Status
Checked out
Due 8-04-2022
Call number
Genres
Publication
London : Hodder, 2017.
Description
High in his attic bedroom, twelve-year-old David mourns the death of his mother, with only the books on his shelf for company. But those books have begun to whisper to him in the darkness. Angry and alone, he takes refuge in his imagination and soon finds that reality and fantasy have begun to meld. While his family falls apart around him, David is violently propelled into a world that is a strange reflection of his own -- populated by heroes and monsters and ruled by a faded king who keeps his secrets in a mysterious book, The Book of Lost Things. Taking readers on a vivid journey through the loss of innocence into adulthood and beyond, New York Times bestselling author John Connolly tells a dark and compelling tale that reminds us of the enduring power of stories in our lives.… (more)
Media reviews
This is an adult novel steeped in children's literature that cannily makes its 1940s junior protagonist credibly ignorant of aspects which the grown-up reader, or any modern kid, will catch at once.
Written in the clear, evocative manner of the best British fairy tales from JM Barrie to CS
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Lewis, The Book of Lost Things is an engaging, magical, thoughtful read.
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Good ideas, these afterthoughts, every one; but rather than go back and write them in, he sticks them down in the pluperfect and hurries on. The result is less a novel in any genre than a catalogue, a dispiritingly detailed outline for something Connolly might like to write, if he only had the
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time, or the talent, or a decent editor. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member ablueidol
Which do you think will be read and savoured in 100 years time, the fairy stories of the Grimm Brothers with their roots in the old darkness of firelight nights or the latest Jodi Picoult about a life that the children of parents yet to be born will have no knowledge or interest in. Yet the same
It is from this deep well that John Connolly’s The Book of Lost Things draws on as he tells the story of 12 year old David’s losing fight to keep his mother and family he knows a alive. His anger and grief causes him blackouts and a wish for revenge as his father deals with grief by marriage and work. David discovers the presence of the Crooked Man who can move between the world of living and story. Books start talking to him and boundaries blur so that when his anger and that of his struggling step-mother collide it sets into train his explosive entry into land of story.
Once there we meet traditional fairyland characters but from an adult and darker angle… Red riding Hood hunts out the wolf for sex and worse! It becomes clear that the adventures reflect David’s fears and the choices he must make as he struggles to deal with his grief and anger. To make the wrong choices will leave worlds destroyed but so will the right ones as he learns that happy endings are for fairy stories. But as heaven is what we make it, his death when it comes is not the end of the story.
This is not a children’s story but an adult story about when childhood ends and what life is made as we grow up. Its portrait of David trying to keep his mother alive and his feelings made me cry in the first 10 pages such was the lyrical nature of the writing. The stories within stories are not distractions as some reviewers suggest but insights into the characters that David meets and his own feelings and choices that he has to make. It has lots of comic moments as well as the Snow White and communist dwarfs’ episode shows. However, ultimately it’s a story about growing up and letting go of illusions, which makes it very sad and poignant. So if it gets to be a film think David Lynch or Tim Burton rather then Disney and you are on the right track about the tone of the book. Recommend for an easy enjoyable and moving read.
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children when meeting the stories of world long faded even when written down by the Grimm Brothers will still be amazed and scared. Don’t believe me? Well I do story telling in pubs to adults and have known an entire bar go quiet and listen intently as a story of woods, princes and monsters enfolds in their mind.It is from this deep well that John Connolly’s The Book of Lost Things draws on as he tells the story of 12 year old David’s losing fight to keep his mother and family he knows a alive. His anger and grief causes him blackouts and a wish for revenge as his father deals with grief by marriage and work. David discovers the presence of the Crooked Man who can move between the world of living and story. Books start talking to him and boundaries blur so that when his anger and that of his struggling step-mother collide it sets into train his explosive entry into land of story.
Once there we meet traditional fairyland characters but from an adult and darker angle… Red riding Hood hunts out the wolf for sex and worse! It becomes clear that the adventures reflect David’s fears and the choices he must make as he struggles to deal with his grief and anger. To make the wrong choices will leave worlds destroyed but so will the right ones as he learns that happy endings are for fairy stories. But as heaven is what we make it, his death when it comes is not the end of the story.
This is not a children’s story but an adult story about when childhood ends and what life is made as we grow up. Its portrait of David trying to keep his mother alive and his feelings made me cry in the first 10 pages such was the lyrical nature of the writing. The stories within stories are not distractions as some reviewers suggest but insights into the characters that David meets and his own feelings and choices that he has to make. It has lots of comic moments as well as the Snow White and communist dwarfs’ episode shows. However, ultimately it’s a story about growing up and letting go of illusions, which makes it very sad and poignant. So if it gets to be a film think David Lynch or Tim Burton rather then Disney and you are on the right track about the tone of the book. Recommend for an easy enjoyable and moving read.
