Customer Reviews

The Book of Lost Things

5 star:		(124)
4 star:		(50)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(14)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

In this first departure from mystery novels (discounting of course his excellent collection of deep and dark stories from a previous book titled Nocturnes) John Connolly manages to meld illogical with logical and to remind us all that what may seem real is just another side of a coin conveniently labeled nightmare and fantasy.

This tale builds slowly (as it should and during the brief passage of the first five chapters) through the eyes of a twelve year old boy named David. But the tale soon picks up speed on the doorstep of Chapter six. And then... watch out!

The source for most of the tales encountered by David, during his journey through an alternate but un-named land, is the Brother's Grimm. And the structure itself lends closely to Lewis Carroll's tales of Alice's adventure in Wonderland and her journey Through the Looking Glass. But we cannot omit L. Frank Baum from this porridge of evil but sublime. His imprint is there and presiding with more than a tip of the hat to Dorothy and her journey to Oz and to the `Magnificent Wizard' (and a reminder of at least a couple of her companions, along the way through that journey).

But don't think I'm going to say this tale is a `copy' of any of the above! The story is wholly original in the telling... and then some.

It should be said (and already has been) that this rendering is not for children. And it is not for the faint of heart. If anything, the story can be viewed as cautionary fairy tale melded with contemporary warning to the likes of Ed Gein and John Wayne Gacy (and Gacy especially, when `feeling' the creepy crawly `below-world' of the crooked man and some of his personal culinary delights). Both of these monsters could easily have existed in David's alternate world.

And wasn't that, after all is said and done, the original warning of the Brother's Grimm?

Beware of that which seems innocent and pure because... it may be not!

I've read all of John Connolly's other novels and love them. Only problem I have is that he can't write them quickly enough to satisfy my desire. (smile) Began 'Book of Lost Things' late last night and, like another reviewer, read it in one sitting. WHAT a story! WHAT a storyteller! The book held me from the very beginning with the books, the books talking, the life of books, the emotion of books! There was even a passage that brought a tear to my eyes, the passage about the boy discovering pictures of his mother as a young girl and realized she had an entire life separate from him. Since I've lost my own mother, and now have pictures of her as a girl I, too, went through that 'aha' experience. John Connolly reaches deep into the heart of us all, if we are receptive to him. This is a book for all those who believe in the life of books and the power of words. It is a book NOT to be missed and a book I hope earns every award possible. Trust me, if you have a heart, the ending will have you crying and the final pages will have you returning to read them again and again. He is truly a master storyteller and, to my mind, what better thing can one be? Mr. Connolly thank you, thank you for the enjoyment you bring to many of us. And, to the reviewer who said he read this story via download, why read it any other way? Because a download is NOT a book. There is something about a book, the smell, the feel ......the LIFE.

When you see John Connolly's name on a book, it's a no brainer it will be fabulous - from Charlie Parker to this wondrous book. This book caught my imagination from the book cover. As one who holds books like they are part of me, the thought of books whispering, actions done that confirms no harm will happen the next day, even our darkest thoughts as children and adults draws me into its web. This masterful novel deals with a young boy, David, who has lost his mother, and sees his father have to marry his pregnant girlfriend, and then, adding insult to injury, they have a baby, usurping the attention David thought he should have.
He runs into the woods to leave this situation and on the other side of a tree is another world. A world that David would have to conquer in order to be released from it, and understands the true nature of goodness and love. After many adventures with stories of fairy tales that we might have read, (but these stories have their own twists), David must choose between good and evil. During this journey David finds himself growing from a child to a young man with a true heart. All lost things are found again.

I must admit to not thinking the subject matter of this book would fascinate me. I don't typically enjoy books I think will be heavy on mythological references, and that's what I expected from Mr. Connolly's latest.

