The Year of Magical Thinking

The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion.

Summary
The book follows Joan Didion during the year after her husband passes away.

Source
I heard about this book on cbc.radio, when a play based on the book was playing in Toronto. Matt Galloway mentioned that it was a book he had purchased many copies to give out to friends. Later, while watching a Michelle Williams' interview, she refer to her year of magical thinking after Heath Ledger's death.



My thoughts
I started reading this took in December and just had a few pages left but didn't finish it until today. Not sure why. I didn't think it was that sad considering the topic. The one sad moment I could imagine, was right after losing her husband, her first instinct was to tell him about it, because he was the one with whom she shared important events in her life. However, she obviously couldn't do it.

Joan Didion discusses these little irrationalities, hence the title of the book. For example, when she is finally able to give his clothes away, she holds on to his shoes, just in case he comes back. She knows it's not "rational" but she can't help herself. There is even a little food related anecdote. When Julia Child dies, Joan feels relief that Julia can cook for her husband. Again, she know it isn't to be.

I may pick this book up again when I need it in the future.

Room

Room by Emma Donoghue.

Summary
The narrator is Jack, a 5 year old boy who only knows the 11' x 11' Room that he and his Ma have lived in. Emma Donoghue came up with the premise of the book from the horrifying real story of the Austrian woman who was held for 24 years by her father.

Source
I heard about this book from Q107 in the morning and subsequently Lainey also reviewed it.

My thoughts
I was rather apprehensive about reading this book because of the gruesome premise. As I read about Jack and his Ma, I thought it was innovative how we get to understand their everyday life in Room, but at the same time kept looking at how thick the book was, worried that I wouldn't be able to read that much of their live in one room. I hope I'm not ruining the book for anyone, but I did feel an immense sense of relief that there is an "after" section.

One of the issues that I had with the book was with Jack being the narrator. Reading a 5 year old voice, you have to accept the lack of language skills but at the same time he would use really big words. I was glad to read that Lainey observed the same thing. I could say the same thing about Jack's thoughts; sometimes it was really hard to believe that a 5 year old would have such deep and observant thoughts. I kept wondering how realistic it was? Would a 5 year old in the same situation think, feel, say the same? They didn't seem like fair questions but the thoughts persisted in my mind.