An Untamed State by Roxane Gay

Cover via Goodreads.

Rating: 5/5 stars.

Once upon a time, in a far-off land, I was kidnapped by a gang of fearless yet terrified young men with so much impossible hope beating inside their bodies that it burned their very skin and strengthened their will right through their bones.

Damn. I read An Untamed State over a period of two weeks, taking in the torturous first half at a snail’s pace, speeding through the second half in an emotion-filled haze.

Room by Emma Donoghue

Cover via Goodreads

Rating: 4/5 stars.

Room is a beautiful book about the bond between mother and son.

It’s about a nineteen-year-old girl who is kidnapped and forced to live in a 11′ x 11′ foot room for seven years. During this time, she has two children – one is a stillborn while the other survives and is five at the time the book begins. To Jack, her son, Room is everything. It’s where he’s been raised since his birth, and where he eats, plays, and lives with Ma. However, Ma creates a plan to escape Room with Jack – but will they be able to deal with the consequences of their departure?

I loved the first half of the novel. Seeing something so disturbing and wrong take place through the eyes of an innocent five-year-old was terrifying, but touching at the same time. Jack possesses one of the most unique voices I’ve read, and I give credit to Emma Donoghue for maintaining its authenticity and honesty throughout the entire novel.

From the “After” part of the novel on I felt that a little bit of its magic dissipated. I still liked it, but I could not take away anything particularly powerful or meaningful. The ending was clean and neat, though it left something to be desired.

After reading Room, I can see what all the hype is about – it’s a chilling, compelling novel that will leave readers thinking long after they put the book down.