The Book of Lost Things Illustrated Edition

The Book of Lost Things: The lost things, yes, as well as the sometimes "LOST" passion, dedication, and charming pleasures in reading a good and well-written book. It is difficult to find the "one adjective" I would use if someone were to ask me to resume this novel in one word. I read a lot of books (and of all kinds and genres), but very seldom (unfortunately) I feel a sense of melancholy and nostalgia once I have finished it. These mixed feelings, after all, are most positive. I think that one of the greatest satisfactions for a writer is the ability to condense in very few sentences what the gist of the novel is - in short, what it wishes to convey. The last two chapters of this book are sublime and yet unpretentious. I have finished reading the book, and yet I am not able to close it or put it aside. Why? Well, somehow, I must admit a feeling of emptiness. Emptiness, yes! As absurd as it may sound, well I have finished reading this novel, and am having difficulties shifting my attention over other books. Yes, this book (in its simplicity) is outstanding!!

OUTSTANDING! Yes, outstanding because it is not the fairy-tale that sometimes appears to be. David is the adolescent protagonist of this book, and the one who happens to travel in two different worlds. One is the world as we come to know it, or the world of reality. The second one is a metaphysical world, where anything can happen. This journey is beyond time. It could be the journey of a day, a week, a year, or a life. It's not a matter of time, but rather a matter of change. The adolescent David, rather shy and clumsy, but gifted with remarkable cognitive abilities as well as an unlimited curiosity and wish to know more (the passion and companionships with his old books, books that at times become anthropomorphic) enters the unknown metaphysical world as a fearful and unsecure boy. His story reminds me of the Jungian Collective Unconscious, or the Unconscious that is shared by all human beings. It is the wealth of experiences, ideas, and truths accumulated since the first mind came to being. It is a metaphysical conceptualization that repeats itself over and over. Anything is possible in that world as it is built upon mythology, folk-tales, epics, and legends. By means of metaphors and symbols, David goes through a metamorphosis: From the hanged man or the joker he becomes the hero, or probably the Archetypes of Strength and Justice. David becomes the Hero. Long life to David, our Hero.

The adolescent David and his tribulations remind me of `Santiago,' the boy character who appears in another lovely book ("The Alchemist" written by the Nobel-prize winner Paulo Coelho, 1988). The two boys, as metaphorically most of us, choose (or are bound) to travel years (physically, mentally, psychologically, and through dreams) in search of something, of someone, or a meaning - only to find out that what they (or we) are looking for are often times already very close to us. We do not notice them because they are already there. We give for granted that whoever is close to us is somehow less interesting. We engage in metaphysical trips with the conviction that we deserve better things, better people, or whatever is part of our secret wishes.

"The Book of the Lost Things" is a novel. At times it seems like reading a fairy-tale. My admiration goes to the author, John Connolly, and his choice of using a blend of mythological accounts as well as some of the symbolically most powerful tales of our childhood. With a well-balanced use of metaphysical concepts (the innuendo of a world similar to the Jungian Collective Unconscious), plus what someone would define a (skilled) "words salad" (a compound of folk-tales, ballades, epics, and surreal legends), Connolly has enriched us with a very pleasant and eloquent novel. The book conveys a number of powerful messages neatly imbibed with fair wisdom. The reading of this novel will please those who have a flexible mind. The book although at times descriptive, flows extremely well. Once the reader gets caught by the novel, s/he might then be able to notice that through an almost imperceptible but ardent abstraction, the author is sending a series of powerful subliminal messages. The book uses a number of intense metaphors, symbolisms, and is supported by mythological wisdom. It reminds me a bit of Voltaire's "Animal Farm" and not only because of the war between human beings, wolves, monsters, and loops. In a number of ways the novels is a satire about the meaning of `power.' There are hundreds of ways to acquire power, and yet often it appears to be unachievable. Power is like a game. Many believe that certain behaviors will lead them to control others (more than themselves). However it goes, power is a central theme in this book, and danger is a constant variable. Now, who will then achieve power here? The last two chapters offer some valid suggestions, but most of all, imply some interesting qualities of character that are somehow necessary in the climbing of the ladder.

Enjoy the reading of this delightful novel. I hope you will not consider it as a waste of time. The Book of the Lost Things: Obviously, this title is also a powerful metaphor. The Lost Things - keep in mind those, and the fact that some of the Lost Things are not always lost forever. Enjoy the novel.....and the metaphysical journey!!

This was a very captivating book, with a wonderfully original story. Books like these revitalize your hope for the modern literary world (I don't know about you, but I get dissapointed when seeing books like Twilight and Fifty Shades of Gray at the top of the best selling list... those aren't well written, unlike the Book of Lost Things- which should be at the top of the list! ) It made me laugh and more than I thought it would- made me feel uneasy. Connolly's writing is amazing, and the characters he creates are familiar but have a twist on them. The plot is original - nothing straightforward or too predictable. And the imagery was artfully constructed... the way he words certain things like the smell of death. the landscape of the no-name realm, or the specific feeling that David (the main character) is experiencing really makes you feel like you're right there in the no-name world with him. If you love creepy, magical, well written fairy tales- (gone wrong and really creepy!) then you will love this book. I finished this in 4 or 5 days and I usually am not a quick reader, but this one really keeps you turning the pages. Loved it, and will definetly be reading more of Connolly's work.

I don't remember the last time I finished a book and said "Wow!". But that's what I did with "The Book of Lost Things". It isn't that it wasn't predictable, to a very large degree, it wasn't the writing style...it was just some combination of characteristics that hit me in just the right way.

For one thing, I appreciate the closer-to-Grimm grimmer fairy tale retellings. I don't know if Connolly is considered a Seannachai (sha-na-key...an Irish storyteller) or not, but his versions of several classic tales ought to darn-near qualify him. I've never read any of his earlier works (serial killers really aren't my "thing"), but I certainly hope that he writes more in this vein.

Plot synopsis: David loses his mother, resents his half-brother, and manages to escape a crashing German bomber by disappearing into a land of fairy tales (pretty dark fairy tales, thanks to the presence of the "crooked man" who seems to be an all-encompassing representation of evil, especially that done to children). Snow White is a bit of a shrew, and you don't even want to know about Sleeping Beauty. There is death aplenty, but also hope, and, in spite of everything, a happy ending.

I work nights, and most of my reading is done, these days, in the car as I eat my breakfast before I go home to sleep. I read this in two sittings, and hated the fact that it took that long.

I am a huge Connolly fan and for some reason just got around to this one. I think I was scared that it was not going to be as good as my friends thought it was. Turns out, I had no reason to worry because TBOLT was every bit as good as I had hoped. A fairy tale fantasy that has some strong messages about relationships, loss, redemption, and forgiveness…but most of all, this story had heart. Very well written with well drawn characters and perfect pacing for the storyline - no shocker to Connolly fans. Excellent.

Parents be warned, The Book of Lost Things may be a bit too adult for Middle Grade readers and some Young Adult readers may find it a bit too young; but for those who can appreciate its story, this is a wonderful book.

Growing up during the early days of the second world war, young David sees tragedy at every turn. His mother dies. His father remarries, and he becomes estranged to his step mother and new-born step brother.

And then David steps through a sunken garden and into a dark Oz, a fantasy land populated by werewolves, evil hunters, a weak and aging king; and in the center of it all, the evil "crooked man."

Sometimes darker than a Bros. Grimm fairytale, sometimes filled with action, this coming of age story does have a few flaws in its pits. As David shambles from one episode to the next, the story often changes tone. At one moment it is a dark, dark retelling of Red Riding Hood, at the next it borrows liberally from Monty Python and the Holy Grail as it retells a twisted version of Snow White.

While the humor never quite worked out, the overall storytelling is superb. The author creates mood, tension, and suspense at a very high level.

Word to the wise, though--Loogaroos are Caribbean vampires, not werewolves.

David has been buried in his books since his mother's death. His father remarries and he and David move into the new wife's home. Typical story? Not this time. This story is written as a fairy tale, complete with a moral.

Feeling like a stranger in his new home, David eventually begins to hear his beloved books calling to him. One day, the Crooked Man, a sinister fiend with ghastly intentions appears in his room. The adventure begins!

One lonely night, David wanders into the backyard to the sunken garden, just as a World War II plane crashes nearby. Lured by his ddeceased mother's voice, he squeezes between the rocks in the garden, escaping his loneliness into a mythical land, one in which the stories in his treasured books intertwine. In order to escape this dangerous and frightening foreign land, David must learn the value of a selfless heart.

This is a tender story, with excellent and heart-warming characters and vivid settings. This book reminds me of C.S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, but it retains its own flavor, style, and identity.

This book is so well written that for a time, my sense of reality and fantasy became blurred. After reading it, I spent about a couple of weeks making sure all lights were lit, fearful that the Crooked Man will come to get me. I couldn't sleep well at night, having the Crooked Man's silhouette in my mind's eye. The only thought that helped me sleep was (spoiler alert!!!!) David vanquished him and I am safe. All of these, from a 35-year old woman!

Seriously, this book is creepy and enthralling at the same time. The is a certain morbidity to it that is just right for a horror genre. Some reviewers have commented that this is not for kids--- well, duh? Who told you it's childrens' literature in the first place?

Connolly weaves words with such lyrical quality that even through the images in my mind are so graphic, I can't stop reading. It's a book to be read at daytime, especially if you are easily spooked as myself.

It's a strange story, a very different take on traditional fairy tales.

I particularly enjoyed the gluttonous, demanding, cranky Snow White.

