The Book Of Lost Things by John Connolly

[Nollaig]

I read it in a day! He could easily have added another 100 pages and added slightly more detail (or a sense of more time passing, I felt it all seemed to happen very quickly) but perhaps thats just me wanting too much of a good thing! I loved it though

[Anika]

I read this book after reading his short story collection, 'Nocturnes' and loved both of them! He's one of my new favorite writers!

[Nollaig]

I read this book after reading his short story collection, 'Nocturnes' and loved both of them! He's one of my new favorite writers!

 

You should try his newest one, "The Gates".

[MuggleMagic]

adding this to my reading list

[Anika]

You should try his newest one, "The Gates".

 

 

Thanks! I'll look for that one!

[Kate]

Synopsis:

High in his attic bedroom, twelve-year-old David mourns the death of his mother, with only the books on his shelf for company. But those books have begun to whisper to him in the darkness. Angry and alone, he takes refuge in his imagination and soon finds that reality and fantasy have begun to meld. While his family falls apart around him, David is violently propelled into a world that is a strange reflection of his own -- populated by heroes and monsters and ruled by a faded king who keeps his secrets in a mysterious book, The Book of Lost Things

 

I didn't know what to expect when I started this, but in truth: I loved it. John Connolly has played with the idea of fairy tales and children's nightmares - he has taken them and made them into an adventure. The story centres around David, a boy whose life changes when his mother dies. His father re-marries and they move to the country. There David finds himself spending most of his time in the attic surrounded by old books. World War 2 is taking place, and one night, having thought he had heard his mother calling him David goes into the garden, just as a German bomber crash lands. David finds himself transported into another world. Here he faces wolves that have started to morph into men, monsters and Crooked Man.

 

I loved what Connolly did with this. The wolves, or Loups, came out of the story of Little Red Riding Hood, the monster which followed David came from his nightmares and the enchantress in the tower came from Rapunzel. Connolly has taken these childhood fairy tales and made them into violent, adult stories, and battles which David has to face. The worst for me was the Crooked Man, who steals children to expand his life. The descriptions of his actions and his torture chambers were horrific and not for the faint hearted.

 

I wouldn't call this book scary but it is intense and some of the things David and his friends fight are quite chilling. This is quite violent and graphic, but so readable. I didn't want to put this down, I was engrossed. I wanted to know what David would have to battle, what happened to the king and how the story would end. This book was exciting and full of adventure. There was not a dull moment in this book.

 

I loved the characters Connolly created and how they evolved. At first I felt empathy for David, then I was anxious for his welfare, and by the end I was confident in him and happily cheering him on. He matured and became fearless, and I liked how things worked out for him. The men who helped David were courageous and fun to read. I loved the dwarfs the most. They are not like they are in Snow White - and neither is she in this book. All I could do was laugh at the situation and their attitudes - they were very funny!

 

There was nothing to dislike about this book. I can easily give it 5/5. I loved it :-)

 

I did think there was a thread for this but I couldn't find it

Edited July 28, 2010 by Michelle
merged for you

[Jess]

Oh gosh this book is just amazing! I was actually in Asda and they were selling loads of books off for £1 each so I picked up a big pile and this happened to be one of them. It sat on my shelf for a good 6 months with the summary really putting my off reading it but a couple of weeks ago I decided to get stuck in and at least try it.

I would say the first 50 pages are a little hard going but then the action really starts. I loved what the Author has done with his characters and the storyline is just brilliant.

 

Having the seven dwarfs trying to kill off Snow White? And always moaning about how unfair they are treated? Pure brilliance.