'Room' | Book and Film Talk 

Great discussion. I loved both the book and the film, too. I was apprehensive about how it would translate to screen and am so glad Emma wrote the screenplay herself. As for the book, I didn't see the lack of spelling errors as an issue: Jack isn't writing the book, the sentences are his thoughts and, whilst thoughts have grammar, they don't have spelling. So I didn't find that jarring xx

I recently discovered your RU-vid account (by means of Dodie's ukulele covers) and I was immediately drawn into your universe, which I fancy a lot! Needless to say that I have been watching the majority of your videos last week. It reminded me about how to treat the things I like with passion. I also love your passion for books, as a Bronte and Austen fan and I am already planning to read so much more with a new endeavour.

Haven't read the book (yet!), but I just got back from seeing the film. So compelling. So many tears.

Your reviews are so well articulated and thought - out but also very personal and it's wonderful to see. I came across the audiobook on Audible last night and was really intrigued so it's brilliant I saw this in my subscriptions now; I'll definitely be reading or listening and watching at some point, thank you :)

The film complete got me. Overwhelmed was definitely the word. I will read the book

A friend gave me a copy of this book to read when they were cleaning out their bookshelf but I haven't read it yet - real life has been so difficult the past couple of years I tend to read fluffy romances and easy going YA. This book and others like it seem like they will be too sad or too real. I haven't even finished the Casual Vacancy yet, because it's too much like that. But I still enjoyed your thoughts. I'm planning on visiting family in Larne in May and watching your videos just remind me how soon I will in Northern Ireland.

I went out to go and buy this book today, and when I went to the till the lady next to me said 'that was such an amazing book! As soon as I finished it I read it all again' I'm now really excited to read it:))

i read this book about two or three years ago (in german) and loved it! i thought it was amazingly written, especially the childlike speech.

I'm just over half way through the book at the moment, it's so gripping its hard to put down!

I read this book before when I was about 12 when it came out and I don't think I fully appreciated or understood it, I was debating reading it again when the movie came out and you've convinced me to read it when I finish my exams so thank you! Great review :)

I just finished the book today! What great timing!!

This haircut looks really good on you Candice 😊

I saw the movie at the weekend and loved it, I definitely need to read the book.

I watched the first two minutes of this video, and then I watched the movie, and now I'm here rewatching this video

Great review and analysis! I have only seen the movie and I cried for at least half of its run. I love this film! I cannot wait to read the book. Thanks!

Great review! I picked up the book from my library but couldn't get into because of Jack's narration. I am very excited to watch the movie.

Your hair looks amazing! I'd like to read the book, hope it gets here soon

i saw the trailer and i just fell in love with the plot its amazing so after watching some videos about whether to read the book or watch the movie first i concluded that i would buy the book and read it before i got the movie, my attention span is limited so i usually enjoy movies more but o my gosh i am hooked to this book its so good. i am really not that far in but i just love it and its rare that i ever just want to be reading a book all the time so this is GREAT

I feel as though as Donoghue chose for the narrative to come straight from his thoughts, there would inevitably be grammatical errors as it is directly how he thinks/talks. And as it was never written down it would surely be MORE unexplainable if there were spelling mistakes, as there was nothing to be making the mistakes on to? Like we don't think about spelling with the voice inside our head? But I guess that raises the issue of all first-person narratives and how they actually became narratives in the first place, whether they were written down or just assumed to be internal

You really made me want to read the book. I'm not a big fan of movies, especially when they touch delicate subjects. I much prefer reading books for that :) I'm even more interested after reading the synopsis on goodreads and seeing the trailer :)

Hi Candice, I'm from Canada, the french part, and I discovered your Channel (+Bry and Candice) very recently. I love it so very much. As I'm traveling to Ireland this summer, I wanted to educated myself to the culture, and you gave me the first movie I'm going to watch! I'd like to read the book too, obviously, and I have a feeling I'll have the same difficulties with the narration as you had. I think it would've be interesting if it was written "as an adult", therefore unrealistically. The sense of fiction would've be assumed (I don't know if its the right word), therefore the mix between the realism of the story and its fiction would've enrich the book. Do you think so? Finally (I feel like I'm writing a essay, hehe, but I'm not quite in my element here), the tone of your voice makes what you say very agreeable to hear: like a gentle et thoughtful pause in my day, its superb! Till next time, from my house to yours, have a wonderful day :) Evelyne

This finally came to one of the theaters where I live. I was on the fence about going to see it but after listening to your thoughts, I believe I'll go see it. :)

I really enjoyed the movie if im honest , it forced me to stop and take time to imagine what it's like to have never even heard of the seaside or anything. It is a very deep movie and I agree with everything you send but I found it seriously meaningful and aw inspiring

Great video Candice! I really loved the film and now I think you've made me want to read the book :) although I haven't read it, from what you were saying maybe the mistakes in syntax but not in spelling are because Jack is supposed to be telling the story, as opposed to writing it? Also if you like Lenny Abramson's films I'd really recommend What Richard Did (and Bad Day in Blackrock, the book its based on). Both are really excellent :)

Oh, I loved Frank! That makes me even more excited to see this film (I'll probably read the book first, though). I recently watched an Irish film called The Magdalene Sisters. Have you seen it? If not, you should check it out!

Ah yes I'm glad you've done this, i read the book 2 weeks ago and saw the film last week!