Beyond the obvious, however, there are nuances and commonalities that should reach out of the pages and touch us all. The protagonist is twelve-year-old David. David, like every one of us, has to grow to meet the increasingly difficult challenges he faces, both in the real world, and in his fantasy world.

Growing up innocent is easier in our time than ever before in history. Yes, sooner or later, to be fully a part of our world, we have to face the fact that there is genuine evil in the world, that not all wrongdoers are redeemable, and that, whether we like it or not, sometimes it comes down to kill or be killed.

Heinlein asked, When is it moral for the state to do something that is not moral for a single individual. Heinlein's answer was: Never. In the fantasy world, young David is compelled to make hard choices, for himself, his friends and family, and ultimately for the masses of 'ordinary' people who would never know him or care about him.
Do we, in our time, have that same courage? I would hope so. Unless we do, Evil shall prevail.

This book starts out as a sort of historical fiction about a young boy living in London just before and during World War II and adjusting to the death of his mother and his father's new wife. However, soon the boy starts hearing books whispering to him and finds a secret door into a fairy tale land. There are echoes of Narnia and Grimm's fairy tales here but somehow the author has found a way for this to not feel like something I have read before. I became totally involved in the adventure and couldn't wait to see how the pieces all came together, which they did in quite a satisfying way.

I wasn't quite sure what I had picked up when I purchased this book. I like horror and dark fantasy and the cover intrigued me. Little did I know what I had gotten myself into! Once started, this book is very hard to put down. Connolly has taken myths and fairy tales and has given them his own dark twists...violent...bloody...difficult...and painful (rather like real life can be at times). The book's visuals made me squirm in places, but kept me glued to the page. A coming of age tale...but not for children! It is about the choices we make in life - choose good or choose evil. But remember - whichever path you choose there are no strictly happy endings...just interesting ones. Enjoy the story!

This is one of my all-time favorite books, from first reading it as 13-year-old to now. I've probably read it 5 times. This is one of my favorite gifts to give to young readers and the young-at-heart, and I think everyone can benefit from a little bit of well-written fantasy. For lovers of fairy tales and/or historical fiction, it's really super.

Yes, all right, this type of thing has been done before, but I still enjoyed it. Connolly puts an innovative spin on some of the old fairy tales, sometimes funny but mostly sinister in a new direction. What makes this book interesting is how thoroughly Connolly has captured the ambiance of classic fairy tales. Gruesome, awful, beautiful and affectionate details are related with a bleak distance that I recognize from the stories I read as a child. After becoming accustommed to the modern practice of viscerally engaging the reader from page one, it took some getting used to, and didn't leave me feeling as exhilirated or as devastated as I might have. Still, I cried at the end, and Connolly saved the maximum emotional impact for when everyone (including the reader) was safe at last. The ease with which he did it makes you realize how much he was holding back all the way. As with any good fairy tale, a lot of meaningful life lessons through a surreal filter.

This is my first John Connolly book and it surely won't be my last. What a gripping read! It starts off with a boy named David who is very happy and content with his life. He especially loves his mom. His mom gets ill and he tries hard, in his own way, to keep her alive. Unfortunately she doesn't make it. Eventually his dad remarries and he and his new wife have a son. David is very jealous of his brother. This is just the beginning. David ends up in a different world. A kind of "fairy tale" type world where things can be quite dark and scary. He goes through many trials and meets new people and in the end learns a big lesson. I highly recommend this book. May be a little dark and scary for younger readers.

This is an amazing book. It's full of wondrous descriptions of weird critters, with a young boy who learns to act sensibly and who is full of heart. There are scary mythological beasts, such as half-men, half-wolves, which wear some clothing and walk on hind legs and are the leaders of the more primitive pack of wolves. All are hungry. There is hunger and disfigurement and famine in this world. There are creatures of which nightmares are made. This book frightened me so much I couldn't read it at night.

And it's full of feelings about love and loss and striving and attainment and how to become a full human being. The denouement is exciting and the ending very sweet. And I loved the faithful horse!

I am very picky about my fiction reading and rarely do I keep or recommend a book, but this one has earned a place on my permanent shelf. When reading the plot or trying to explain it to someone else, it sounds a little strange, but I was immediately sucked into the story by the writing and the wonderfully vivid world created by the author. Towards the end, I thought the ending was starting to become predictable, but there were unexpected twists and turns that kept me interested. This is the first book by this author and in this genre that I've read and I loved it! I'll definitely seek out his other works and would recommend this book to anyone who wants an exciting and meaningful escape from the mundane.

The blurb on the inside cover caught my interest, and on the whole, the book was as good as I'd hoped it would be. I liked the stranged twists to the fairy tales, I liked the poignant moments, and I liked the idea of books talking, each with its own voice.

But there were two flaws that stand out to me. The first was the appearance of the Seven Dwarves, with their new communist ideology and their burden, a Snow White straight out of the trailer park. In and of itself, the idea is entertaining, but it felt out of place, like a Three Stooges episode in the middle of a cancer ward drama. I didn't understand the purpose of it, and it disrupted the flow far too much.

The second problem I found was in the ending. It contains a detail about the origin of the story that is completely ridiculous. Also, I felt the ending created doubt about whether David's fairy tale world was real or imagined, which strikes me as being trite. That's the way K-PAX ended, and the way "Pan's Labyrinth" ended, and I would like to see some definition in these matters.

I agree with the few reviews that describe this book as disgusting. I am only about 1/3 of the way through and am astounded with the incredibly disturbing message - John Connolly is clearly homophobic and the store.com should absolutely take this off its site. To learn that this "author" won awards and praise makes me sick. Not only do we all deserve a refund (straight from Mr. Connolly's wallet but we should also be able to go back in time to free ourselves for the suffering this book has caused.

In a marked departure from his previous novels, John Connolly has fashioned a fairy tale for adults. A whimsical yet dark tale, THE BOOK OF LOST THINGS is an absorbing, quite unique reworking of some classic fairy tales.

A little boy who has recently lost his mother and has gained a new stepmother and brother finds himself whisked away to a foreboding kingdom where anything may happen..and does.

The book offers subverted versions of Rumpelstiltskin, Red Riding Hood, Roland, and the Woodsman, but it's high point just may be the warped look at Snow White and her seven dwarves. Snow White is a heavyset harpy, who has virtually imprisoned the dwarves and scared off any prince who happens by. The dwarves even attempted to off Ms. White. It's a hilarious section of this novel that made me laugh out loud.

But there's lots of dark goings on with werewolves, monsters, wizards and such, and our hero has a hard time returning to his world.

Connolly offers the realistic, if tragic, view that life isn't always as sweet as a fairy tale and provides us with another example of his fine writing.

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.

Book of Lost Things By John Connelly

The first time I "read" The Book of Lost Things, I was on an eight-hour trip from Maine to Ithaca, NY. Before I left, I stopped by Borders and searched endlessly for something decent to listen to on audio and took a chance with The Book of Lost Things. It was definitely a great choice.

A Short Summary:
The Book of Lost Things starts off in World War 2. The main character, David, a boy of 10, is mourning the loss of his mother who died of cancer. His father marries the nurse who took care of his ailing wife and together they have a new baby. David does not take to his new brother, or his new stepmother. He begins to retreat back to the books that his mother introduced him to and begins to hear the books speak. Soon he begins to see the Crooked Man who has taken an interest in his little brother. The Crooked Man steals away his brother and David chases after as bombs drop from Nazis. He slips into a crack in an ancient wall in his backyard and finds himself in a fantastical world. In this world, he battles forward in search of the Crooked Man to save his brother. Along the way, he finds himself immersed in ancient fairy tales: some who torment and try to kill him; others who try to help him in his quest. A unique story that starts off as historical fiction but soon becomes a story of fantasy and adventure while resurrecting fairytales that have long been told.

Review:
I really liked this story but the beginning of the book definitely starts off slow. Now this may be because I bought a fantasy audio book, and was confused when it started off during World War II. I wanted to jump directly into the fantasy, which is not something that Connolly does and I wasn't completely sure where it was going. He slowly brings in the aspects of fantasy before he enters the world of fantasy. To use a metaphor, it's as if the fantasy slowly seeps out of the crack in the wall and only when David goes through the ancient wall do we actually get into the fantasy. By Chapter 4, we begin to get whispers of fantasy and once David travels through the ancient wall, the story is completely consumed by fantasy.
The story is filled with fractured fairy tales. We explore some fairy tales that are old and terrifying and others that are familiar, such as Snow White, with an unexpected (and funny) twist. As we follow young David on his quest, he definitely grows from a spoiled bratty kid to a hero.
The story is dark and full of violence. There are some parts in the book that are gory and terrifying. There are dwarves, dragons, nymphs, wolves, and many other fantastical characters. While I do state that it's filled with fairytales, they are similar to Grimm's fairytales BEFORE Disney got a hold of them. Even with a ten-year-old protagonist, this is an adult story. The best way to describe this story is to think of books like The Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland combined with a little Edgar Allen Poe. David grows to understand and accept his stepmother, death, and his new brother through his many trials and tribulations. I suggest this book for someone who enjoys dark fantasy, with some dark humor, combines with some gore and terror. You won't be disappointed.

I bought this book on a whim while traveling in Dublin, and was at first dissapointed at how slow it was. But once I hit page 44, I read the entire book in one sitting. It was amazing, very fascinating and dark. It was interesting the way Conelly combines aspects of the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tales we read as children (but never fully understood), and twists them so they are even more sinister. It is an adventure/fantasy type of book, takes place in a parallel reality that has fallen to ruin, a bit like the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, but it is much more disturbing, and is definetly not a book for those who dislike violence, also I don't recommend this book for children.