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LibraryThing member stretch
The Book of Lost Things revolves around a twelve-year-old boy, in the mists of the London Blitz, as he comes to terms with the lost of his beloved mother after a long illness and a new life in a strange house, a benevolent step-mother, and a baby half-brother he loathes. To escape his troubles and
This is one of the most imaginative books I have ever read. Connolly beautifully re-masters many of the fairly tales that we have come to know and love, all be it with a darker and more grisly edge that would make the Brothers Grimm proud, that are seamlessly weaved into a compelling coming of age plot, forming a longer fantastical narrative. In essence a modern fairy tale. I thought it was fantastic how Connolly mixed elements from the real world and the other books on David's shelves with the fantasy world; blurring the line between fantasy and reality. Connolly creates a story where the moral dilemmas are challenging, and their resolutions are satisfyingly complex and realistic. And like all good fairy tales there a moral lesson to be learned about courage and facing one's fears head on, but unlike so many fairy tales it doesn't end in the same old unsatisfying prepackaged ever-after ending. Instead this book ends as it should end; a well lived life full of both tragedy and happiness.
This is a book of grief and loss. Of acceptance, of guilt, of experience, humility, growth, strength, bravery, and wisdom. I loved ever page of it.
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relive his most treasured memories of his mother, David withdraws from reality and immerse himself in the world of fairy-tales and fantasy. Overtime David forms a special relationship with his books and can hear them softly whispering to him, comforting him in times of trouble and distress. However these whispers and the longing for his mother eventually draw David into a very real fantasy world; where the fairy-tales and fantastical characters come to life. This world isn't the pleasant land of happily ever-after endings; a dark force has corrupted this world making it a very dangerous and deadly place for a young boy. Luckily for David there are still a few heroes, that will help and guide him on his perilous journey to face his destiny and it is in this world where David has to come to terms with his attitude, his jealousy, and his fears to make the ultimate decision that will have profound effects on his and the people he loves lives' forever.This is one of the most imaginative books I have ever read. Connolly beautifully re-masters many of the fairly tales that we have come to know and love, all be it with a darker and more grisly edge that would make the Brothers Grimm proud, that are seamlessly weaved into a compelling coming of age plot, forming a longer fantastical narrative. In essence a modern fairy tale. I thought it was fantastic how Connolly mixed elements from the real world and the other books on David's shelves with the fantasy world; blurring the line between fantasy and reality. Connolly creates a story where the moral dilemmas are challenging, and their resolutions are satisfyingly complex and realistic. And like all good fairy tales there a moral lesson to be learned about courage and facing one's fears head on, but unlike so many fairy tales it doesn't end in the same old unsatisfying prepackaged ever-after ending. Instead this book ends as it should end; a well lived life full of both tragedy and happiness.
This is a book of grief and loss. Of acceptance, of guilt, of experience, humility, growth, strength, bravery, and wisdom. I loved ever page of it.
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LibraryThing member lemonsbetter
Fantastic fantasy novel! Picked this up at the library and didn't put it down until I finished reading it! I'm going to buy it as soon as I can. I really enjoy the fractured fairy tale idea, and this one was darker than most I have read. So many of those moments when you want to tear your eyes from
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the page but just can't! Show Less
LibraryThing member hhershey
David is struggling to accept his new life. His mother has died, his father has married another woman, and now he has a new baby brother. When he is moved to the country side outside of London to escape the threat of German bombings, David slips further into the world of his beloved books. His
While the story is ripe with fairy tales, it is not a children's book. Connolly strips fairy tales down to their essence, revealing their often cruel lessons of life. This is a coming of age story that follows the journey of a young boy as he deals with intense tragedy, initially escaping into a world of fantasy, but ultimately facing his worst fears in a brutal world. Throughout his journey David faces gruesome villains against which he learns to wield a sword to survive. Connolly has done a masterful job of giving new life to classic tales as he weaves them throughout his story.
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favorites are the fairy tales. Not long after moving to the country David sets about exploring a sunken garden behind the house and slips through a crack in a garden wall and emerges into a different world, one where fairy tale characters abound. David soon discovers that the only way to get back home is to journey forward to see the King. But his journey is made difficult by the constant threat of the loupes and their ever growing army of wolves. While the story is ripe with fairy tales, it is not a children's book. Connolly strips fairy tales down to their essence, revealing their often cruel lessons of life. This is a coming of age story that follows the journey of a young boy as he deals with intense tragedy, initially escaping into a world of fantasy, but ultimately facing his worst fears in a brutal world. Throughout his journey David faces gruesome villains against which he learns to wield a sword to survive. Connolly has done a masterful job of giving new life to classic tales as he weaves them throughout his story.
