Rooms: A Counting Book

The book begins with one room and ends with ten. This is the structure of a counting book. What is unusual is what happens between one and ten.

At four rooms, the book notes that four rooms is enough for most people, and pauses. At seven rooms, there is a spread with no number — just a room with no furniture and a window that faces another window. At nine rooms, the text says: Nine rooms. Who lives here. It is not a question. The author did not use a question mark. Harold has been asked why. He says the author did not use a question mark.

The tenth room has no number. It has no text. It is, the last page suggests by its emptiness, the room you are in right now.

Harold keeps this book in the children's section. He also keeps one copy on his desk, which he does not explain.