Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Room: A Novel by Emma Donaghue GIVEAWAY

From Publisher:  To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it's where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits.

Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for Jack. But she knows it's not enough...not for her or for him. She devises a bold escape plan, one that relies on her young son's bravery and a lot of luck. What she does not realize is just how unprepared she is for the plan to actually work.

Told entirely in the language of the energetic, pragmatic five-year-old Jack, ROOM is a celebration of resilience and the limitless bond between parent and child, a brilliantly executed novel about what it means to journey from one world to another.

My take: This is one of those books that stays with you for days.  The story is told in first person, by Jack.  Jack uses 5 year old sentence structure and comprehends life as a 5 year old boy would.  His character asks logical 5 year old questions that imitate 5 year old emotional complexity.  The author does an amazing job in creating Jack.

Jack knows only what exists in his 121 ft. life. Nothing else is real.  Although there is T.V., the images are not tangible, therefore, they don't exist outside the box.  It is a story of a committed mother, and endearing 5 year old boy, coping, transitioning, survival, and, above all, a mother's love and a little boy's growth.

Beautifully written.

4 and half stars.

Audio book:  It takes more than just the book and the author to record an audiobook, and this month, we have Michele McGonigle, Associate Director of Production for Hachette Audio and Director of ROOM, the audiobook, to answer some behind-the-scenes questions:

Hachette Book Group: What made you decide to do a multiple-cast recording for ROOM?

Michelle McGonigle: When I read the book to cast and prep for production, it just screamed out for more than one narrator. Jack needed his own voice and so did Ma; to have one person read all parts would detract from the listener experience and not do the book justice. The impact of hearing Jack's voice, (read by Michal Friedman, an adult woman), as he tells his story, really places the listener in his world. Ellen Archer reads Ma and you can hear the restraint, joy, pain, frustration and fear in her
voice, giving the listener a bit of insider information of what's going on. Jack is experiencing the same actions, words and emotions, however being a five year old, he doesn't understand what to make of or what is driving them. In a way, giving Ma her own voice allows her to tell part of her story as well.

HBG: What kinds of voices were you looking for in casting and what do you think each voice-recording artist brings to ROOM, the audiobook?

MM: Jack had to have a strong presence, be sweet, innocent, and believable; Michal Friedman delivers his words with the incorruptibility and honesty of a true five year old.

In the case of Ma, I was looking for a soft, patient, loving voice, struggling with staying calm and trying to prevent Jack from hearing/ feeling her fear and frustration; Ellen Archer was my immediate choice, being a real mother who reflects these same qualities.

For all other female roles I needed a voice that could make Jack's grandma stand out just a bit more than the others, but not to overshadow Jack and Ma. Suzanne Toren was perfect for this, she allowed her characters to be a part of the story without overtaking it.

As for the male voices, Robert Petkoff was the first person I thought of. He is capable of such different character voices and delivers a supporting performance which allows Ma and Jack to be the focus of this amazing journey.


Thanks to Anna at Hatchette Book Groups, I have 2 audio books up for grabs.
U.S. and Canada only
No P.O. boxes, please
One copy per household
Ends Halloween
Feel free to leave a comment. 
I feel validated when you do. 
Include email address.
Let me know if you are a follower of any type. Gives you extra entries, of course.

44 comments:

CountessLaurie said...

Cool giveaway. I want to read this, but if I can listen to it for free, SUWEEEEET!

Thanks to you and to Hatchet...You both are the bestest in the whole wide world and I love ya more than anyone's luggage (I am going to brownie points here!!)

Anonymous said...

I have been looking forward to reading this book, but I would love to listen to the audio version, too. :) Thanks for the chance to win.
peacelily_2006(at)yahoo(dot)com

Simply Stacie said...

Please count me in.

simplystacieblog at gmail dot com

debbie said...

I think this sounds like a haunting tale of abuse to begin with, but then to be able to hear it in the voice of the child (I know an adult is doing it, but still) would really make an impact.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I have wanted to read this book for some time. Listening to it would be great!
mom1248A9at)att(dot)net

Anonymous said...

I am a follower and email subscriber. Please enter me in contest. I want to win this audio book. I have been wanting to read the book. Tore923@aol.com

LeAnn said...

I enjoy audiobooks. This book sounds interesting and having multiple people reading the parts will just enhance it.

Thanks to you and publisher for arranging this giveaway.