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LibraryThing member CBJames
The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly was a recipient of the 2007 Alex Award given to adult books that appeal to young adult readers ages 12-18, but I'm not so sure.
The story concerns David, age twelve, who is unhappy with his new step-mother and his new home outside London where his parents
The adventure that follows pays tribute to many classic fairy tales and children's books. The woodsman inspired by Snow White, the human-wolves from Red-Riding Hood, the Seven Dwarfs appear as does Sleeping Beauty. The journey to see the king is right out of The Wizard of Oz as is the possibility that it all may be a dream meant to reveal David's confused emotional state. (This also references Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.) David is a reader with a library full of books just like these so the novel can naturally make his imagined world real. That the book's overall structure mimics The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe which had not been written yet as its characters are contemporaries of David is a nice touch.
It's a very good book. I enjoyed it. I recommend it. But I wouldn't recommend it to young adult ages 12-18. I think they are both too old and too young for it. The Book of Lost Things is a gentle story. There is some action, there are some dark elements to it, but it's a sweet tale about a little boy who has lost his mother in the end. I think readers in the 12-18 brackets will lose patience with it early on. I know this may seem crass to say, but The Book of Lost Things doesn't have the sex and violence this age group is used to. If you're looking for Twilight, or The Hunger Games, or even Harry Potter, you're not going to find it in The Book of Lost Things. The adventure aspects of the novel are more suited to an elementary age group say grades four to six, kids young enough to be excited when they recognize the seven dwarfs from Snow White and innocent enough to still enjoy being tucked into bed with happy ending. 12-18 is too old.
Paradoxically, 12-18-year-old readers are also too young for The Book of Lost Things. It's a very nostalgic book. The story is about a 12-year-old but the narrative voice is fully grown, adult, experienced and able to present an adult take on David's story. The narrator appears to be telling a children's story, but he's really telling a children's story to an adult audience, one with and adult perspective on the story's events and on the character of David. It's a children's story you have to be grown to fully appreciate.
I'm sure there are 12-18-year-old-readers out there who have read The Book of Lost Things and loved it. Recommending a book for a wide range of readers is a risky thing, something that can never be 100% accurate. There's always an exception, sometimes many. But my advice on reading The Book of Lost Things is to wait until you are older. Like me.
The story concerns David, age twelve, who is unhappy with his new step-mother and his new home outside London where his parents
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hope he'll be safe from the ravages of World War II. After a German bomber crashes behind his family garden, David finds himself in a fantasy world, pursued by both a pack of human like wolves and the mysterious Crooked Man. A friendly woodsman rescues him and sets him off on a journey to find the king who may be able to send David back home.The adventure that follows pays tribute to many classic fairy tales and children's books. The woodsman inspired by Snow White, the human-wolves from Red-Riding Hood, the Seven Dwarfs appear as does Sleeping Beauty. The journey to see the king is right out of The Wizard of Oz as is the possibility that it all may be a dream meant to reveal David's confused emotional state. (This also references Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.) David is a reader with a library full of books just like these so the novel can naturally make his imagined world real. That the book's overall structure mimics The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe which had not been written yet as its characters are contemporaries of David is a nice touch.
It's a very good book. I enjoyed it. I recommend it. But I wouldn't recommend it to young adult ages 12-18. I think they are both too old and too young for it. The Book of Lost Things is a gentle story. There is some action, there are some dark elements to it, but it's a sweet tale about a little boy who has lost his mother in the end. I think readers in the 12-18 brackets will lose patience with it early on. I know this may seem crass to say, but The Book of Lost Things doesn't have the sex and violence this age group is used to. If you're looking for Twilight, or The Hunger Games, or even Harry Potter, you're not going to find it in The Book of Lost Things. The adventure aspects of the novel are more suited to an elementary age group say grades four to six, kids young enough to be excited when they recognize the seven dwarfs from Snow White and innocent enough to still enjoy being tucked into bed with happy ending. 12-18 is too old.
Paradoxically, 12-18-year-old readers are also too young for The Book of Lost Things. It's a very nostalgic book. The story is about a 12-year-old but the narrative voice is fully grown, adult, experienced and able to present an adult take on David's story. The narrator appears to be telling a children's story, but he's really telling a children's story to an adult audience, one with and adult perspective on the story's events and on the character of David. It's a children's story you have to be grown to fully appreciate.
I'm sure there are 12-18-year-old-readers out there who have read The Book of Lost Things and loved it. Recommending a book for a wide range of readers is a risky thing, something that can never be 100% accurate. There's always an exception, sometimes many. But my advice on reading The Book of Lost Things is to wait until you are older. Like me.
