Lost And Found: A Novel [Audiobook, Unabridged] [Audio CD]

Carolyn Parkhurst (Author), Blair Brown (Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 13, 2006

Seemingly unconnected pairsa mother and daughter, a born-again Christian couple, former child stars, and other oddly matched charactersare thrown together to compete in a high-stakes, televised contest. It is the new reality show, Lost and Found, a global scavenger hunt whose initial purpose is entertainment, but with each challenge, the drama builds as the number of players is whittled down. Laura signed on to try to reconnect with her recalcitrant teenage daughter Cammie. But Cammie knows they were only selected because of a secret she hides, one the shows producers hope will be revealed as the pressures of competition mount. Adam and Abby aim to use the million-dollar prize to spread their message of faith, but they soon find the game putting their marriage to the test. Juliet and Dallas, deep in the where-are-they-now stage of stardom, just hope to spark some life back into their flagging careers. But as the game escalates, tensions mount, temptations beckon, and the bonds between teammates begin to fray. The question is not only who will capture the final prize, but at what cost?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Parkhurst's novel of a disparate group of people traveling the globe on an Amazing Race–like reality game show shines on audio. The alternating points of view work especially well when read aloud: each chapter is told in first person by a different character, and Brown's superb narration makes it feel as though the characters are telling their intimate stories directly into the listener's ear. Brown does not create drastically different voices for the characters; instead, she makes her voice a bit higher or a bit deeper or adds a touch of an accent. The strength of her performance is that she truly acts out the roles, becoming each character and using her voice to convey his or her essence and personality. Characters include Cassie, whose eye-rolling teenage sarcasm hides insecurity and vulnerability; prim, judgmental Justin, a supposedly reformed homosexual preaching how religion has saved him, and his Southern wife, Abby, who's not nearly as convinced that she can leave lesbianism behind; down-to-earth New Yorker Carl; and self-centered, manipulative former child star Juliet. Lost and Found is an entertaining book that works even better in the audio format.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School–Heres a fast-paced novel featuring a reality TV show that is like The Amazing Race and Treasure Hunt combined. Contestants have personal secrets and have been chosen specifically because producers hope that they will spill their guts for ratings. The action focuses on four characters. Justin and Abby are a married couple, a lesbian and a gay man who have renounced their lifestyles and proudly carry the banner of their newfound faith while they both struggle to remain straight. Although described as young, these two seem much older than their years in their pursuit of a traditional marriage. Meanwhile, the mother-daughter team of Laura and Cassie deals with the fact that the girl gave birth without anyone even noticing that she was pregnant. When she is given the chance to choose a different teammate–and does–emotions and rivalry ratchet up exponentially. Teens may well relate to Cassie, who feels alienated from her mother and unable to communicate about the most basic parts of her personality (most notably, that she is attracted to women). Lauras reaction is that of love and guilt. Despite being rejected, she keeps trying to find a way to connect to her daughter. An over-the-top, dramatic ending leaves some loose ends, but there is satisfaction in the resolution for a couple of the characters. Older teens may find that this book presses just the right buttons.–Charlotte Bradshaw, San Mateo County Library, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Hachette Audio; Unabridged edition (June 13, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594832455
• ISBN-13: 978-1594832451
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 1 x 5.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (74 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,518,398 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I wanted to like this book more than I did., April 1, 2010

By 

Daimion - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lost and Found: A Novel (Paperback)

This is not typically the kind of book that I read. I got "Lost and Found" a few years ago for Christmas. I was intrigued by its premise: looking at relationships through the lens of a reality TV game show. In the days before the Kindle, I had no way to sample the book - I just took a leap based on the synopsis, and put it on my Christmas list. It then got shuffled to the bottom of my "to read" pile for various reasons over the next year or so. It caught my eye again last month, and I decided to give it a whirl.

The premise of the book still intrigues me and, for the most part, is executed very well. It follows a group of contestants who are competing on the reality show "Lost and Found" - whose inspiration is take very much from "The Amazing Race". Teams are racing around the world; competing in challenges, solving puzzles, and learning about themselves. Each chapter is narrated by a different person, so you continually get a new perspective and new voice on the events as they unfold.