Really loved listening to your opinion on this very interesting!

Now I want to see this

incredible film. book also.

this is my favourite book and one of my favourite films. nice to see you review it!

Thank you that book/ film looks extremely interesting :)

Thank you without you I would have never found out about that film/book! :)

I was thinking of going to see this today and you made my mind up, thanks :) I haven't read the book yet, so I might be wrong about this, but about the correct spelling in the book- I think it's unrealistic to have spelling mistakes because a five year old is narrating it. It would be different if he was actually writing, like a journal segment or something and he had no spelling mistakes. That wouldn't make sense. But he is just the narrator of a book, he isn't exactly writing it. So, it's more like we are in his head, and when somebody is thinking, they just think the words they know without spelling them out. Like when you're learning to write, you know how to say the word in your head correctly, and when you say it aloud somebody cannot hear how you are spelling it. Then you write it down, and it might be the wrong spelling. But with grammatical errors, it's different. That is the way he is talking and thinking, it's the structure, you can hear it. It's hard to explain how I'm thinking about it, but hopefully this makes sense.

Room is litrelly the only movie I've seen with a good child actor like omg he makes the movie so great and he's so adorable (apart from the hp series of course gd child actors there)

Irish writer, irish book, irish director! That sounds lovely

I read the Book on holiday last year in Morocco and really enjoyed it, although quite eerie/uncomfortable to read (although still a good book I thought) for me being 11 at the time- although my mum recommended I read it as I'm quite mature for my age... not sure whether I should watch the film until I'm a bit older though

Hm I might have to give the movie a watch then, my main issue with the book was mainly to due with the narration of it. It's just really difficult to get into the mindset of this 5 year old who's had this crazy life and it felt like it didn't really... work for me, I guess? Like, there was too much separation between how I really think and how Jack thinks so I couldn't really get immersed into the world like it seems like you're supposed to be.

Great review. I am more interested in the book/movie called Room. Thanks. I will probably read the book...before seeing the movie (though order usually doesn't bother me). Thanks. éirinn go brach.

I was disappointed in the characterization of Ma in the film. My favorite part about her in the book was how she absolutely refused to let anyone look at her and Jack as a charity case or something to be oogled at, and she loved him so fiercely in the book that I just don't think the film was able to entirely capture it. However, Brie Larson became one of my favorite actresses after this film- her performance was incredible.

I would be really interested in seeing the books you are excited to be published in 2016!!!

nice review

Yes I agree, the narration is inconsistent. I'm no book expert, I'm maths-y and my life was TV and no books. I read the first page on Amazon and the kid would speak childishly but then it would come out with something articulate and all of a sudden it feel unrealistic and I couldn't understand why it was a bestseller (yep I was being impatient/judgemental). I watched the film all the way through and either I didn't get it or the film was just boring to me. My favourite bit was when the kid got out of the room. it was so exciting cos I was dying for them to get out and it was taking so long, and I really wanted the kid to succeed. Other than I didn't ta enjoy the film or take much away. I felt a little more appreciation for the world for a day. I got that more with tree of life. I didn't understand that film but it made me look at the world in a different light. Maybe cos it wasn't originally a book. But I recommend it if you like films which make you appreciate our world

i loved room, i enjoyed it far more than the revenant

I read that book one week before I watched the movie. And I feel in love in the book, I couldn't stop reading it, it's so addictive. But the movie was a big let down, they took all the attention of story from Jack and put it on his Ma and all the changes were so unnecessary and let me down

In regards to your issue with the narration, I think the writing was meant as if you're thinking like Jack? As in Jack didn't write the whole story out in a book, but the reader is supposed to be in Jack's mind, therefore thinking the way he would talk but not the way he would spell? I'm probably not making any sense but there we go. I've read the book but not seen the film but after this video I really want to! Thank you!

Did you get your haircut because it looks really pretty😊

The book sounds really good to me. I would find tlking lyke dis really annoying so I would, personally, be happier with it being grammatically correct. Each to their own eh

I've not watched the movie but I've read the book. I hated it. I couldn't stand Jack. I think it would have been better in a duel perspective but this didn't work for me. The last part was painful to read because all he is doing is causing extra pain for his mom and it never crosses his mind. Realistic? Maybe. But it just made me dislike him even more and the adults around him for not explaining. For example, He hits several people yet doesn't get told off. I know why he hits and i know why he doesn't get reprimanded but that doesn't mean I have to like it. This is just one example. He hurts his mother through his actions and words quite a lot in the later part and it made me like Jack less and less. I know. He's a child but still. If no one explains, this behaviour will just continue. I don't know. Even if a child has been through traumatic things, they still need discipline. If a child hurts your feelings, should you explain or should you just ignore it? Because they are a child who doesn't understand/mean it? So yeah, not my cup of tea.

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I really really disliked this book. I know I'm in the minority though. I totally agree with the writing style - it really grated on me. I thought the extreme turn around at the end was strange and again totally took me out of the book. If you're going to go to the effort of being so realistic in captivity - I won't believe that they're back to normal life a few months after escaping. I felt as though I could see the author behind the pages thinking "now this'll really pull on the heartstrings". Maybe I'll go see the film though now you've given such a glowing review of it, I wasn't going to do it before.

I loved the movie but I'm really annoyed that I watched the trailer since it basically spoiled a lot of the film DONT WATCH THE TRAILER FIRST