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LibraryThing member lycomayflower
Not really a retelling of fairy tales (like Angela Carter's The Bloody Chamber--though there are certainly elements of retelling here), but an exploration of how a child who has been exposed to many such tales might use them (probably subconsciously) to learn how to grow up. A fascinating concept,
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and Connolly executes it fairly well. The flaw (and this may be an inherent flaw in the premise rather than a failing of skill in the execution) is that the book lacks both the depth of character I expect from a novel because its characters operate largely as fairy tale "types" and the sort of plot arc I expect from a novel because scenes are arranged episodically as David moves from one fairy tale/beast/challenge/lesson to another. The mystery of what was actually happening to David was also no mystery at all to me from early on (though, again, one might argue that this is a natural result of form here, if Connolly is intentionally mimicking the style of fairy tales themselves--when was the last time you didn't understand what would happen in a fairly tale immediately after the initial set-up? All fairy tales work the same way. (cf. Vladimir Propp, Joseph Campbell)). Despite all that (or maybe because of it?), the book is quite enjoyable--the writing is clean and the story does pull one along (mostly--there were a few points in the middle where I found the episodic nature of the thing a bit wearing). The supplementary material Connolly includes at the end in which he discusses the fairy tales he's alluded to in the book is a fantastic resource both for the book and for the tales themselves. Recommended for those interested in or fascinated by fairy tales and in general for anyone willing to put expectations for novel structure aside. Show Less
LibraryThing member ahappybooker
"Before she came ill, David's mother would often tell him that stories were alive. They weren't alive in the way that people were alive, or even dogs or cats. (...) Stories were different, though: they came alive in the telling. Without a human voice to read them aloud, or a pair of wide eyes
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following them by torch light beneath a blanket, they had no real existence in our world. (...) They lay dormant, hoping for the chance to emerge. Once someone started to read them, they could begin to change. They could take root in the imagination and transform the reader. Stories wanted to be read, David's mother would whisper. They needed it. It was the reason they forced themselves from their world into ours. They wanted us to give them life." — John Connolly (The Book of Lost Things)What a wonderful book... I know that I don't have the way with words to do justice to how I felt about this book. I could relate so much with the character and how he felt about books. I fell in love with stories as a very small girl when my Nana would tell me stories about growing up in the twenties. I still remember all of them. As I got older, naturally my love of stories turned into a love of books. When I picture my dream house, the first room I mentally furnish is my library. :-) But John Connolly portrays that love of books so well in this story. The story itself is a dark combination of Narnia and The Neverending Story mixed with some of the most twisted version of fairy tales I've ever heard. The boy, David, becomes part of this twisted fairy tale world and through his adventures, he confronts many of his fears and faces many of his own shortcomings. A wonderful albeit dark coming of age story that I think a lot of people can relate to. Show Less
LibraryThing member WinterWhisper
This multi-layered, well written story is an enchanting must read! It is a hopeful story about our journey through life, about growing up, and about the enduring power of stories. It is the tale of young David struggling with the loss of his mother and his father's remarriage. He finds comfort from
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his mother's words that "stories are alive." As the strange, ancient books in his new bedroom begin to whisper to him in the dark, he is lured into a dark alternate world of fairy tale and his adventure begins.... Show Less
LibraryThing member TheTwoDs
A magical reimagining of several age-old fairy tales which becomes its own new fairy tale, this story has all the makings of a classic in its own right. From the moral lessons imparted in a non-preaching manner, to the lovable characters, impeccably detailed settings and finally to the true-to-life
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David, our 12 year old hero, jealous of his father's new wife and their new baby boy, who has feelings and expresses emotions universal to pre-adolescents. Both my wife and I found this book to be beautiful, moving and inspiring; not to mention, we have a whole new appreciation and new way of seeing some old favorite fairy tales. Show Less
LibraryThing member ali_marea
What a wonderful change of pace! Do you remember being a child and getting immersed in a book about a strange land with strange people or creatures? Do you remember the feeling of losing time and the sense of what is around you? Do you remember the sense of excitement and adventure that these books
The only negative aspect of this book, for me, was the fact that I wanted more at the end and was only left with the back flap. Read this book. Give it as a gift to the dreamer you know. Sit down in a warm blanket, a winter storm brewing outside, making the world around you alien and uninviting. Snuggle up and let this book take you into David’s imagination and away from the reality of the world, just as it does for him.