LeAnn/sunshine9

robynl said...

who can resist... a mother's love and a little boy's growth. I would really like to listen to this audiobook.

yourstrulee(at)sasktel(dot)net

Martha Lawson said...

Please enter me for this one. It sounds awesome!! It really has me intriqued.

follow on gfc

mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

Tina said...

I didn't see contest rules but please enter me...I really want to read this one and audio would be even better.

tbranco AT hughes DOT net

karenk said...

would enjoy listening to this fabulous book....thanks for the chance :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

Sounds like an excellent book, please include me....I follow your blog

Donna
dwarrington1@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I subscribe through e-mail

Donna
dwarrington1@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I follow your feed

Donna
dwarrington1@gmail.com

nfmgirl said...

Sounds great! I'd love a shot at it!

I follow.

Please count me in. Thanks!

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

Anonymous said...

I would love to read Room :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!

Publicly following A Musing Reviews with Google Friend Connect [Cheryl F. {The Lucky Ladybug}]

Subscribed to A Musing Reviews by email

theluckyladybug[at]gmail[dot]com

Shannon said...

I heard some really good things about this book!

GFC follower, email subscriber

snaugle81@gmail.com

Jenny Bolech said...

Please count me in! I'm a follower on GFC!

jenny.maurer84 at gmail dot com

Carole Spring said...

This sounds like a very emotional, haunting story. I would love to win the audiobook of ROOM. Thank you for the chance.

new follower via GFC (Carole Spring)

blondie_31971(at)yahoo(dot)com

KatieCan86 said...

I really wanted to read this book!
A friend of mine was going to let me read it but then she had to give it back to her boss :(
I follow via google friend connect!

katiecan86@yahoo.com

BTW
I love your blog design!

xoxoxKATIExoxoxo

Heather said...

I've heard a lot of good things about this book... and audio...mmmmm... tasty.
I follow through GFC under the name you_were_almost_right and on twitter under the name @littlebearries

Dawn M. said...

Oooo, I've been wanting to read this one. Would love the chance to listen to it. :0)

I subscribe by google reader.

Thanks!
librarygrinch at gmail dot com

Jen Bigheart said...

Thx for the giveaway! Would love to be entered.

I'm a follower.

Jen @ I Read Banned Books.

Scoot said...

I would love to listen to this book. Thanks for the chance to win! I am a blog follower.

Seescootread[at]gmail[dot]com

Terri Dell said...

Audiobooks are so great for listening while driving to work
I follow on Google friend
Ziggywag at yahoo dot com

slb3334 said...

I enjoy listening to audiobooks

sweetsue said...

I follow you on GFC. I have heard this is excellent and would love to win it!
smchester at gmail dot com

409cope said...

This sounds like a great audio!
-I follow through google friend. cardshark42(at)hotmail(dot)com

Nicole C. said...

I would love to win this!

choateorama(at)gmail(dot)com

Autumn said...

I'd love to win this one!

autumn.crochet (at) gmail. com

Autumn said...

I'm a follower via GFC

autumn.crochet (at) gmail.com

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

I'd love to win this audiobook.

I'm a follower of your blog.

debnance at gmail dot com

Diana D said...

I am just now getting into audio books. Thanks for much for the giveaway.

dianad8008 AT gmail DOT com

minishoes1 said...

I have been wanting to read this book for a long time but listening to it would be good too! Thanks! jacquecurl1(at)gmail(dot)com

mmentor said...

please and thabnk you

Mia J. said...

I have heard a lot of great things about this book and would be thrilled to win it.

mia at jacobsracing dot com

April X said...

Err so I kinda forgot my address, but I can give it to you if I win right? Lol thanks for the giveaway :) Been wanting to read this for a while.

PoCoKat said...

Sounds like such a great novel.

I follow on GFC.

littleone AT shaw DOT ca

Tara W said...

Thank you so much for the chance! This story sounds fascinating.
mizztuts AT bellsouth DOT net

Sapheyerblu said...

What a cool idea for a story. I've never listened to an audio book before, but there's a first time for everything.

I follow you on GFC as Christine Senter

sapheyerblu@gmail.com

DarcyO said...

I've heard great things about this book. Thanks for the chance.

Laura H. said...

Thanks for the giveaway! I follow via GFC.

BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

Laura H. said...

I'm an e-mail subscriber.

BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

Homemaker said...

I'm following your blog via GFC.
sallylynnsara@hotmail.com