I picked this up randomly - I remembered hearing about this book somewhere, sometime... And I was pleasantly surprised. From the moment I started the book, I was hooked. It reminded me a bit of the movie "Pan's Labyrinth" - a fairy tale for adults. And don't expect the sugary sweet, happily-ever-after fairy tales. No, these are more like the original Grimm/Anderson fairy tales. Surprisingly, the author also tackles religion and homosexuality too in the book. The ending was so good too - very bittersweet. Highly highly recommended!!

Read this after reading The Gates, which I loved. This is a strange, somewhat disturbing and incredibly moving story told with beautiful prose and great insight and sensitivity for the human experience. While it makes its way through many horrifying images and ideas, and at times was disturbing, it was also fascinating and very exciting. The imagery and story lines were so interesting and a reflection of timeless tales, and yet totally original at the same time. This book is not for YA readers, but Connolly's depiction of this fantastic and frightening fairy tale world is unforgettable, if a bit weird!

This idea has been done before, no question, but I'm a sucker for twisted fairy tales, and this book really nails that, many times over. I was under the impression that it's a YA book, but I'm not sure that I would give it to a kid. It's *very* dark and gruesome in places, and there are issues in play that younger kids won't pick up on. There are definitely subjects in there - loss, sexuality, growing up - that I got a lot more out of at 22 than I would have at 15.

The format - multiple traditional stories embedded in Davids' own story - makes for very easy reading. It's almost episodic, but each story builds on the next, so that there's simultaneously good character development and a buildup of tension - you really want to know how David's fairy tale ends. Given the endings that Connolly adds to, say, The Three Surgeons, there's actually quite a bit of tension. No one in this world lives happily ever after.

There's quite a bit of extra material at the end - notes about the book interspersed with the classic versions of all the fairy tales that David encounters along the way. It's worth a read, especially for the bits of analysis that Connolly does on the main themes. The little tidbits of history behind the stories are interesting, too. Definitely recommended.

Good lines:

"At last he fell asleep, and he dreamed of his father, and of Rose and his new half-brother, and of things that burrowed up from beneath the earth, waiting for the fears of others to give them shape."

"He had quite liked the dwarfs. He often had no idea what they were talking about, but for a group of homicidal, class-obsessed small people, they were really rather good fun."

I was delighted to come across The Book of Lost Things while browsing through the local bookstore. It is a character driven novel that revolves around a sad young boy and his magical and often terrifying quest for the Book of Lost Things. The Book of Lost Things outwardly appears to be a novel directed towards youngsters but it becomes clear early on that it is in fact a book that will appeal primarily to adults. Though the novel is based on fantasy, adults will sympathize with the struggles and hardships that the characters in the novel endure. I will definately be on the lookout for this wonderfully creative author!

Having read Connelly's entire Charlie Parker series, I was curious about his delve into children's fantasy. This is not necessarily a children's book. It is about a child, but it's full of blood and gore and really is a story about coming of age. It appealed to me for all of it's mystery and the intrigue of far off places, kings & castles and evil men. For any adult or teenager, this is a great book. Roxy Rich, Author of Roxy does Retail: A Ludicrous Guide to Boutique Shopping Etiquette.

Child mutilation, introducing sex as a bad thing, stalking, terror, making books a bad thing. Why did this book receive such good review? Perhaps by adults who don't think about these things? Why would this be good for a 10 - 14 yr old?

"Everything you can imagine is real." This is one of the quotes which preludes The Book of Lost Things. The heart of this story revolves around a young boy, David, who is living in England during World War II. He has just experienced the death of his mother to "a sickness that ate away at her from the inside..." David is coping with the loss of his mother, a new life and the changes we all must face when transcending from the beautiful world of childhood to the next phase of life.

It is against this backdrop that David's love for books, particularly fairy tales, begins to come alive. Books begin speaking to him and his real world and his imaginative one fuse into one.

This story hit home for me as I am graduating from college soon and leaving behind all of the things I knew as a child...and looking forward to the challenges ahead. I would highly recommend this book to people of all ages, except of course, very young children. I could not put it down. It reads like a fairy tale but it is so much more. The last words of the story brought a smile to my face and made me reflect and go back and reread....

For some reason, I kept thinking this was a young adult book and I kept telling myself that really, kids under the age of 16 should not read this as it was a bit too dark for them (and for me). I have never read any of Connolly's books before and I picked this book up in a bargain bin at the local bookstore because I just love the title. I am a bookworm and I thought it was more about finding a book (which I totally relate to).

I keep wavering between the three and four stars ... it really should be a 3.5 for the simple fact that it was macabre and a 4 for the brilliant writing style. I kept turning the pages in spite of myself and the fact that it was too much of a horror flick for my tastes. The Crooked Man really is the stuff of nightmares and so are the Lupes. The first part of the book had me in tears when David lost his mother in spite of every little routine thing he would do. The second part of the book was pretty predictable but enthralling. In between, the usual fairy tales had a darker twist to it especially the one about Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (which actually was rather funny).

There are a lot of influences I gathered from this book, the Brother Grimms obviously and a bit more subtle was the impression of The Wizard of Oz (where Dorothy lies in a coma during her adventures), the Sleeping Beauty saga and more. There is the lonely Knight in quest of finding his best friend and to know what happened to him. There is the quest for looking for his mother whose voice David keeps hearing, and more.

Like I said, I keep wavering between a three and a four star ... this book has left an impression on me and it does remind me of the fact you are what you read. Yet at the same time, it is not one of my favorites. I'll settle for a four since it was well-written and is still leaving an impression on me even though I finished it two days ago.

If you like "Wicked" and other darker tales, you will definitely enjoy this. If you prefer to keep your fantasy light and easy, this book is not for you. And definitely not for kids under the age of 16.

2/16/10

The Book of Lost Things is a great book. It is a book about a boy who’s mother dies and his dad gets married to someone he does not like! His mother has a baby named Gorgy that is fussy. When his mother was alive he would pray he would always make sure that numbers were even. Odd was bad, especially 3 because putting a 1 before 3 is and 13 and 13 is bad.

I would recommend this book to everyone who is a really good reader. I would also recommend this book to people who like mysteries.

David, as we all do - whether we know it or not, experiences Life as a story, a version of fairy tales not always as sweet and safe as those censured for a sedative before bedtime. Finding the tale he's in unbearable, David goes in search of another - through all of the other stories we've all been given as well. What he discovers is that they're all actually rife with drama, trauma, and peopled with what seems to be monsters at every turn.

His goal then becomes to find the way out of the labyrinth by finding his own true story and then - accepting it as better than all of the rest. The alternative, he also discovers, is to spend a Life in misery looking for all of the lost things that were - in Reality - right under his nose all the time. To get them - all he has to do is take them...

This is one fascinating book but creepy as hell! I'm surprised I didn't have nightmares during the reading. I love the author's use of the typical fairytale and his twist on their theme to teach a more useful moral lesson during David's travels to find the King. Great story for adults and teens....maybe a little too dark for children though!

I had never heard of John Connelly, I got the book because it sounded interesting and I was hoping to find a new author that I would enjoy. This story was amazing. It's a completely unexpected fairytale for adults. It's simultaneously dark and uplifting, fantasy and reality, and has the ability to make you completely loose yourself in the story and go on a terrifying and exciting adventure with a flawed 12- year old protagonist. It's well written, and pretty grisly at times, and it'll keep you riveted until the end. Give it a chance, you will be happy you did.

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 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.

I admit that the reason I picked up this book was that it was required reading for my English 112 class. That was not the reason that I managed to finish it weeks before it was due. This book is a delicious modern fairy tale that just begs to be read and enjoyed.

The story follows David, a young boy, as he deals with his mother's death and his father's new woman. David begins to hear books talking and after just a few chapters, we are transported to another world with him. It is a world where fairy tales are alive. David spends the majority of the book trying to get back to his world, but the adventures he has a long the way changes the person he is. The ending of the book, while it feels rushed, is beautiful and almost moved me to tears.

I definitely recommend this book. Don't be fooled by the fairy tales though, this book is best suited for adults and other mature readers.

Aliright so i thought the books was great but the one star reviews are right, just dont think about it too hard. It does have EXTREMELY disturbing parts so know youself really well if your gonna read the book and if you cant read all of it then dont. Ok the disturbing parts were importantish to the story but if you cant handle gore, discriptive violence, and horror and beyond deeds then dont read it they are WEIRD . so there your warned

Perhaps I liked this because i love dark books and gore. I was also about seventeen when i read it. Yes, there are disturbing images. If you don't like them, don't read it. That said, the protagonist is a boy that i found understandable. He resents his Dad's new wife and doesn't want to accept a new baby into the family. The fairy tale part involves a plane crash and the boy blacking out. Not original entirely, but it works as a transition into the world the boy goes into. THen the adventure ensues. Although it is violent, bloody, repugnant in some aspects that is not entirely out of line with fairy tales. The Grimm Brother's original fairy tales are known for being bloody, cannibalistic, and sickening in some aspects. I personally thought it fit with the dark, raw, emotional writing. Like i said, not a book for the faint hearted.

If you are an avid reader this is a necessity for your collection. A wonderful tale of basic human nature told in an extrodinary way. The use of fairy tales in this book is both endearing and informational. Especially the last 100 pages or so of the book where the author provides you with the orginal fairy tales that he referenced in the book as well as their orgins. This book will prove and adventure into the unknown for the young and it will serve as a reminder of wonder, youth, and all things good for those older. A masterpiece.

That's what I muttered to myself when I finished "The Book of Lost Things." I said that and then I said this writer is seriously talented. From the start this book grabs your attention and carries you through an imaginary world and doesn't let you go again until the very last page. I wish every book I picked up was this good. I would be exceedingly happy!