I bought the book a month ago on the strength of my respect for Mr. Connolly's writing, and the book sat on my shelf whilst I finished at least nine other books. All the while, I kept glancing at it, both wanting to read it and fearing I'd not like it. Finally, like David's books in the story Connolly weaves for us, this one called to me, spoke to me of its contents, and I took it off the shelf and began to read.

Began and finished in less than 36 hours, as I was unable to put it down any longer than it would take to dine with a friend, teach a class, make a meal, or get some much-needed shuteye.

If you're hesitant to pick this one up because it's not part of the Charlie Parker series, stop hesitating and do it. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

There are so many beautifully-crafted images and themes running throughout this story that it's hard to pick just a few, and harder still to do so without revealing important plot elements and thus negatively affecting other readers' experiences.

The language is wonderful. Mr. Connolly is always good at using English to weave wonderful word-paintings, but he's especially good in this novel. Several times, I found myself awestruck by the clarity of my mental pictures. For me, that only happens when a writer creates something powerfully descriptive and evocative.

The characters are similarly finely-drawn, and from the start, I cared about them, wanted to learn more about them, was both excited and solicitous (or horror-struck and appalled, as the characters demanded) as their journeys unfolded.

I found myself recalling many of the myths I'd read as a child, and that alone was incredible. I didn't realize how much I'd read back then, or how those memories could surface when confronted with Mr. Connolly's references and embellishments.

I loved sharing young David's journey even though at times I found it as bloody and nightmarish as Charlie Parker's has been; each step David took seemed to be mine as well, each realization hitting me almost as hard as it hit him. That's saying something, since one of the main themes of this book--the loss of a loved one, and the longing, guilt, and jealousy that can come after such a loss--isn't new to most of us. It's the way that David journeys to self-awareness that makes all the difference. His healing and his newfound compassion for people he'd previously dismissed or disparaged, even considered betraying, are all the more meaningful because of how hard-won they are. His courage, too, reminds me of how powerful even a child's spirit can be. He rises to each challenge and becomes a man in the course of his travels, both the literal ones and the ones of his spirit.

I was sad at book's end, mostly because I wanted more, but David's journey was done. I hope to share it with other people as soon as the book is out in paperback. Right now I don't want to hand anyone my hardcover copy; it's still very close to my heart, and it isn't going anywhere just yet!

Give this one a go; don't compare it to the Parker series or to Mr. Connolly's shorter writings. Open it up; accept it on its own terms; let it into your heart. ENJOY.

12-year-old David loves to read and, upon the death of his mother, hears books talking. Still mourning the loss of his mother, his father tells him he'll have a new mother and a baby brother or sister. They move out of London to his stepmother Rose's huge house in the country where he is given a room filled with books but feels angry and displaced by Rose and the baby. Soon he starts seeing The Crooked Man and discovers a passage into a different world filled with wolves, loups, harpies, trolls and others including a Woodsman who helps him on his journey to see the King and back to his own world.

This is definitely not Disney's version of fairy tales and even the Brothers Grimm might find parts of this a bit horrific. Connolly's definition of "happy ever after" may be realistic but is definitely sad. Yes, there are lessons of bravery, loyalty and love, but I found the story repetitive and lacking the "magic" that makes fairy tales so memorable. Connolly is a superb writer. His Charlie Parker books, up until "Dark Angel." were masterful in their balance of horrible and humor, humanity and paranormal and were written with such a lyrical style. That was lost with "Dark Angel" and is missing here as well. The last 10-11 pages were wonderful but it's not a story I'll go back and re-read as I do "Beauty and the Beast," Neil Gaiman's 'Coraline,' or Raymond Feist's "Fairie Tale," one of my favorites.

How many avid readers just like us have used books as a retreat from life's difficulties. That's exactly what David does, when his mother dies, his father remarries, and a new little half brother enters the scene. WWII is heating up, and when a German bomber goes down in flames, landing in the family garden, David finds that the weirdest characters and places from his adventure tales are real. And dangerous. His life will never be the same, not even if he manages to escape with his life and return to his family.