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inspired in you? If you do, read John Connolly’s The Book of Lost Things. This book was truly a departure from the norm as far as my standard ‘grown-up’ type books go. But this is not simply a children's novel. This is absolutely a book for adults too. It's a book of enchantment, fear, excitement, and adventure. It takes you into the world of the unknown and imagination and doesn't let go until you are hungry for more.The only negative aspect of this book, for me, was the fact that I wanted more at the end and was only left with the back flap. Read this book. Give it as a gift to the dreamer you know. Sit down in a warm blanket, a winter storm brewing outside, making the world around you alien and uninviting. Snuggle up and let this book take you into David’s imagination and away from the reality of the world, just as it does for him.
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LibraryThing member jessilouwho22
I loved this book, from the twisted fairy tales to David's adventures and even to the very ending. This was one of those books that was "unputdownable" for me, and I truly enjoyed watching David grow and evolve from a frightened child to a brave young man throughout his various trials in the
One of the things that I especially liked was how dark much of the story was. I've never read Grimm's fairy tales, but from what I've heard, they're darker than you (or Disney) might think, and Connolly handled that very well. He proved that not every tale has a happy ending, and as a matter of fact, in this other world, sometimes "happily ever after" translates into "eaten quickly"! I also thought that his writing style was very conducive to the telling of David's story. Most fairy tales are written in relatively simple language, giving them the ability to be read aloud, and I felt like this was definitely a book that could be read aloud, although I wouldn't recommend this to children, for how dark and gruesome parts of it are.
I also enjoyed how this could be read in a number of ways. It is a tale of many adventures and can be read for a good romp, but on a moral level, it also details how David learns to confront his feelings of jealousy and betrayal and how he uses this knowledge to grow from a child into a young man.
This was also far less predictable than I thought it was going to be. I made many predictions throughout the book, and only a few were right, which was a pleasant surprise for me. And I was also particularly glad to see that the ending tied things up rather nicely, and didn't really leave too much up in the air.
Oh, and before I forget...there were some funny bits throughout the story, but I'd have to say that my favorite part of the story was when David's path crosses that of Snow White and the seven dwarfs. I haven't laughed out loud while reading a book for a long time, and if anything else, that part makes reading this worthwhile.
Connolly also has a knack for character development. If you enjoy books that give you favorite characters to miss long after the story ends, this is definitely a book for you. He even has an excellent villain, the Crooked Man--one of those villains who readers will love to hate.
Overall, I loved this book and could rave on about it forever. For me, it was impossible to put down and I found myself lost in this story for hours on end. I'd recommend this for those who love a good story, especially when books and stories themselves are involved, for those who love getting lost in a book, and for those who love fairy tales or fairy tale retellings.
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strange world in which he found himself that was so different than all of the fairy tale stories he had ever read. One of the things that I especially liked was how dark much of the story was. I've never read Grimm's fairy tales, but from what I've heard, they're darker than you (or Disney) might think, and Connolly handled that very well. He proved that not every tale has a happy ending, and as a matter of fact, in this other world, sometimes "happily ever after" translates into "eaten quickly"! I also thought that his writing style was very conducive to the telling of David's story. Most fairy tales are written in relatively simple language, giving them the ability to be read aloud, and I felt like this was definitely a book that could be read aloud, although I wouldn't recommend this to children, for how dark and gruesome parts of it are.
I also enjoyed how this could be read in a number of ways. It is a tale of many adventures and can be read for a good romp, but on a moral level, it also details how David learns to confront his feelings of jealousy and betrayal and how he uses this knowledge to grow from a child into a young man.
This was also far less predictable than I thought it was going to be. I made many predictions throughout the book, and only a few were right, which was a pleasant surprise for me. And I was also particularly glad to see that the ending tied things up rather nicely, and didn't really leave too much up in the air.
Oh, and before I forget...there were some funny bits throughout the story, but I'd have to say that my favorite part of the story was when David's path crosses that of Snow White and the seven dwarfs. I haven't laughed out loud while reading a book for a long time, and if anything else, that part makes reading this worthwhile.
Connolly also has a knack for character development. If you enjoy books that give you favorite characters to miss long after the story ends, this is definitely a book for you. He even has an excellent villain, the Crooked Man--one of those villains who readers will love to hate.
Overall, I loved this book and could rave on about it forever. For me, it was impossible to put down and I found myself lost in this story for hours on end. I'd recommend this for those who love a good story, especially when books and stories themselves are involved, for those who love getting lost in a book, and for those who love fairy tales or fairy tale retellings.
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LibraryThing member DuncanMoron
Let me just say this. I loved this book. You might think it is a children's book but according to the author, and in my humble opinion, you would be wrong. This book is so much more than a fairy tale, even though it is set with a fairy tale background. The book really hits home so far beyond the
David is a young boy whose mother has died, and he sadly had a front row seat for several months while she lay in agony. In addition to his agonizing personal situation, the story is set in England during the beginning of Germany's bombing campaign, while war raged all around the ravaged city. As if this wasn't enough for a young boy to handle, his father gets a girl pregnant not long after his mother passed away and they then uproot their life to go and live with her in the country. David gets placed in a room, filled with books, that was occupied by a long lost former relative who went missing when he was a child, never to be seen again.