The Crooked Man is the worse villian and the boy, the best hero. I read this book in two days because I had to find out what would happen next. It was wonderful.

This is a story about David, a young boy who loses his mother to an unnamed illness and seeks comfort in the fairy tales lovingly entwined with her memory. The tales take on a life of their own and David is drawn into a world where good is conflicted and evil is bloody and visceral. Caught on the battlefield of another world, David struggles to find his way back home. The book reminds us of one of the beautiful truths of all fairy tales, that they are stories that belong to storytellers--suited to recreation and retelling in countless ways with innumerable conclusions and possible morals. It's a bit grim for my taste, but elegant nonetheless. If you dig this kind of thing and don't mind a bit of savagery, go see Pan's Labyrinth (El Laberinto Del Fauno), a Spanish movie in the same strain. Muy bueno, but very dark.

This is a first rate adult fairy tale; a book to be read late at night in front of a fireplace while wrapped in grandma's quilt. It seems to me to be written in the manner of King's classic "The Eyes of the Dragon" in that though you know it's all made up, it's easy to accept as real. With all the current messed-up stuff going on in the world I think we all need a reprieve - and this book is just what the doctor ordered. Read it and escape into a world where the things that scare you are not factual...or are they??? bg

i love the movie Pan's labrynth and i really wanted to find something with the same innocent-dark-fantasy feel to it, and this was just what i wanted. I'm so glad i read this book, a woman at books-a-million suggested it to me and i normally never read books people offer me lol, but for some reason i was really interested. I adored it, i would recomend it to anyone who likes things like pan's labrynth, the science of sleep, dark fairy tales, and perhaps dark comedies, this had a bit of it's own humor in it. however i dont recomend it if you have a very closed mind and wont open up to anything new and exciting. i thought it was a very unique and amazing book. i wish i could rate it higher than 5 stars, its one of my new favorites. :)

This was my first book from Connolly. I was intrigued by the title and then a brief read of the plot made the sale. Connolly does a great job reaching back to stories from the past (think the brothers Grimm) and tying them together in a fresh, and slightly twisted, way that adults will enjoy. You will find yourself remembering stories you grew up reading and sometimes watching (disney films). The way he takes these stories and turns them more 'personal' for our lead character gives the feel that any of us could have had a similar journey.
If you are looking for a laid back read that keeps things moving with adventure and a bit of humor, this is worth a look.

I initially considered buying John Connelly's The Book of Lost Things in an audio version, as I thought my children might enjoy it. They might, but after reading it, I give it a PG-13 rating, given it's sometimes graphic description of evil and violence, the homosexuality of one of the supporting characters, and a reference to pedophilia. There may be allusions to classic fairy tales, but these are not children's versions but twisted revisions, more disturbing than the originals. With that caution, I can recommend the book as a worthy edition to the fantasy genre.

Throughout the book, we are never quite sure whether the adventures had by David are merely the working out of the trauma of his mother's death in his imagination or a real struggle in some parallel universe, a sort of twisted Narnia. David enters the garden because he heard his mother's voice calling him. He continues to hear it throughout the adventure. Along the way, he confronts evil, personified in many ways, from The Crooked Man, presumably representing Satan, a "trickster" who steals the innocence of children by having them betray their own families, to the Loups, ghoulish wolf-men created when girls (a la Little Red Riding Hood) entered the woods and mated with wolves) to Trolls and more. Even Snow White and the Dwarfs show up in the story, though White is an obese and dictatorial matron and the Dwarfs are Communists going on about how they need to rise up against oppression. (They provide the lightest note in an otherwise non-humorous and serious tale.)

However, the first person that David meets is a Christ-figure, The Woodsman, who protects David from the murderous Loups and becomes David's guide on his journey to find the King of the land, weakened though he be, and for answers regarding his mother. David meets with repeated peril along the way, and faces the constant temptations of The Crooked man to deceive his family by naming his brother to him. He learns to recognize evil and reject it, as well as to embrace love and his family, in a a tale that, while dark, does not leave us in darkness.

This is, however, in the end not really a story for children. It is too dark and too mature in its content. However, both adults and teenagers will enjoy the story and, perhaps be encouraged in virtuous conduct -- loyalty, courage, and love --- especially for family, and in discerning the charms of evil -- the nursing of grudges, bitterness, and even hatred, especially against family.

I found this book by accident, as it was near another author I was searching for, which proves the power of serendipity as I loved this book: creative, original, compelling, and profound. If only happenstance would lead me to more books such as this. It's a book for non-children readers who don't really don't believe in fairy stories anymore and yet are still drawn to them.

This book was pure magic. Dark fantasy that manages to never leave you feeling uncomfortable to read alone. I was completely into this book and could not put it down! The first quarter is not half as interesting as the rest, but it's all 100% genius.

This book managed to do, for me as an adult, what books like the Neverending Story managed to do for me when I was an adolescent. My imagination went wild!!!

I definitely recommend it!
I can't wait to read more from this author!!!

I loved this book. A room with a window seat in which to read books in has always been a dream of mine, I have always loved books and fairy tales and fantasy and this book has it all. If you were to take the Wizard of Oz, mix in Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty and Rumpelstiltskin and then even (I thought of at least) the Crooked Man from the old children's poem and some pretty gorey descriptions and pure evilness you would about have it. I could so see a movie along the lines of Pan's Labyrinth being made out of it.

Most excellent and the best fairy tale I've read in a long, long time.

This review is written on behalf of my cousin, Abby, who is twelve and does not have her own the store account. According to her, The Book of Lost Things is "the most awesome book ever!"

In her words:

"The character descriptions are astounding. It's like you're in the sick, twisted little world of David's imagination, and the Crooked Man was so completely freaky! I often read lines from the book just to freak out my friends."

An interesting concept of a boy who is confused and sad after his mothers death. When his father remarries and produces a new sibling for him he becomes overcome with jealousy and resentment which leads him to a hidden world of gruesome fairytales.

I thought the beginning chapters were really good, a very realistic insight into a child's mind. However once we leave reality the book failed to grab me and it took me longer than normal to read purely because I wasn't compelled to keep picking it up. I didn't particularly like the book but did like the concept of David having to use his wits and his memory of childhood tales to overcome some pretty gruesome dangers and adult themes. And, like all traditional stories...it has a moral.

If you like your fantasy tinged with horror then you should enjoy this.

This was my first Connolly book, and I was very impressed. I LOVED getting "lost" in the world with David while he struggled with his fears and selfishness.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories that whisk them away to other lands, but also has a clear message in the end. Those who enjoyed any of the Narnia books or any fairy tales (like the Brothers Grimm stories) will like reading The Book of Lost Things as it pulls from many of those.

Plus, it has a wonderful bonus section in the end explaining why he chose certain stories and you can read those fairy tales, too!

The setting is WWII England where 12 year old David has been beset by tragedy, his mother's death. Comsumed by anger and guilt, David turns to books, namely fairy stories, in which he finds solace. But David is haunted by dreams and visions, of strange places and and of the "Crooked Man." As his family life takes a turn for the worse, David is spirited away into a parallel world where gloomy twilight passes for daylight and fantastical creatures roam unfettered. With the help of the Woodsman and Roland the Knight, David embarks on a quest to find "The Book of Lost Things" from the enigmatic ruler of the land. But David's enemies doggedly pursue him, and he learns that if life in his world is no fairy-tale, neither is it in this strange world. Summoning strength and courage he did not know that he possessed, David not only thwarts his foes, he learns through the course of his journey about love, friendship, integrity and compassion.

Although the tone in the novel is dark, sometimes nightmarish, it is illuminated by a sense of hope, of overcoming obstacles. The path to "The Book of Lost Things" is fraught with constant danger, but David meets the challenges head-on, with bravery, cunning and wit. Also, interspersed througout the novel are Connolly's versions of fairy-tales--with a dark twist--but from which we could learn something about ourselves: human perversities, frailties, vanity and greed. It is not only David's emergence from childhood to adulthood that the reader bears witness, we also learn that we can endure or persevere almost anything in this sometimes precarious life. Beautifully written, achingly so, I highly recommend this very important book.

How, oh how, have I missed John Connelly all these years? The Book of Lost Things was my first Connelly experience. To say it was a wonderful book isn't adequate ... suffice to say when I finished the book, I immediately went online to find all the others he's written. While the story centers around the experiences of a 12 year old boy, it truly is adult reading, involving mature themes too complex, dark and disturbing for most youngsters. I did find that the life lessons our young hero learns through his adventures spoke to the child in me, however, causing me to reflect on when and how life taught me those same lessons, and whether I would have experienced the same maturing had I lived through those same adventures. One terrific theme Connelly explores is the concept of true love ... not the romantic kind of love, but the love shared by two people who, regardless of gender, age or experience, find themselves on the same life path and commit to walking that path together in true partnership. Such loving friendship is a rare and precious commodity, and Connolly showcases it with great tenderness and skill. He lets the reader decide on the nature of the relationship but clearly evokes the permanence of such a bond without delving unnecessarily into the 'possibilities' of how such a bond is shared. While this is clearly not a book for children, it is one I'll keep on hand for the time when my grandchildren are old enough to appreciate it.

From Brothers Grimm thrillers to a new set of twisted fairy tales, this novel is full of excitement! Striken with grief and loss, a young boy conjures a fantasy world in which he must learn to overcome his fears. I can't say enough about how well Connolly wrote this story. His transitions are both entrancing and seemless. I highly recommend this for anyone who loves to read! This one has definitely earned a spot as one of my favorites.

