I consider myself to be an avid reader, and it is one of my main hobbies. My preferences tend towards fantasy if reading fiction, the works of Shakespeare and Tolkien being at the top of my list of favourites, along with ‘lighter’ works such as Harry Potter, the Shannara series etc. For non-fiction, I find my preferences still tend along similar lines, as I enjoy reading myths and legends from various cultures. I don’t consider them fiction, as despite the fact that mythologies are generally learned about though stories and poetry, they are deeply rooted in the culture of the time period and had strong influences over the population at that time. For that, I would consider them as more non-fiction works, as they usually include analysis and further context in the form of academic writing on their respective subjects.

There is a clear trend in my preferences however, as the themes of fantasy and powers larger than myself are prevalent through these types of literature. I enjoy the escapism that these sorts of stories and myths present, allowing me to take a break from the realities of life and enjoy joining the characters on adventures that could never happen in real life. With mythology, there is also a sense of escapism as their stories allow us to see cultures through their own words and images, something I find incredibly valuable. Despite the grand and often far-fetched natures of their myths and histories, I find it intriguing to see how the world was interpreted at a time so vastly different from our own.

It is clear then, that I do not generally engage with more realistic works of fiction. I have, read novels of this type, or true-life stories based on similar events to those in Room, but I find that, while the perspectives presented in these kinds of texts are valuable and important to understand from a human and empathetic standpoint, I cannot read them often, and certainly not for enjoyment. In terms of more autobiographical texts of this nature, I do not believe they can, or are meant to be enjoyed, due to the nature of their content, but I cannot deny that those I have read have had a significant impact on the way I relate to others, in terms of how I approach sensitive situations and in influencing my general consideration of others. Room is certainly included in that list.

Reading Room was somewhat challenging for me at the beginning, mostly due to the nature of the situation the main characters were placed in. It was quite uncomfortable at the beginning, and I never really enjoyed the book per se, since it did evoke some strong feelings of discomfort. Despite this, it was incredibly engaging and very difficult to put down, as I was invested in the characters and desperate to see them escape from Room. It helped to solidify my understanding of the concepts of language acquisition and development discussed in class, and presented me with ideas that I had not perhaps been fully aware of before, such as Jack’s adjustment to the world at his age, and the kind of impact his situation had had on his development overall, not just in terms of his language.

Overall, whilst I cannot say I enjoyed Room, reading it was certainly a valuable experience, in its helping me to understand concepts, its influence on my own ability to consider the impact of the home environment on the children I will teach, and creating characters in whom I was so thoroughly invested. I would recommend it to future students on this course based on these merits, and maintain that it is a valuable text for those who want to work with children and their parents.