Once again, Grandma in North Carolina has given an excellent book recommendation that I was completely hooked on.  Jack's prose takes a few pages to get used to, but his perspective is incredibly insightful at times.  It's a great look at what a mother will do to survive, and the effects of a solitary life.  A bit heavy at times, this would be a great novel for a book club!