I loved this dark fairy tale. The characters were well developed. The imagery was exciting! I had bad dreams about "The Crooked Man". It. was. awesome. I love it when authors take classic fairy tales and rejuvenate them with a new spin. That's exactly what this book did and it was done well. Thank you, John Connolly, for an exciting read. I can't wait to pick up another one of your books.

Not one I would rate 'great' book a worthy and easy read and one I did want to know what happened. I found it a cross between Narnia and Oz but with much darker disturbing tones and certainly not one for any child to read. 2/3 into the book I was hooked and by the end I loved it and found myself with tears streaming down my face. Though slow to get moving and some parts a bit flat, hang with it and you will be rewarded in the end and find yourself haunted by more than one character. Mine was the girl in the jar...

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.

I just absolutely loved this book! I totally got hooked into the story, the characters, the range of emotions, the suspense, the settings... Not a beat was missed in this wonderfully written tale.

I thought partway through that my 13 year old son might enjoy it but as I got further in decided that there was a bit too much graphic violence and it would not be appropriate for his age. This is a fairytale for adults (Just my opinion!).

I have to say this was one of the worst books I have ever read! It reminds me of Edgar Allen Poe's dark, disturbing writing, however, John Connelly is not as good a writer.

In the book a boy lands in a land filled with the creatures from another boys nightmares as well as some of his own. Now I have all these horrible visions in my memory. Why would I want more creepy things to dream about?

If you like evil, creepy things, then maybe this is the book for you. If you like to escape into stories that give you pleasure or teach you something, then skip this book!

My disaapointment with John Connolly was tempered by the well written nature of his latest work, "The Book of Lost Things". I was expecting another dark, foreboding, supernatural crime thriller which Connolly is superbly accomplished at creating and what I got was a fairy tale.

Connolly's fable revolves around a young pre-pubescent boy David who lived in England during the time of WWII. The young lad was devastated as his adored mother sickened and soon passed away despite the rituals he dutifully performed to hopefuly allay the eventuality of her demise. His father, a university professor who was pressed into service as a cryptographer for the war effort, eventually remarried a woman named Rose. They all moved into her large house on the outskirts of London and soon begat a son Georgie.

David grew to abhor his existence, resentful of the attention lavished upon little Georgie and the growing distance between him and his father. He became sullen but was drawn to a natural passageway in a sunken garden in his backyard. During an air raid David fell through the passageway simultaneous to the downing and crashing of a German plane in the garden.

He emerged in a fantasy land complete with familiar but fractured fairy tale figures. Unable to return home he was befriended by some good intentioned denizens of this bizarre world. The enchanted land was wrought with danger including a growing army of wolves led by a number of what were called Loups, a mutant half man half wolf derssed as humans and bipedal.

This underworld was controlled by a being known as the Crooked Man who represented the Devil himself. David quested to travel to the distant castle of the king who supposedly ruled. The king was purported to have the Book of Lost Things, which contained vital information to enable David to return home.

Throughout the perilous journey David matured from child to man, not succumbing to the tricks and temptation of the Crooked Man. Connolly concludes his novel with a fairly reasonable explanation for David's outlandish odyssey.

I love discovering new (to me) authors, and Connolly blew me away with this novel. (I just finished 10 minutes ago and felt compelled to write a review, if that's any indication....) I suppose one could say the story combines elements from The Neverending Story with C.S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, but let me stress that it's so MUCH more (no knock-off here!), and stands solidly on its own. (Plus, this book was written for adults.)

The Crooked Man character is particularly creepy, but there are a variety of characters (and multiple fairytales as you've never heard them before) that deserve recognition, too, and make the book a great read with a well-done ending. Excellent writing, Connolly!

"The Book of Lost Things" is a surreal blend of old (WWII), the really old (archetypal hero's quest), and "new" (the young hero has a bit of OCD and becomes the squire of a stranger suspected of knowing "the love that dares not speak its name"). This is a well-crafted, heart-squeezing, perfectly satisfying fairy tale for adults. A new favorite for me. Go read it. Go now. And if you're soft, like me, keep a box of tissues at the ready.

Author John Connolly weaves his magic with words. A boy trying to find where he fits in this world and another world transforms into a young man. There is good and bad in everyone. We all have dreams and fears. It is what we choose to do with these... Anyway read the story, it is very good. My best guess is that one should be at least 10 years old to read this story as it is a little scary in spots.

i really enjoyed this book. it's a refreshingly creative story that has some gruesome and disturbing elements but also some very heartwarming and hilarious (the dwarfs!) parts. the ending was unpreditable and thorough. very nice.

whether you decide to draw along any of the possible parallels or not, its a very attractive story from any angle. a hard book for me to put down - i wanted to know "what happens next??!"

a word about this book on cd also - excellently narrated. fyi.

This was one of my friend's favorite books, loaned to me to read. So I had to finish it...otherwise I never would have. I normally have a hard time putting books down, but instead I had to push myself along. Very slow beginning, no great characters, not a particularly vivid world. Picks up a bit towards the end, but nothing grand. It wasn't until the last few pages of the book, that I was thoroughly impressed, and thought, ah...so that was the whole point of the book. A truly great ending, but wish it was more enjoyable getting there.

I was disappointed. It was just too much fairy tale instead of fiction. John Connolly is a really, fantastic author. He is also quite versatile. I'm rather he stick to Charlie Parker than fantasy.

This incredibly dark and dreary tale of a young boy who loses his mother in the midst of World War I ravaged England is a must-read for fans of Pan's Labyrinth or the comic book Fables.

It takes place mostly in a fantasy world populated by children's fears and fairy tales, but the tales have different endings than the ones we know. It is truly scary, truly strange, and well worth the read.

This novel was recommended to me and I had never read any of John Connolly's books. I found it to be very intriguing look at fairy tales and their more grim side. This is definitely not the Disney version of the fairy tales. It was fun to think through all the characters in the book and how I've seen them portrayed before. It was difficult to put down and kept me interested throughout the entire book.

This was the first John Connolly book I read, and I absolutely adored it. It was magical and brings back elements of childhood that strike a universal chord. The twisting of fairy tales brought an edge of humour to what could have been otherwise depressing book. I started off the New Year reading this book, and I thought it was a great way to usher in a new year, with a great new book. It rapidly joined the ranks of my very favourite books. I'm quite excited to read his other work!

There were some glaring weak points and holes in the story that proofreading should have caught. For example, the Woodsman didn't earn any respect from me for his proclaimed "intelligence" when, in a misguided attempt to be David's hero, he send David across the rope bridge ahead of himself, while he fought and succumbed to the wolves. Obviously, his part of the story was done, but, come on, really. They both could have run across the bridge and cut the ropes on the other side, thereby blocking the wolf pack. It was readable, though. The ending was pretty good.

I give the author points for some good (moralistic) ideas.
As another reviewer noted, once the action moves in the fantastic world the writing becomes awkward and forced. Characters are so one-dimensional that I could not see much difference between the woodsman and the horseman-knight.
Contemporary readers may enjoy this book, but I doubt it will be remembered in years to come.
Check "The Eyes of the Dragon" by Stephen King instead. It may look similar but is a higher quality book of a different class altogether.

Not his usual book but more enjoyable for me. I loved the connections he made between children dreams/fantasy/fears. I recommend it also because of the lengthy discussion in the back of the book about the fairy tales he took ideas from.

I read the book of lost things for my English composition class and I didn’t think I was going to like it. But my professor must have chosen it for a reason and I actually ended up enjoying it. If you like to read fantasy you will most likely also enjoy this book. the book is very dark and sometimes creepy, it is also very different and sometimes funny. John Connolly has incorporated and twisted most of the classic fairy tales which makes it interesting to read because you don't really now how the next little episode will turn out.

This story grabbed me from the start and pulled me in to the fantasy world. Is it real, fantasy, or a figment of a boys imagination? The story makes you wonder throughout each page you read. The remaking of old fairy tales we have all grown up with puts a interesting twist to the world the boy travels through trying to get back home. Is it real, or just his imagination? An amazing story all the way to the end! I highly recommend this book, that you won't want to put down until your done!!

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.

This book I read for my summer reading. I personally loved it. It is yes very dark and scary at the end as the bad guy is similar to the trickster rumplestilkston. However it shows how hard it can be transferring from teen to adult showing maturity and greatness. I highly recommend this as a 13+ book. It's not a 100% horror novel it's a mix of every genre to me.

I have read a few of John Connolly's books and they were all good and very entertaining. I found this one and I could not put it down! beatufully written and full of surprises! Don't take my word for it. Read it and you will see what I mean. This book has earned a permanent spot on my bookshelf.

I checked this book out at the local library and read it into the early morning. I couldn't put it down. The imagery is amazing; the characters are unforgettable; the plot is original and suspenseful. . .

I have to own this book; the thought of returning it to the library breaks my heart. This is one you will read again and again. When I finished the book I was almost in a stupor--I was that immersed in the story. There truly isn't another story like this out there. But be warned, you won't be satisfied with just borrowing it from the library. This book demands to be given a place of honor on your bookshelf.

This is the first John Connolly book that I have read, I will read more. I loved the way he wove in the two worlds and the fairy tales. It has a clear moral lesson without feeling preachy. I found it to be a touching book that I would recommend to both adults and young adults.

As someone who enjoys fantasy literature of this type and doesn't mind a story that gets a bit dark, I was excited to read this book based on the early reviews I saw (and the cover art, which I like). After finishing it last night, I can't say that I was impressed, but neither was I greatly disappointed.

