Room by Emma Donoghue

Absolutely stunning. A must read.

Note: Despite rave reviews, I avoided this book because the premise (woman kept in room for years on end by a sicko with her five-year-old as narrator) was not something I wanted to read about. But then I noticed that many reviews said "it's not what you are thinking." And it isn't. It isn't graphic, it isn't dark, it isn't exploitive. It is horrifying, but it is also the most profound meditation on mothering that I have ever read. I want to say a lot more but I don't want to give any plot points away.