Room Without a View

Room is a story of coping and survival. It is one of those reads where tragedy is alive from page one and half your mind wants to believe that a story like this cannot be true. The other half has read too many news articles and knows that Ma's story is possible. (We do not learn her other name.) Five year old Jack is our voice of the story, and he has never been outside "Room." His mother crafts an existence for him filled with structure, singing, games, exercise, and stories, retaining strength despite the terrible circumstances which keep them prisoners. The story is both sad and later, full of wonderment.

I finished the novel soon after a conversation with a new friend about his first day of school. Both book and the talk were filled with a spectra of emotion. I am left with the hope that everyone would choose positive actions over destructive and that dreams always become realities.