September 2011 meeting
•
The novel
Room
by
Emma Donoghue
To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It is where he was born
and grew up; it is 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 is not
enough ... for her nor for him.
She devises a bold escape plan, one that relies on her young son's bravery
and a lot of luck. Jack fakes being dead, is wrapped up in Rug, whereupon
Ma convinces Old Nick to take him away to be buried. He is loaded on to
Truck, jumps off when it is stopped, and runs into a man taking his child
and dog for a walk. This man calls the police.
Old Nick is arrested and Jack and Ma are taken to a psychiatric hospital
where the process of integrating into the real world begins. This proves
hard for Jack. He meets his grandparents, whose tolerance is stretched,
not only by having to put up with a new little person around their feet
but by knowing the circumstances of his conception. His mother also has
trouble adjusting to a new world. When the attention of the media becomes
too intense she tries to end her life, but this fails.
At the end of the novel Jack and his mother are together trying to make
sense of their new lives.
This novel was put forward for discussion by Elly.
•
Opinions
•
Tips for teachers
Arno's tip:
Short story collection
The Kissing Game
by Aidan Chambers
Smart, challenging collection of
strikingly vivid tales of teenage life. |
 |
Ellen's tip:
Novel
The Wedding Officer
by Anthony Capella
Intelligent and entertaining read for
anyone interested in food, Italy, or romance. |
 |
Elly's tip:
Novel
Freedom
by Jonathan Franzen
This is both a compelling biography of a dysfunctional
family and an indelible portrait of our time. |
 |
Karin's tip:
Essay collection
The Opposite Of Fate
by Amy Tan
Essays that cover the many facets of the author's
life, career, and philosophies. |
 |
Madelon's tip:
Game
Rory's Story Cubes
Game containing nine cubes with iconic images for inspiring creative thinking and problem solving. Toss the dice and
let them guide your imagination through a story. |
 |
Niek's tip:
Novel
The Ghost
by Robert Harris
A satire, a political thriller, and a piece of
political vengeance neatly rolled into one. |
 |
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