Room (novel)

Room is a 2010 novel by Irish-Canadian author Emma Donoghue. The story is told from the perspective of Jack, a five-year-old boy who has lived his entire life in a single, windowless room. He believes that Room is the entire world, and that everything outside of it only exists on television.

The novel follows Jack and his mother, Joy (referred to as "Ma" by Jack), who was kidnapped seven years prior by a man they call "Old Nick." Old Nick is the father of Jack and Ma's captor. He sexually abuses Joy and provides them with limited supplies.

The narrative explores themes of captivity, abuse, motherhood, innocence, perception, and the resilience of the human spirit. Jack's unique perspective, born from his limited reality, allows the novel to explore these themes in a deeply personal and often unsettling way.

A significant portion of the plot revolves around Ma's elaborate plan to escape from Room with Jack. This plan involves Jack pretending to be dead and being wrapped in a rug for Old Nick to dispose of outside.

Following their escape, the novel depicts the challenges Jack and Ma face in adjusting to the outside world. Jack struggles to reconcile his previous understanding of reality with the vastness and complexity of the real world. Ma copes with the trauma of her captivity and the difficulties of reintegrating into society.

Room received critical acclaim and was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. It was also adapted into a successful film in 2015, starring Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay, which won several awards, including an Academy Award for Best Actress for Larson.