Workshop 55: Virginia Macgregor

Room is a novel by Emma Donoghue that tells the story of Jack, a five-year-old boy who has never known a world outside the 11-foot square room where he was born and raised. The room is his entire universe, shared with his mother, whom he calls 'Ma'. Unaware of the true nature of their confinement, Jack believes the world outside is fictional, as depicted on TV. His mother, abducted at 19 and held captive for seven years, has created a structured and loving environment for Jack despite the dire circumstances. When Ma devises an escape plan, Jack's world is turned upside down as they face the challenges of the outside world and the complexities of their new freedom. The novel explores themes of resilience, motherly love, and the process of adjusting to a new reality.