Does this sound like a lot to handle for a 12 year old boy? After a rather hard day with the stepmother, David wanders out to the garden late at night only to find himself whisked away to a magical land of bizarre creatures and warped agendas. As an example, Little Red Riding Hood actually hooks up with a wolf, they have babies and low and behold a hybrid being is born who is now threatening to take over the kingdom. Dude, I thought my imagination ran wild, but I am not sure I would have thought of mixing up the classics in quite that way.
David's initial quest is to find his mother, her voice was the one that led him to this land beyond time. After a while he begins to focus on staying alive long enough to return home, and the rumor has it the king is the only guy in the land who can help him out. His trek through the land confronts him with several trials which eventually find David maturing quickly beyond his years. I think if I met a wolf man who was the offspring of Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf, I might have to grow up quickly as well.
Dealing with these enormous issues hits home with me. I am divorced, I have three children and I am currently engaged to be married again. I felt for David on a personal level and John Connolly made it so easy, as he masterfully weaved a tale of life’s obstacles and how a child might view them from a four foot perspective. The book keeps you thinking about so many really life aspects, while engaging you in a land of Trolls and deer with human heads. Unlike most books surrounded in make believe, be warned that John does not hold back on the gruesome side of death and torture that can sometimes accompany a real world reality.
If you are going to read this to a younger child, I would suggest filtering out some of the more in your face passages. My eight year old could probably handle the book in its entirety, but I don't think I am quite ready for her to be exposed to a cold dead girl’s head rubbing blood up against a captive little boy.
I haven't read a book that I enjoyed this much in a long time. I can't recommend it enough for anyone, of any age but again, be warned before letting a child peruse the passages on their own. It really is a masterfully crafted work of art that should hold it’s allure for many years to come.
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basics. Taking on topics of divorce, stepmothers, death, life, challenges and disappointments, this book forces you to think about life while at the same time keeping you entertained within the realm of distorted childhood characters.David is a young boy whose mother has died, and he sadly had a front row seat for several months while she lay in agony. In addition to his agonizing personal situation, the story is set in England during the beginning of Germany's bombing campaign, while war raged all around the ravaged city. As if this wasn't enough for a young boy to handle, his father gets a girl pregnant not long after his mother passed away and they then uproot their life to go and live with her in the country. David gets placed in a room, filled with books, that was occupied by a long lost former relative who went missing when he was a child, never to be seen again.
Does this sound like a lot to handle for a 12 year old boy? After a rather hard day with the stepmother, David wanders out to the garden late at night only to find himself whisked away to a magical land of bizarre creatures and warped agendas. As an example, Little Red Riding Hood actually hooks up with a wolf, they have babies and low and behold a hybrid being is born who is now threatening to take over the kingdom. Dude, I thought my imagination ran wild, but I am not sure I would have thought of mixing up the classics in quite that way.
David's initial quest is to find his mother, her voice was the one that led him to this land beyond time. After a while he begins to focus on staying alive long enough to return home, and the rumor has it the king is the only guy in the land who can help him out. His trek through the land confronts him with several trials which eventually find David maturing quickly beyond his years. I think if I met a wolf man who was the offspring of Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf, I might have to grow up quickly as well.
Dealing with these enormous issues hits home with me. I am divorced, I have three children and I am currently engaged to be married again. I felt for David on a personal level and John Connolly made it so easy, as he masterfully weaved a tale of life’s obstacles and how a child might view them from a four foot perspective. The book keeps you thinking about so many really life aspects, while engaging you in a land of Trolls and deer with human heads. Unlike most books surrounded in make believe, be warned that John does not hold back on the gruesome side of death and torture that can sometimes accompany a real world reality.
If you are going to read this to a younger child, I would suggest filtering out some of the more in your face passages. My eight year old could probably handle the book in its entirety, but I don't think I am quite ready for her to be exposed to a cold dead girl’s head rubbing blood up against a captive little boy.
I haven't read a book that I enjoyed this much in a long time. I can't recommend it enough for anyone, of any age but again, be warned before letting a child peruse the passages on their own. It really is a masterfully crafted work of art that should hold it’s allure for many years to come.
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LibraryThing member wortklauberlein
Every character at all likable gets offed in this depressing tale of a boy whose heartache at feeling supplanted by a half-brother leads him into a fantasy world even nastier than the one he came from. Makes the Brothers Grimm look like the Brothers Grin.