The basics of the plot follow some familiar patterns, as others have elaborated on. Yes, the "child finds himself in a fantastic other world and must complete a perilous journey or quest to try and get home" arc is the dominant theme, but the style and mood is more Neil Gaiman than L. Frank Baum or Lewis Carroll. Despite the familiarity, there were several creative elements (including some clever spins on familiar stories) which elevate the book beyond any claims of it being derivative. The Crooked Man character in particular was interesting, especially once you begin to learn his background.

Still, although I enjoyed the book overall, there is something that keeps me from giving it more than the rating I'm giving it.

Maybe it's that I found the prose efficient but not much more than that. Maybe the way things wrapped up seemed a bit sentimental to me, even if not traditionally "happy." Maybe it's that I can't put my finger on anything (aside from maybe the Crooked Man character) which would make me tell someone, "You've got to read this book because..." And, ultimately, that's the one that keeps me from giving it a higher rating.

It is the 2nd time I have read this book. It seems to falter toward the end but quite an enthralling lead. The final chapters are of the best, slow, let downs I have read in a long time.
Too bad there isn't place for a sequel.

Another amazing book from Mr. Connolly....again. While all his books are amazing, this book is really something special for those of us who had to grow up in a hurry (be it a death in the family, divorced parents, etc...). The writing is superb as always seems to be the case with Mr. Connolly, but it's the stories that the author manages to create that keep me coming back for more. It is different from his other books (and somehow similar), but if you like his other books I can't imagine not liking The Book of Lost Things: A Novel. Highly recommended and I now place Mr. Connolly up there with my other favorite authors (Greg Iles, Robert McCammon, early Lehane, and Lee Child). Give his books a chance even if you don't like the genre he usually writes in.

In addition to beautiful prose, The Book of Lost Things is a story that speaks to the child in all of us. All our monsters, all our pain...all the love. It speaks to that elemental piece at our core that never truly grows up. This was my first Connolly book, but I guarentee it won't be the last.

This is one of the top 10 books I've read in my 27 years, and I read A LOT. It was amazing, I couldn't put it down. It's wonderfully written, and unlike other books with a similar synopsis, it ties together perfectly in the end. To put it simply, I loved it!!

John Connolly is an amazingly talented writer. I devour each of his books the moment they are released. Pick this up and enjoy!

Also, Bad Men (stand alone novel) and all of the Charlie Parker novels are truly wonderful!

Anxiously awaiting for The Reapers release later this year.

This is a terrific book for readers interested on new twists on old storybook favorites. The book is dark, but the details, storyline, and dynamic characters are captivating. Lost Things skillfully combines creative re-tellings of old favorites, an intriguing dystopian landscape, and modern day themes. A great read for adults, teens, and mature children.

I loved this book! I'm a fan of dark fantasy and this certainly fit the bill. I really enjoyed the much darker version of common fairy tales that were presented. This element just added to an already wonderful story. Very dark, but brilliant.

As a high school student who has read this book, I would highly recommend this book. It has a setting and story similar to The Chronicles Of Narnia but contains more fairy tale anecdotes throughout! The main character, David, is a boy that a lot of people can relate to due to the painful loss of his mother. This is definitely in my top 5 book list.

Connolly's book is fine if you consider it merely as a precursor to what would probably make a very watchable movie. However, when I picked it up, I was expecting more--good writing. His prose was often stiff, very predictable and trite. I almost laughed aloud when I read sentences along the lines of: 'And that was when David truly transitioned from boyhood to manhood.' HELLO?! What happened to the old-fashioned show, don't tell rule of writing?
Overall, the book is just interesting enough to keep you reading, if only because not many people write books in this sub-sub genre I guess you could call Adult Revisionist Fairy Tale Stories. But overall I found the tone to be inconsistently presented, fluctuating between childish and incredibly sharp, found the plot to be a poor reworking of fairy tales that many have done better than Connolly, and found the whole book to be rather disappointing. Unmotivating character development.
I'd wait for the movie.

LOVE this book! Kind of in the same vein as Pan's Labyrinth (but better IMO). If you are a Brother's Grimm fan (or remember having those stories read to you as a child), this book will bring you back. Wonderful fantasy!

This book was my introduction to John Connolly. I loved it! A fairy tale for adults full of scary things and dark beings, mysterious characters, heros, and fantasy. Was there a happy ending? Did they live happily ever after? Buy the book, enjoy, and find out for yourself.

This book I loved. Yes it's a dark tale mainly for adults, but I love the way the author blends all the stories we learn when we're kids and makes them a bit more surreal. The writing is exeptional and very hard to put down. Strongly reccomend this book.

This is a richly textured, evocative trip into fairy tale land - for grownups only. The imagery is haunting, the story compelling, and the characters complex. It's NOT a read for children, or for the simple. The moral dilemmas are challenging, and their resolutions are satisfyingly complex and realistic. What a joy!

This is the first time I've read anything by John Connolly. I was searching around the store and stumbled upon this book. I saw how great the reviews were and I couldn't agree more. Great story and great writing. I really enjoyed this book and would suggest it to anyone whos into the whole fairy tale genre. I admit that not only did I shed a tear or two but I was also scared at some points. Leave the light on and beware the CROOKED MAN haha. I'll definitely be reading more of Mr. Connolly's work.

This book left a metaphorical weird taste in my mouth. It's not bad, but it's... weird. That's the word I keep coming back to. I agree with the reviewers who say it's too violent for it's intended audience. I wouldn't let a 10 year old read this book, and I read some scary, bloody stuff when I was a kid. But the combination of child-related violence and animal-related violence is just too much for kids that young. The book struggles from start to finish with its identity - is it an adult fairy tale, complete with gore and violence, or is it still a children's fairy tale? How dark is it supposed to be? How light? How quirky? It just doesn't seem to know.

Moreso, though, this book made me uncomfortable because of its subtle (and possibly accidental) homophobia. (SPOILERS) To make a long story short, our protagonist ends up traveling with a man who is heavily implied to be searching for his male romantic companion. The antagonist of the book tries to turn the boy against the man by suggesting the man wants to have the same kind of relationship with the boy - which of course causes the boy to be disgusted and wary. In the end, the boy realizes the man is his friend and deserves to be trusted... but that's kinda it. There's never any overt lesson where the boy realizes, hey, assuming all gay people are dangerous pedophiles is really offensive and closed-minded. That plotline just sort of goes away and we never get any closure. Like I said, I suspect the homophobia is accidental. I truly think the author was trying to be diverse by having a gay character - he just went about it the wrong way. By not directly dealing with the overt homophobia in the book, the reader is left feeling the remnant's of the protagonist's disgust and fear in the form of more covert homophobia. For that reason (and the violence) I definitely wouldn't recommend this book to children.

This book was incredible, the first few chapters filled with sorrow of a young child, building up to an incredible journey into another world entirely. I was absolutely mesmerized throughout the entire book, the imagery was incredible, with every page I was transported to a different scene. Amazingly written, but rather gory in some parts. I highly recommend this book.

This book was absolutely amazing!!! The writing and story line will take you to another world where fairytales and reality collide. John Connolly knows what he is doing every time he writes a story and never fails to deliver.

The stream of five-star reviews has left me scratching my head. "The Book of Lost Things" never captured my imagination, feeling both stiff and derivative. There were elements I enjoyed - an up-dated Snow White, a Huntress who makes macabre prey - but they never really felt more than loosely connected. It read as if it were constructed from the "Young Mythic Hero Erector Set, New Edition," with similarities to many other tales and little to distinguish it. It wasn't BAD, but it wasn't especially good, just bland.

Which makes me wonder what everyone else was reading when they found that, "the imagery is amazing; the characters are unforgettable; the plot is original and suspenseful." THAT book I would have enjoyed reading. Perhaps I am not the audience Mr. Connolly is writing for, as I don't consume quantities of popular, plot-driven fiction. I wanted to be astounded by TBOLT, but I was only occasionally amused.

This book has so many elements of the ways in which stories evolve and they way in which they are an individual experiences for each reader. I dont think there are enough stories in modern fiction and I was glad to come across this book. If you like Neil Gaiman, you will like this book.

I absolutely loved this book. If you love retold fairy tales (especially in a dark way) you will love this story. Although well known fairy tales and stock characters are prevelent throughout the novel, they are not the whole basis of the tale. In the beginning I was not completely impressed because it seemed very Narnia-ish, but as the book progressed it became immensly entertaining and I loathed to put it down. I have never read any of Connolly's books before, but this novel makes me want to read more of his work.

"Never judge a book by its cover." Sound advice, but not in the case of this book. While straightening the shelves at work, I was drawn to the book initially by the cover, and became even more intrigued when I read the back panel. I loved it! It's heavily steeped in dark fairy tales. They'll remind you of the ones you heard as a child, but with a Grimm brothers-like twist. I couldn't put this down. I've recommended it to all my friends, and anyone that comes in looking for something dark, but good.

This book was phenomenal. It called to me in the used book store I bought it from, I put it back on the shelf... but it was calling to me and I ran back and got it. I am so glad I did! There was an underlying sense off childhood horror- similar to the feeling I got when reading Gaiman's Coraline. He captured childhood fear, grief, and my own adult imagination. I highly recommend this book.

the last time a novel made me weep at the end, but this one did. A wonderous, heartbreaking, funny, terrifying novel which creates a remarkable world where fairy tales are rewritten and nightmares lived out. The characters are compelling( The Woodsman, The Crooked Man, Roland, the heroic knight on a quest to rescue his soulmate, the Loup's created by the mating of the wolf and Red Riding Hood, who desperatly want to be control the world, the fat, drunken Snow White....), and the final pages so moving and so heartfelt that you truly feel changed at the journey's end.

