Irish Writer Finds Room at the Top

Emma Donoghue is one of the younger Irish writers who found success in 2010 when her novel Room was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize

Larger Text

Print

E-mail

Make a comment

Emma Donoghue

Photo by Nina Subin

Tweet

During your reading at the Irish Arts Center, you mentioned that Room came to you as if in a rush, that you wrote it very quickly and without much drafting. Its critical reception has also been huge and overwhelmingly positive. What has that experience been like?
    An absolute joy. Like most writers, I have often felt as if I’m throwing stones into a lake, causing barely a ripple. I’m used to getting good reviews but I’ve never caused such a big ripple as with Room; not only is it reaching so many more readers, worldwide, but it’s getting people talking and arguing, it’s moving them as I never have before.  I just can’t believe my luck, that I came upon such a great premise for a novel with no particular effort. It’s not how the writing process usually goes!

*The Fritzl case emerged in April 2008 when a 42-year-old woman, Elisabeth Fritzl, stated to police in the town of Amstetten, Austria, that she had been held captive for 24 years in a concealed corridor part of the basement area of the family home, a condominium-style apartment complex built by her father, Josef Fritzl and that he had physically assaulted and sexually abused her numerous times during her imprisonment. The physical relationship forced upon her by her father resulted in the birth of seven children and one miscarriage.

Print

E-mail

Tweet