An allegory on war and on conquering one's fears, The Book of Lost Things is anything but didactic. On the contrary, it's a perilous quest in the classic sense, full of the stuff of nightmares and horror stories. No cute little elves or fairies in David's new world, only plenty of slavering werewolves, terrible trolls, and horrific monsters which take shape in accordance with his own deepest dreads. The way in which he handles these unimaginable challenges forms the core of this story, which is magical in content but realistic in its truths.

Recommended highly to readers of skillfully written fantasy, especially if interested in "the uses of enchantment".

Hasn't this been done before, this retelling of childhood tales from a darker, more adult perspective? I've seen this idea explored everywhere from Sondheim to anime. And boys wandering into alternate universes has been a standard plot since the Mabinogi, a thousand-plus years ago.

I didn't find the plot original, and so the book for me came down to: how well did the author tell the tale? And I give him mixed results here. The book starts off well, but before the half-way mark settles into a dull "get from A to B to C" adventure. Part of the difficulty is that we know the ending by the second chapter, so all we have left is the journey itself.

For all that, there are long stretches where the book is a great read. The second half is fun and engaging, albeit dark. I could almost give the book four stars except for a showdown that is rather anti-climactic and for a terribly cliche-filled final chapter

I've read all of John's books (except the collections) and so was excited to see him coming out with another one and even more so since it's in a new genre for him.

I got it early in electronic format (why read it any other way) and really enjoyed it. He does a great job of making the kid true to life. So many times when authors try to take the perspective of kids it's very unbelievable to me because their thoughts / behaviors aren't like any kids I know ... and I've got 4 so I have some knowledge.

I like the way he twists a number of standard fairy tales and weaves them together in the book. He also does a good job of addressing things like jealousy and how our limited perspective affects our attitude. The book is really good as a tale and it has good issues / thoughts to ponder "beneath" the tale. A good read.

Keep up the good work John.

Remember the chills you used to get as a child when your mom or dad shared a classic fairy tale or campfire story? Not the P.C., sanitized versions that appear in modern editions, but the real deal where the wolf eats Grandma. John Connolly does a fabulous job of taking old familiars and standing them on their head, spinning something new out of old cloth, yet miraculously weaving it into a narrative that is compelling in its own right. Here you will encounter shades of Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and The Wizard of Oz, yet something fresh and exhilarating. More importantly, he makes you feel the pain of youth and how we all feel the tough pull of adulthood. Unlike most fantasties, this is one that is well grounded in reality. The ending is at once bittersweet and satisfying and left even this jaded reader with a tear in my eye. This is one I will share with my children when they get older. But don't confuse this as a book for children. Label this one "Scary" Potter.

Set in war-torn 20th Century Britain, John Connolly takes classic childhood fairy tales and turns them on their head in a fashion reminiscent of "The Wizard of Oz." Despite young David's best efforts to keep his mother alive, her death signals a number of changes in his world for which he is completely unprepared. His father meets a new woman and, even more strange, David begins to hear books talking to him. When David steals out into the night at the urging of his mother's voice, he is transported into another, darker world populated by the characters in his beloved books. Using his courage and conviction to find his mother, he must gain allies and battle horrifying monsters and villains. Full of fascinating, familiar, and sometimes humorous characters, this book is the story of one boy's path to growing up that is at times heartbreaking and often heartwarming; you will root for David the whole way.

Connolly's ability to create another world is impressive and his descriptive passages are lovely. To capture the thoughts and feelings of a young boy in a way that makes readers think, "I know exactly what he is talking about," is a remarkable feat. I enjoyed "The Book of Lost Things" and its hero very much. However, this novel is unnecessarily dark and cruel, punctuated with horrifying details and unrelenting violence. Connolly went much too far, resulting in a final product that is unsuitable for young people where it could have otherwise been a wonderful choice - it is too bad that he did not put on the breaks a little sooner. Still, I can say with confidence that I will return to this book again, though I may have to wonder about my sanity should I hear it speaking to me.