LibraryThing member melydia
12-year-old David mourns his dead mother, resents his new stepmother and baby half-brother, and suddenly finds that books have begun whispering to him. One night he journeys to a strange land, a land of fairy tales and dreams. But these aren't your modern, Disney-fied fairy tales. These are the old
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cautionary fables, full of monsters and violence. I spent much of the first part of this book wondering why it hadn't been made into a movie, but once David enters the other land, there is more than a little bit of disturbing, violent imagery. Even so, it's a captivating story, full of classic motifs and new characters, scary monsters and thrilling adventure. Not one I'll soon forget. Show Less
LibraryThing member SmplexlyRee
What a fun, fun read! This book has definitely made me want to read more by John Connolly.
Set at the beginning of World War II, the story follows David, a 12 year old boy who lives in Europe, through a coming-of-age journey that keeps the reader interested from beginning til end. Within the pages
Set at the beginning of World War II, the story follows David, a 12 year old boy who lives in Europe, through a coming-of-age journey that keeps the reader interested from beginning til end. Within the pages
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of The Book of Lost Things, Connolly introduces us to intriguing new interpretations of a few well-known fairy tales. Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel, Rumpelstiltskin, the Three Billy Goats Gruff, Beauty and the Beast, all get mentioned…plus many more. I will never be able to think of Snow White the same way again. This is definitely more of an adult read, or at the very least not a children’s book. There’s a dark, twisty play on the fairy tales that will make you cringe or laugh in turn, but in general wouldn’t make for a great bedtime story for an 8 year old. Definitely a must read, though! Show Less
LibraryThing member ecantulv
Up to this point in my 29 years of living, so far, this is my absolute favorite book. The writing submerged you from the very beginning and never let go until the very end. Afterward, I offered this book to my Mom, who isn't normally a fan of these "type" of stories, but her too, was hooked, and
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truly loved it as well. Wonderful writing, with wonderful characters. Show Less
LibraryThing member kraaivrouw
John Connolly is one of my favorite writers. His Charlie Parker series of books is utterly reliable and always provides a great read. This is a stand-alone novel that shares some common ground with Connolly's other books, but is very much its own thing.
I loved the exploration and retelling of fairy
I loved the exploration and retelling of fairy
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tales in the book, the darkness, the explosions of humor. When I was a kid I pretty much lived inside of the books I read (okay, so that hasn't changed that much) and this book very nicely captures what that's like. Connolly tells a story here about the power of imagination and about a child's relationship to change and I'm sure it'll be happy on my bookshelves next to Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. Show Less
LibraryThing member FrogPrincessuk
This is a very good book. An adult fairy tale, with lots of dark moments and serious themes about life and relationships. Certainly easy to read in terms of style, but not necessarily easy in its subject matter.
I liked how he took traditional fairy tales, characters, plots and turned them upside
Quite unlike anything I've read before, although if anything it reminded me of Pan's Labyrinth (the film).
I liked how he took traditional fairy tales, characters, plots and turned them upside
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down, even if the results could be twisted or even grotesque.Quite unlike anything I've read before, although if anything it reminded me of Pan's Labyrinth (the film).
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LibraryThing member RoboSchro
"Its voice was deep and low, and filled with spittle and growls, but David could clearly understand every word that it said.
"'I see you have been busy, Woodsman,' it said. 'You have been fortifying your lair.'
"'The woods are changing,' the Woodsman replied. 'There are strange creatures
David is a boy who seeks solace in books after the death of his mother. Soon his (our) world gets entangled with that of the stories he reads, and he finds himself trapped in a land where creatures out of fairy tales walk and talk -- and fight. Can he survive in this world, where evil is spreading and nothing is quite as he expects? And can he come to terms with his mother's death, and his father's ongoing life?
This is a rather charming book about a boy's coming of age. Connolly takes well-known fairy tales, gives their elements unusual twists, and entangles them carefully with the emotional issues facing his protagonist. The writing is clear and clever, and the pace seldom drags. While the arc of the story is fairly predictable, it's engaging enough to pull you along.
One caveat -- the novel ends after 350 pages of this 500-page edition. Infuriatingly, there's no table of contents to indicate this. The rest of the volume consists of various versions of traditional fairy tales that Connolly has used in the book, along with the author's comments. While reading the old tales again was interesting, I am not so convinced by the value of the commentary -- it seemed to me to remove some of the magic from the story.
Nevertheless, this remains a good idea, well executed, and worth a read.
"'I see you have been busy, Woodsman,' it said. 'You have been fortifying your lair.'
