Not Even a Shout Out: Did emma Donoghue Get TMI From Secrets of the Cellar?

Several days ago I posted about a fantastic book I could not get off my my mind, Room by Emma Donoghue. I also mentioned how it reminded me of a case I had seen on television that had occured somewhere in Europe. Because the book was so fascinating I wanted to read more about what could really make someone do these horrible things and began to search out information on the real crimes. Luckily. or unluckily, I came across Secrets of the Cellar by John Glatt.

Glatt published his book in 2009 and it is based on just the case I remembered, the Fritzl case in Austria. It is availble on Kindle so I downloaded it and began to read. I was in for a shock - and not because of the plot of the book. Listen to this...

As I read Secrets of the Cellar it became obvious that Ms. Donoghue had lifted her ideas for Room directly from Glatt's book. She did not just get and idea here and there or get emotions or any other things that writers typically do. She put her characters in Glatt's book.

Donoghue is one of my favorite authors. I was obssesed with Slammerkin. She is original and creative. What happened here? I wish I had an answer?

As I was reading Secrets of the cellar I cam across the door, the keypad lock, birth in the cellar, and only the use of over the counter drugs. When the real people in Secrets of the Cellar experienced something it was like I could hear Donoghue deciding how she could use this in Room.

I do not want to go on with a lengthly list of comparisons. Trust me, there are many, many, many. I will list them at another date if anyone is interested. All I ask is why not give a shout out to Glatt? And, where did your creativity go?

Room by Emma Donoghue

Are you looking for a great new book to read this weekend? Room by Emma Donoghue is a fantastic read that, as Audrey Niffenegger says, will change you.

Room is a departure from Donoghue's normal historical fiction. The premise of the book sounded so intense and upsetting I put off reading it for a while. However, all my bookie friends encouraged me to take the jump and I am so glad I did.

If you have not already heard, Room tells the story of a woman and her five year old son who are held captive in a small room. The woman has been in the room for around 7 years. The boy, who tells the story, has just turned five - he was born in the room and has spent all his life in the confined space.

I don't want to give you any spoilers. I do want to let you in on my experience with the book in hopes it will encourage you to download it on your Kindle. I have heard several stories in the news of young women being held captive for years by men in similar situations. As I was reading the book the one that kept returning to me was a case in Norway, or Denmark, or Finland, or another of the cold but beautiful countries. A crazed man held a woman captive for many years in a room in his house and fathered children by her.

I was worried about the story being related by a five year old. Would it get old? Would it get on my nerves? This one fact could very well have been the downfall of the book. Instead, Donoghue adds twists to the story just as you get frustrated with the boy. And, you have to remember how frustrated the mother must be throughout the entire situation.

You can read the book in one sitting. Even if you don't you will want to! Then you will think about it for a long time. I think about the book throughout the day. How would my life be different? How much compassion would I have? Could I do what the mother does? The questions go on and on.

For serious book lovers a site called roomthebook.com has been created with a multimedia map of the room that was the prison for the boy, Jack, and his mother.

New Fiction Releases October 26

Looking for a new read? Here are some books that hit the market today.

An Amish Christmas by Cynthia Keller
Cat Coming Home by Shirley Rousseau Murphy
Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas
The Christmas Journey by Donna Vanliere
A Christmas Odyssey by Anne Perry
Coming Back by Marcia Muller
The Confession by John Grisham
Dangerous to Know by Tasha Alexander
Daughter of Darkness by V.C. Andrews
Dead Spy Running by Jon Stock
The Killing Storm by Kathryn Casey
Knot Gneiss by Piers Anthony
The Last Run by Greg Rucka
The Mischief of Mistletoe by Lauren Willig
Side Jobs by Jim Butcher
Surface Detail by Iain Banks

Where are you reading your Kindle today? Be sure to leave a comment and/or photo! Share the Kindle love!

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New Kindle Announcements From Amazon

Amazon made 2 groundbreaking announcements on October 22. First, Kindle magazines and newspapers will soon be availble across devices. For example, if you purchase a Kindle magazine you can read it on your Kindle and read it on your iphone Kindle app. This is great news for all of us who enjoy reading newspapers and mags on our Kindles. The philoshpy from Amazon is 'buy once, read everywhere'!
The new technology will be available in the coming weeks. To begin with, the technology will be availble on iphones, ipads, and the ipod touch. Next, Amazon will work to get the Android on board along with other formats.
The second major annoucement is no less exciting...
Kindle owners will soon have the power to loan ebooks! Kindle owners can loan Kindle books to other Kindle owners via a Kindle device or app. The loan takes place for 14 days. Each book can be loaned only once and the lender cannot read the book during the period it is on loan.
Not all ebooks will be availble for lending. The option is dependent on the publisher and/or the person who owns the rights to the book.
I think this is one of the most exciting things to come out of the Kindle world in some time. I know other Kindle users I would love to trade books with for a short time. I think people might even buy a Kindle if they realize they have this new option.
No word from Amazon if the new lending option requires the Kindle owner to download a software update. Stay tuned for more information. It will be posted as it becomes availble!
Where did you read your Kindle today? It was a gorgeous fall day here. I got to sit on my front porch, enjoy the changing leaves, and read in the gentle breeze. What was I reading? A book I downloaded some time ago but never got around to reading...Elizabeth Street. Anybody read this book?

Welcome Kindle Lovers

Where do you read your Kindle? What are you reading on your Kindle? It drives me crazy when I see blogs and articles complaining about the decline of the nosey reader - we can no longer see what our neighbors are reading if they have a Kindle. Well...why not just ask!

My Kindle is packed with fabulous books I have read and wonderful books I plan to read. This is just like my shelves were in the past and I bet yours were too. Of course, I still buy books when the Kindle edition is not availble. Recently, I purchased The White Nile for a book club as it was not on Kindle.

However, what about the number of books availble for Kindle? It is astonishing! I can always find something to read. In most cases new releases go straight to Kindle. I just finished the Ken Follett, Fall of Giants, and it was engrossing. The book is the first of a planned trilogy and focuses on the time around World War I. There were times while I was reading that I felt I was actually there - in Europe during the time of the war. It is that good. Follett's descriptions are so accurate and really paint wonderful pictures that you can get lost in for hours.

If you asked what I was reading recently on my Kindle it would be Fall of Giants. What have you been caught reading on your Kindle? Share your favorite books and favorite Kindle experiences with our community.