Setting

      Room is a novel about Jack and his Ma living together in Room. It starts off with Jack celebrating his 5th birthday, and receiving his present. It's a drawing of Jack sleeping, and his Ma made it when he was sleeping so it would be a surprise. They hang it inside the wardrobe so Old Nick won't see it. In Jack's perspective, Old Nick comes in Room during the night when he's sleeping, and also bring them their Sunday treat- any item they have run out of that they want/need.

  Now that Jack is five, he has to measure his height. They have drawn a scale on the wall to measure Jack's height every year. "Pen tickles my head. When I step away there's a black 5 a little bit over the 4." Their lives are very simple, but Jack doesn't know any different. Jack has lived in Room for his whole life. He wakes up every morning to do the same repetitive, uneventful tasks of the day. Such as count out his pieces of cereal, do the laundry, eat a snack, do "phys ed', watch tv, go to bed. He doesn't know any different.

Links: http://www.roomthebook.com/inside/
This link gives an overview of Room, for more visual readers.

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8rj2otXNfM

Visual:

Post 3: Book 1 Project

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Book 1 Project: Room Lollipop

     Our spectacular and tasty treat from the best-selling novel is finally here. The Room Lollipop comes in four different colors/flavors- orange (mandarin oranges), red (apple), green (vegetable), and blue (kool-aid). These are some of the everyday foods that Jack and Ma would eat.

     In Room, by Emma Donoghue, Jack wakes up with his Ma and eats breakfast. Then they obviously eat lunch later, then follow with dinner. Since Old Nick only gets groceries rarely, they have limited foods and get the same foods each time groceries are brought home. But, there can be an exception of Sunday treat where Jack or Ma can have Old Nick bring them any food item or resource they want/need. Jack would always ask Ma if they were able to get a lollipop. Ma would always say no, and get the things they needed, such as new jeans/t-shirts, pain relievers, and the occasional candy bar or chocolate. When Old Nick once came in the room during the night, he left Jack a delicious strawberry lollipop that he snuck out of the trash can where Ma put it. In his opinion, it was the best thing he had ever tasted, and had always wanted another one after that. “I find the lollipop nearly in the bottom, it’s a red ball shape. I wash my arms and the lollipop because there’s yucky stew on it. I get the plastic right off and I suck it and suck it, it’s the sweetest thing I ever had. I wonder if this is what Outside tastes like.” Once Jack and Ma escape and are in “Outside”, they go to a hospital and Jack has to take 6 shots to prevent him from any bacteria or viruses he hasn’t ever been exposed to. He is petrified of the many needles soon to be injected into his arm, and runs out of the room. He’s promised a lollipop with his choice of flavor at the end, and then agrees to come back in the room and take the shots. “Dr. Clay puts the needles in a box on the wall called Sharps He has a lollipop for me in his pocket, but I’m too full. He says I can keep it for another time.” Jack has a number of lollipops when he’s at the hospital, and some more once they are living by themselves. “Pilar brings in a jar that’s full of lollipops, that’s what suckers are.” Jack loves lollipops, and would do practically anything to get one. 

     This idea will broaden the audience by being able to act out a tiny piece of Jack’s life- eating. More specifically, eating lollipops. Fans will be attracted to re-live the book, because they don’t want it to go away. This is common with most fans for a book- they know that the book will eventually fade and the hype will go away. This will prevent the fear of that happening, and will save the book for another period of time. If these lollipops are sold in stores, more and more people will see the product, and more and more people will possibly become curious and read/purchase the book. This will increase the popularity of the book so it will stay around longer. This idea also allows and encourages fans to stay connected and involved by intriguing the fans and consumers who want to read the book. The author will also earn money for this product, which will possibly encourage him/her to write another book, or maybe even a series of books to re-live the book even more.   

Post 2: What is a book?

A book is a life. When you read a book, you are reading about someone else's moment in life or possibly their whole journey throughout life. Every book is so unique, and every book has its own story. That's what makes it different from all the other books in the world, but that's what makes it the same about where or how you read it. If you read an actual book, you read the same story as if you were to read it from an e-book or a kindle. I agree with Joe Meno, when he states that a book is a place. I agree with this statement because you're another character when you read the book. It's like you're in omniscient 3rd person. You know all of the thoughts and actions of every character, which impacts you emotionally. You feel the same feelings as the main character, which attaches you to the book. When you can  connect emotionally to the characters in the book, that's what usually makes that book on your list of favorite books. I disagree with Tom Piazza, because he states that ebooks and books are two different things. He also says that you don't get a sense of scale if you don't  read the original piece. His thoughts are not ones that I agree with, because of the fact that you are reading the same exact book, just from a different perspective/screen. I understand how some people may think they're different, because of the physical look, but in reality, they are the same thing. You are affected the same way, even if  you didn't enjoy the book. A book posses a combination of many different feelings, emotions, and dynamic changes throughout the book. I personally do not have an opinion in which type of device I read the story from, as long as it's engaging and if I enjoy the book as much as I have others.