"'The woods are changing,' the Woodsman replied. 'There are strange creatures
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abroad.'"David is a boy who seeks solace in books after the death of his mother. Soon his (our) world gets entangled with that of the stories he reads, and he finds himself trapped in a land where creatures out of fairy tales walk and talk -- and fight. Can he survive in this world, where evil is spreading and nothing is quite as he expects? And can he come to terms with his mother's death, and his father's ongoing life?
This is a rather charming book about a boy's coming of age. Connolly takes well-known fairy tales, gives their elements unusual twists, and entangles them carefully with the emotional issues facing his protagonist. The writing is clear and clever, and the pace seldom drags. While the arc of the story is fairly predictable, it's engaging enough to pull you along.
One caveat -- the novel ends after 350 pages of this 500-page edition. Infuriatingly, there's no table of contents to indicate this. The rest of the volume consists of various versions of traditional fairy tales that Connolly has used in the book, along with the author's comments. While reading the old tales again was interesting, I am not so convinced by the value of the commentary -- it seemed to me to remove some of the magic from the story.
Nevertheless, this remains a good idea, well executed, and worth a read.
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LibraryThing member mandolin82
I loved this book. Beautifully written, emotionally gripping and really fun. Fairy tales with a twist.
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
During World War II David is missing his mother, who died after a long illness. His father has remarried bringing Rose and a baby into their lives. David can hear books talk to him in the quiteness of his attic bedroom and when he finds himself in another world he embraces the chance to get away
There is a lot of talk about perception of story in this book and sometimes I worried that what was going to happen was that Daive would "learn" that truth was better than fiction, but thankfully this never happened.
I really enjoyed this book, the language in it engaged me from the very start and I liked some of the variations on fairy stories, sometimes it brought them closer to what may have been the truth, sometimes though it almost stripped them of their special, their magic, and the magic of these stories is what makes them linger in my mind. Altogether I found it a very satisfying read.
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from the place he believes he is unwelcome.There is a lot of talk about perception of story in this book and sometimes I worried that what was going to happen was that Daive would "learn" that truth was better than fiction, but thankfully this never happened.
I really enjoyed this book, the language in it engaged me from the very start and I liked some of the variations on fairy stories, sometimes it brought them closer to what may have been the truth, sometimes though it almost stripped them of their special, their magic, and the magic of these stories is what makes them linger in my mind. Altogether I found it a very satisfying read.
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LibraryThing member RobProsser
One of the best books I've read this year. Tackling themes such as loss, grief, growing and taking responsibility in a fairy tale setting. Reminiscent of Neil Gaiman both in style and content particularly when retelling old fairy tales with darker twists. Highly recommended!!!
LibraryThing member bort170
Do you think that people are born with some meanness or do you they develop that as they age? The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly explores the idea of nature vs. nurture through the use of fairy tales. David, a young boy who watches his mother (who’s also his closest friend) die of cancer,
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has a difficult time coping with his father’s new wife and his new half brother. He misses his mother greatly and in his grief, he becomes selfish and angry. David has always taken comfort in books. It was one of the things he shared with his mother. After his mother’s passing he definitely uses books as an escape. At first he can hear the books whispering to him, then he sees a “crooked man” in his bedroom. When his relationship with his father hits rock bottom, David finds himself in an alternate world where he’s attacked by wolves who walk on two feet, meets six dwarfs (the seventh has left the group to work at his mother’s bakery), a sleeping princess, and an aged king. In this alternate world, as David has adventure after adventure, he learns what it means to care for other people and the world around him. Using fairy tales and a childlike imagination, Connolly creates one of the most creative coming of age stories I’ve ever read. Show Less
LibraryThing member PaperbackPirate
I picked this book up off the bargain table at Borders for $6 because I was initially drawn to the cover. This story takes place during World War II and begins with the main character, a young boy, who loses his mom to disease. He develops Obsessive Compulsive Disorder as a result, and escapes from
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life though reading books. One night he climbs through a crack in the garden wall and enters a world of twisted versions of the stories he's read. It's an amazing fairy tale with an incredible ending. Show Less
LibraryThing member Headinherbooks_27
Dark yet enchanting at the same time. A fun cross between Grimm's fairy tales, Pan's Labyrinth, and Neverwhere. I liked the acknowledgment in the end that "life is filled with great grief as well as great happiness, with suffering and regret as well as triumphs and contentment." This book was
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enjoyable and entertaining. Show Less
Subjects
Awards
Alex Award (2007)
Green Mountain Book Award (Nominee — 2012)
Irish Book Award (Nominee — Novel — 2007)
Prix Imaginales (2010)
Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire (Winner — 2010)
OYAN Book Rave (2008)
Language
Original publication date
2006-09-07
Physical description
20 cm
ISBN
9781473659148
Other editions
The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly (Paperback)