Despite the many glowing reviews, this book simply lost me about half way through with the meeting of Snow White and the dwarves, and seemed to be meandering without a clear purpose, plot or even remotely rational explanation for what had happend to the young protagonist. Perhaps that came down the line in this book but by the time I got to Snow White, I ceased caring. There are too many good books in the world to waste one's time.

The Book of Lost Things: A Novel Jon Connelly is obviously a talented and imaginative author, and while this book reflects both, it is also feels more like a draft of the novel than a finished product. Where was the editor to help him tighten this into something truly remarkable?

As it is the book opens very slowly with 12-year old David's mother dying, and his father remarrying and starting a new family. Way too much time is spent on David's peevishness, his spells, and the relocation of the family. Finally, much like Carrol's Alice, David falls through a hole in a tree into a new, eerie world with flowers with children's faces and wolves that walk on two feet. The story continues to plod, recounting in boring detail Hansel and Gretel, then showing a bit more originality in its tale of Little Red Riding Hood and Snow White. Nonethless, fractured/restructured fairy tales have been done before. Boring. In fact, the book does not find its stride until the Woodsman and David encounter the Harpies and the Trolls, and the first battle of this quest begins.

As Connelly moves more and more into the story of David, his book begins to glow with enchantment--scary, beautiful, terrifying and magical. The huntress is an unforgettable villain as is the sleeping woman and the crooked man. Suddenly the story is an amazingly chilling, bizarre nightmare tail that yanks the reader in by the collar and begs to be read. From there to what should have been the end of the novel is superb story telling. But Connelly apparently did not know how to stop the masterpiece once he got it rolling. And apparently, he also lost his editor. The last chapter of the book totally ruins the story. It is unnecessary, didactic, cliche and leaves the reader with a sour taste in one's mouth.

So, instead of great book (particularly if he'd picked up the thread of the fantasy world paralleling the the absurdity of the World War going on in the real world), Mr. Connelly has written a mediocre book that is weak in the beginning and embarrassingly amateurish at the end. Still, his wonderful meaty middle almost makes the book worth reading despite its beginning and end flaws, which any editor worth his cut should have pointed out an fixed before this book dumped into the everflowing pile of forgetful bestsellers.

Somewhat along the same idea as Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next series; Connolly writes about the inside of the book/fairy tale world. With chapters about Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and more it was an interesting way to relive the stories that I grew up with.

I really enjoyed this book. I read it on the recommendation from a forum I frequent and wasn't disappointed. I couldn't read it fast enough, and yet I didn't want to read it too fast and get to the end and have it be over.

It will go on my list of 'must reads' for my son when he's old enough.

Just as the title projects, this book was terrifyingly captivating! For many of us, childhood tales such as Little Red Riding Hood are classic and endearing. But that doesn't mean a twist can't be fun!

Connolly really stuck it to us with his imaginative tale of youth-cum-adult! And I would say that little David was much more intrigued than he would have been if his parents had told him this stuff!

This is an especially good book for teens navigating the hard questions & answers around divorce, loyalty, compassion and understanding of parents. It's not preachy and allows the reader to draw their own conclusions. As an adult, it drew me back to the decisions that helped shape my life. An enjoyable read.

This has got to be my favorite books of all time. Many fairy tale characters come to life in these pages, in ways I have never read before. More for adolescents and adults, rather than small children. Highly recommended.

I loved this book! I don't normally choose books like this for myself (it was a Christmas gift) but I really enjoyed it. I was sad when it came to an end. It's the first novel I've read by John Connolly and I'm definitely going to be reading more of him.

I loved this book. I've never read anything else by Connolly but if his books are as captivating as this one is I will definitely check him out. I have a hard time describing this book. But I think what makes this book standout is that it touches everyone of us. Everyone can relate to this book somehow.

It grieves me to write this review, particularly since I recently read Connolly's 'Nocturnes' collection and found the work to be exceptional, even superior. In fact, my satisfaction with 'Nocturnes' led me to purchase the hardcover edition of 'The Book of Lost Things' without the slightest hesitation.

Unfortunately, 'The Book of Lost Things' turned out to be a serious disappointment for me. Make no mistake: Connolly is a golden writer and his prowess is indeed on display in this work, as in his past works. 'The Book of Lost Things' is well-composed, and typical of the author's blunt-yet-evocative style. Connolly can conjure more in one straightforward sentence than most contemporary writers, regardless of genre. The problem here is not related to Connolly's composition skills, but with his actual material...his story.

The idea of the British child who has lost a parent in war-time, bomb-addled London, only to be whisked off to the countryside and escape into a magical, parallel world has...er...been "done" before. Narnia, Hogwarts, Wonderland, and others aside, however, British children travelling unexecpectedly into magical worlds has approached the level of being either cliche, or a specific genre unto itself. If an author is going to be derivative in that sense, he or she had better be *very* original in the execution. A good--even great--example of contemporary originality in this sphere is Neil Gaiman's little masterpiece, 'Coraline,' which set a new benchmark for Britkid-goes-to-magicland tales that will be brutally hard to equal, much less trump.

Gaiman's book goes "right" where Connolly's goes ever so "wrong," and this is made all the more unfortunate in that Connolly is probably the better writer, technically, of the two. Using Gaiman's 'Coraline' only as an example (not a comparison, really), we must point out that Connolly's 'Lost Things' suffers from an astonishingly plodding, even repetitive, opening. David's mother has died. David is distraught. War has come to London. Anxiety is in the very air. David's widower father woos another woman. David feels threatened, out of love for his mum. David begins to experience headaches and odd dreams of forests. Something terrible or extraordinary is certainly about to happen because of it all.

Lather, rinse, repeat. It takes Connolly nearly 60 pages to establish (and re-establish) the above narrative themes, and then he can't help but re-establish them again! For 60 pages, nothing else seems to be re-iterated, and not even the emergence of a baby-stepbrother (who really serves no purpose, even as a point of conflict), and a few arguments with step-mum, Rose, (which are banal and only serve to prolong the already obvious)can keep Connolly from miring his reader in tedium. Gaiman, in 'Coraline,' needed only a handful of pages to establish an entire, potent psychology of the neglected Brit-kid and he did it in a way that made the hair stand on the back of your neck--subtle, chilling, supremely evocative, crafty...even delicious.

When David finally enters his magical parallel world, the manner in which he does so is, by that time, almost anti-climactic. It's also extremely unimaginative, or at least lacking cohesion as far as an imaginative presentation is concerned. It's herky-jerky and uninspired. Here, too, Connolly's writing seems to become noticeably hesitant. There is likely a reason: he can't strike the critical balance needed to make the book BOTH a flat-out children's tale AND a potent tale for the adult mind. That peculiar "magic" is sorely missing from this work, and as a result, the author wobbles unconvincingly from one attempt to the other, and often into a muddy middle-ground far beneath the lofty highwire that needs to be navigated for this specific type of story.

Once again, Gaiman was able to accomplish this in virtually one master-stroke with 'Coraline.' Connolly is simply not up to the challenge here, and if you are attempting THIS sort of work, it means you are attempting a classic. When obviously attempting a classic, it is wise to deliver.

I have tried to avoid spoilers in this review, because readers will (and should) explore the book for themselves. Yet, the characters and characterizations in 'Lost Things' (even *after* David has reached his "wonderland") are bland, derivative, and often carelessly drawn. Even the "Crooked Man" is a pastiche ho-hummer. The reader gets the sense that Connolly himself realizes that his story is really going nowhere special because he attempts to introduce suddenly complex "back-histories" for some characters (the "Loups," for example). But these detours serve only to jar or disengage the reader from an already haphazard narrative. They have little effect.

Connolly should be praised for attempting, one supposes, but in this genre, attempts don't "count," unless one really doesn't care about the posterity of a story, or doesn't realize how ineffectual is the story to begin with.

There *are* worthy things about 'Lost Things': As noted, Connolly's actual writing as pure composition is a pure joy to behold. Anyone could derive a certain pleasure from this book on that foundation alone. Some of the imagery in the story is clever--e.g. David's ability to "hear" and interpret the "moods" and "madnesses" of books on library shelves. But, however clever may be some of the various dots, Connolly fails to connect them to any noteworthy effect. It moves lazily between being disconnected on the one hand and rickety on the other. Boring in the "creamy center." In the end, he has written a book that is not ideal for children, nor ideal for adults. What's left?

Again, it is with regret that I write this review, because Connolly is certainly one of the top five writers in the contemporary horror, mystery, suspense, supernatural genre. He is also one of the best modern pop-fiction "writers" period, in my opinion. A gifted artist. His past works speak for themselves. They are uniformly outstanding. His foray into the supernatural or fantastic ("Nocturnes") was one of the truly pleasant and fresh surprises of the last few years. Excellent and highly recommended by this reviewer. Connolly has the supernatural "short story" conquered in a way that surpasses even Gaiman and Barker.

One ponders whether or not the challenge of a long-form supernatural story, an actual novel, may have given Connolly problems here. The book is certainly much better than the Rowling series (which are utterly pedestrian despite--or more likely responsible for--their great popularity), but any one of the Potter series would be a more choice read for kids than 'Lost Things.' Go figure. I'd recommend readers wait for the paperback edition of this work (or maybe even the inevitable film--the book does, in fact, read like it was deliberately churned-out for the screen).

Back to the drawing board, Mr. Connolly. This one didn't fool all of us (not that you were trying to).

I'm 28 years old, and I really enjoyed this story. It's a fairy tale loaded with action and gore. It's a nice change from the books I'm use to reading. I will definitely look for another book like this by John Connolly.

If you like fairytales, you will like this book. Yes, it's a predictable story that's been told before, but it's still a fun read. And I love how the author includes all the original fairytales & their origins at the end of the book.