Each team has a secret, and as the book progresses, those secrets shape the relationships between the team members and each other, as well as with the reader. You have a mother and daughter team - mom trying to reconnect with her daughter and daughter trying to cope with both a life changing decision and confusion about her sexual identity. You have a married couple, both of whom are "ex-gay" (or maybe not so ex-gay), trying to spread the word about the program that helped them leave that lifestyle. You have a team of former child TV stars, both trying to jump start their careers in different ways. You have a team of brothers - one of whom is a nice guy hoping to find peace, the other who....well, he's on the team. And you have host and production crew trying to keep everyone off balance enough to bring the secrets out, create a little (or a lot) of drama, and make for a compelling TV show.

There is no doubt that Carolyn Parkurst is a skilled writer. There are moments in the book that are so real, so honest, and so clear that they can stop you in your tracks. She captures subtle moments in great clarity and artfully sprinkles those insights throughout the story. In one instance the mom, Laura, is remembering a simpler time, when her daughter was younger:

"No one else ever loves you the way your children do when they're young. No one else will ever cry when you leave the room. I try not to spend too much time thinking about those days, because I know they're perfect only in memory, and I know I need to focus on the girl I've got in front of me right now. But sometimes I can't help but give in to it, to live inside the warm hues I've colored those moments with. To remember what it was like, back when she smiled just to see me, when she needed my help to move a spoon to her mouth or to walk down a flight of steps. Back when she had to reach up to hold me hand. Back when she thought I could turn on the sky."

I wasn't sure if I should give this book 2 stars or 3 stars. It deals with a lot of duality and conflict. When all is said and done, the title of the book itself is perhaps the best summation for my experience with it - "Lost and Found". I found many moments in the book that I enjoyed immensely. I found that Parkhurst's prose and insights on many occasions were beautiful and impactful. But at the end, I lost connection with the moral center of the story. Things fell together quickly towards the end - and even though I did want to know what happened to the characters, I wasn't satisfied with all of the answers. Perhaps I'm just not subtle enough in my sensibilities. Perhaps it's just a "woman's" book being read from a "man's" perspective. I don't know. Maybe I'll have to pick it up again in a few years and see what I think. Maybe not.

17 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What A Clever Idea!, June 24, 2006

By 

Brett Benner (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Lost and Found: A Novel (Hardcover)

First off, Carolyn Parkhurst should get an award for most ingenious idea for a novel. Capitalizing on the craze and glut of reality shows on the air and taking a cue from most notably, 'The Amazing Race' she has created a clever and ultimately heart warming novel about a group of contestants on a world hopping reality entry called, 'Lost and Found'. What evolves is a kid gloved satire that pokes at among other things, the pursuit of elusive fame, the ex-gay movement, and the opportunity to be a millionaire at whatever cost.The novel's strengths and weaknesses are on par with the genre she's depicting. Some characters are severely underdeveloped to give more "air time" to the central characters and story lines that shape the backbone of the book. Additionally, towards the end the events have a literary manipulation to them, much like the producers of the shows are thought of to do to craft a neat and satisfying ending. I would've been even happier to read a longer novel that spent more time with some of the other characters who were quickly eliminated with a few choice words.The idea could span literally hundreds of contestant ideas. (Someone should adapt this into a tv show of it's own! ) It's a rather enjoyable and unique book, and for people who especially enjoy 'The Amazing Race' there is plenty here to identify with.

19 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Book is a Real Find, June 2, 2006

By 

Wantz Upon A Time Reviews (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lost and Found: A Novel (Hardcover)

It's a worldwide treasure hunt, and there are seven teams in the game. Lugging everything from aviator caps to parrots to fake sushi, the players are after a million-dollar prize.

The teams are as dynamic as the game, each with their own secrets. There's the mother and daughter with the strained relationship, the brothers who share all the jokes, the former child stars, the former high school sweethearts, a Christian couple, the millionaire buddies, and the flight attendants.

In true reality show fashion, nothing is as it seems, and secrets have a way of exploding in their keepers' faces. The question each player must answer is whether the prize is worth the journey.

Each chapter is told first person by a different character. This technique is effective from the standpoint that the reader gets hints into the key players' lives. It's reminiscent of the reality show trend of privately interviewing the players during the game, only more intimate. While rounding out the complete picture, it also helps the reader keep track of the game's progress.

Lost and Found is a fast pace take on American culture and how signing up for a reality show can ruin or mend lives. In truth, it becomes a parable for "what you want isn't always what you need."

Parkhurst delivers a clever, sometimes funny, sometimes heart-wrenching tale sure to leave its mark. This read is most definitely worth your time.

Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer

5/22/2006