This book engrossed me from page 1. I wanted to devour the book but instead took my time enjoying every morsel of the story. It is beautifully written - I especially enjoyed the way the books "spoke" to the boy. If you are looking for sci-fi or mystery look elsewhere. But if you are looking for well-written literature, this is it.

....A very good book....

.....very well written.....

.....such a nice story....

......it really take you into the story and you will find yourself walking with David.....

.......living all the adventures with him......

.......it was since the first books of Stephen King that I haven't found a book so alive......

I love fantasy books, remade fairy tales, and alternate universe stories. Many reviewers here comment on the fact that the alternate reality has been done before, and better, and I agree. I was most put off, though, by the similarities to Stephen King themes and characters, especially the Dark Tower series. Roland the knight, David (v.Jack) the boy, the dark tower, the wolves- all these seem copied from King, although not as entertaining or compelling. I gave up half-way through- I'd rather reread the Dark Tower (again). Also, the intro was way too long and tedious before the alternate world was entered.

I recently finished The Book of Lost Things and was extremely unimpressed by both the quality of writing and the story. Connolly seemed to be taking a shot in the dark with this one.

David, the protagonist of the story stumbles around in an a fantasy world that has been done dozens upon dozens of times before and meets more characters than the book has time for, most of which make little or any impact on the main character. The whole novel was a story about David stopping at someone's house/town/castle and then someone else's and then someone else's to the point where there is little point and David is taking almost no active part in the story.

The biggest problem I had with the story was the way it was written. It sounded so extremely story book that it was impossible to sympathize with David, who came across as a horrible little boy to begin with. He also seemed to be written as a ten or eleven year old, not a fourteen year old which seemed to make the story even more unbelievable. It was often hard to tell who the reader was supposed to be rooting for, people are dying right and left in the story, but are we really supposed to care?

The story did have some interesting qualities and I enjoyed the darkness of a lot of it, but it honestly should have been marketed to children. If Connolly had taken out one or two plot points it could have been a cautionary tale to children. It just wasn't interesting enough or complex enough for an adult to enjoy.

This is my new favorite book. It's twisted and creative, full of old stories yet somehow retaining its own identity. It's almost a hybrid of Chronicles of Narnia, Labrynth, and something darker that is uniquely Connolly's.

It's an alright book to read, but I will add that I probably won't recommend it to anyone.

It didn't really pull me in though I did want to find out what was happening, so I continued to read it. Not a bad story. I did like a few of the main characters.

There was just something missing.

I generally liked this book, but after reading the loads of "supplementary" material someone decided to shove in at the end, I have to say that I lost a great deal of respect for the author and his story. It was a bit like a magician who shows you all his tricks at the end; the magic dries up quick. But even before reading all the bad bits I think I liked Angela Carter better.

I don't even know how I feel about this book. This book is a coming of age story centering around David, a boy who has recently lost his mother and is living with his father, step mother and new half brother. David loves to read fairy tales and lives in an attic surrounded by books. Needless to say, he has no fond feelings for Rose, his stepmother, or Georgie, his half brother, because he feels that these people have replaced his and his mother's place in his father's eyes. One night, after hearing the voice of his dead mother, David slips into a dark, dangerous fantasy world where he must find his way home.

NOW, this sounds like a number of other stories I've read. I'm a big fan of retelling a classic children's story ("Count Cain", "Godchild", "Once Upon a Crime"). With that said, I WOULD NEVER PUT THIS IN THE HANDS OF ANY CHILD. The story is a great fantasy representation of leaving behind the dependency and unabashed emotion of childhood, but the execution is all wrong.

Many of the retelling involve sexually deviant (like people & animals) aspects, torture, or other disturbing themes. If you want a book that does the same things without giving your children nightmares or destroying everything Disney worked so hard to build go buy a copy of Master of the Grove by Victor Kelleher.

I was really interested by the story from the book descripton on the back, but now thay I have read it... it draged on quite a bit and it was too fantasy-ish. Almost like a wanna be Alice In Wonderland, but not good. I expected more from Connolly.

Don't even THINK about allowing a child to read this - or even a teen lost in his own "goth" moment. Connolly has reached far into the earth and pulled up homosexuality, erotic thoughts, murder, gore - any evil thing possible to put a poll of black around the reader and then has the nerve to charge $16.00 for his own perversion. It's been said that if an irishman was a boomerang he wouldn't come home, he would just cry and whine and write stories about why he wanted to come home. This is what this melancholy, dark soul has done in this book. My advice to you is "don't read" and my advice to Connolly is "seek help immediately" --- what a distasteful, loathsome tome!

I bought this book because it was recommended summer high school reading. If you like a combination of old fairy tales, comic book hero shenanigan- type activities, and gore this might appeal to you. I can't believe some high school English teachers thought this was a good read. I wish I hadn't spent the money. It's awful.

This book is a rehash of what has been done many times before, and been done far better. The use of reworked fairly tales to explain growth and a child's travels to adulthood is an old concept, and sadly this book does not do it well. There is virtualy NO character development, and there are many characters we can't and don't care about. THE BOOK OF LOST THINGS should stay lost... it is TRITE, TRIVIAL, BORING and poorly written. Even the attempts at humor (those communistic dwarfs, for example) fall flat. Try something better, and don't waste your money on this one. I got it from our local library, and they can keep it.

What is a "young adult" anyway? Either you're an adult or you're not.Oh, well---I, like many other readers, love John Connolly. I think it must be inconvenient that there's another writer with the same last name who is also very popular. But Michael C. can't hold a candle to John C. Charlie Parker is a fascinating, troubled, flawed and deeply intelligent guy. I even started listening to Ryan Adams and Pinetop Seven because of these books.
But, like another talented writer, China Mieville, who left his New Corbuzon novels for the insipid Un Lun Dun (even the title is stupid), John Connolly couldn't resist writing a "young adult" novel. I don't know if it's the Harry Potter in these writers, but they need to get a clue. I found The Book of Lost Things to be a rip-off of The Lion, the Witch and Wardrobe and Harry Potter. This book is derivative and silly. Who cares? I didn't even like the kid. What a whiner!!!11 More Charlie Parker, Mr. Connolly. Please

I thought this would be another version of Inkheart- but it is far, far darker. You wonder what sort of sick mind the author must have. Child molestation, child murder, dismemberment, cannibalism, bestiality- this book has them all. Reading this is like having a prolonged drug-induced nightmare. Maybe some readers enjoy that- I don't. Definitely NOT a book to give to a kid- unless you really hate the kid.

I had to quit this book halfway through because I found it so disturbing. It is violent and it is explicit and it is gory. What finally made me say enough was when I got to the part about a woman hunter's experiments cutting heads off of people and merging them with animal bodies. We get to watch her drag herself out of her cottage using her hands after the protagonist tricks her and cuts her in half. I couldn't help but ask myself WHO IS THIS STORY FOR? It certainly isn't for the age group of the protagonist, who is a pre-teen. Neil Gaiman writes dark stuff for this age group that I love. This is darker than dark, and without any of the magic. The few moments that were interesting or held together as a story soon went by the wayside.

I must say that the main thing that alarmed me about the novel is it's misogyny. The evil characters so far as I read, except for the Crooked man, are all women, and we are frequently given very grisly accounts of the children exacting their revenge -- for example Gretal burning the witch alive in the oven, and the protagonist cutting the hunter (who I had assumed, before she took off her hood or whatever she was wearing, was a man) in half and her hand and leaving her to be torn apart by her creations. Sure she's got a salve to heal up the wounds, but she's naked and she's cut in two! And what's up with the nudity? The harpies' unattractive nudity is mentioned as is that of the hunter, who for some inexplicable reason goes to bed nude in addition to stripping down before having the protagonist cut her in half to make her into a centaur.

Oh, and did I forget to mention that the wolf in little red riding hood was just minding his own business in the forest until the perverted young woman made his sleep with her, thus creating dangerous abominations that threaten the forest? Or the Snow White who is repulsively and morbidly obese, vain and stupid whose relationship to the seven dwarves is one of petulant petty dictator?

I have never read any of Connolly's adult novels, and now I guess I never will. I cannot overstate how distasteful (not to mention pointless, as far as I got in it) that I found this novel to be.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I took it out when I went sunbathing and came back with the deepest burn I've ever had because I just had to finish the book! It is an amazing adventure into the imagination.

But it's getting a 1 star because the paperback, something that takes up vital resources, employs more people for the production, maintenance and selling of the book, costs more than the Kindle version, something that cuts out a lot more people in the process. Most publishers these days want manuscripts and books emailed or in some digital media when it comes to the editor - it wouldn't take much more effort to reprogram it (something they already do for placing it on a physical media) to an e-book layout.

This is ridiculous! the store, the publishers, who ever is raising the prices on e-books, this needs to stop!

The synopsis sounded interesting so I thought I'd give it a try. Immediately there was something about the book that put me off. I don't know if it was the writing style or what. It seemed too simplistic, almost dumbed down. I felt like I was reading a book written by a high schooler. But I'll read anything, so I gave it a chance. The story was somewhat decent but the execution was just too horrible to make it an enjoyable read. I didn't feel connected to the story or characters. Whenever a character died, I felt nothing. And beware: the author is preachy and homophobic. All I can say, I guess, is that if you still want to read it don't waste your money, get it from the library.

This book is horrible. It started out okay, then kept getting worse and worse and worse, and then I kept reading to see if it would get better, and it didn't. Worst book I've ever read. An employee at Border's recommended it to me because I liked The Thirteenth Tale. I still can't look at that man the same when I go in Border's. What was he thinking?