The Book of Lost Things (The Book of Lost Things, #1) in Building a SciFi/Fantasy Library

Apr 10, 2008 Mir rated it really liked it

Shelves: parallel-dimensions, mythology, fairy-tale, fantasy, books, cover-love

This striking dark fantasy follows an unhappy boy's journey through a nightmarish mythical landscape.

Having already lost his mother to illness, unfortunate David proceeds to lose his brother, his safe home, and his innocence is short succession, followed by some new friends he makes along the way.

But there's always something more to be lost... ...more

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May 04, 2009 Schnaucl rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, owned, fantasy, june, read_2009, young_adult

The story takes place at the beginning of WWII. David's mother dies after an extended illness early in the book and his father quickly remarries. They move into his step-mother's house. A voracious reader, he spends a lot of time exploring the books in his new room. He hears the books talking to each other, even being influenced by books next to them on the shelf, which is a concept I loved. It would certainly make me rethink how I organize my library (I'm boring, it's alphabetical by author).

Th ...more

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Apr 04, 2008 emily rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: owned-physical, adventure-action-survival, fantasy, 2008-to-2010, gods-myths-folklore

I utterly adored this book. The way the author structured the ending (not the climax of David's quest but the denouement, if you will) was not to my taste, and sadly left me with more of a 'meh' feeling than I wanted -- but everything leading up to it was quite literally breathtaking. Connolly weaves fairy tales into a very adult story, giving us fresh perspectives on well-known tales-- reminding me very much of some of Emma Donoghue's retellings, or Francesca Lia Block's. David's quest and pass ...more

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Jun 18, 2008 Amy rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2009, fantasy

This is a dark book about a boy adjusting to the loss of his mother. They shared a love for reading, particularly fairy tale stories. After her death (and his father's remarriage and the birth of a young brother), David hears the books start to talk to him. Soon, he is drawn into a mysterious world full of wolves, dwarves, kings, and other fairy tale characters. The characters he encounters (and the stories he is told along the way) are all darker versions of traditional tales.

I enjoyed this bo ...more

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Oct 08, 2010 Pamela rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, fantasy

I absolutely loved this book. It starts off slowly, but as soon as David enters the fairytale realm, things pick up with astounding (and horrifying) speed. I don't want to spoil the book at all, so I'll just say that it is amazing, absolutely captivating and beautiful and sad, and I am going to push it on everyone I know. ...more

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Apr 12, 2010 Amy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, 2010

This book is an extremely dark and lovely take on fairy tales, written in a deceptively simple and beguiling style. The child, David, loses his mother to illness, and books are almost his only solace. He tumbles into another world, and there he meets figures from the tales he has read, but reconfigured.

This truly is one of the most thought-provoking and striking books I've read in a while. I also appreciated Connolly's inclusion of notes on the tales he refashioned - it was fascinating to read ...more

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Dec 21, 2007 hh rated it liked it

Shelves: fiction, sff, 2010

there were some moments where i wasn't psyched by the shift in narratorial perspective and some clumsily saccharine bits. it's nit-picky of me though. i really couldn't put this down and enjoyed it immensely. connolly creates a thoroughly enjoyable, character-driven fantasy world. the author is at his best when he's in pure storytelling mode, rather than explanatory mode. ...more

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Sep 16, 2007 Ellis rated it it was amazing

Shelves: kids-books-for-adults, sci-fi_fantasy

From the cover to the description, you think this is Harry Potter-esque but the more you read, the more you realize this is pure candy for adults. It's a little too heavy, dark, yucky for children--maybe mature YAs.

Regarldess, it's a remarkable story and I do mean story. Connolly has created a bedtime story for adults. ...more

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Oct 20, 2008 Heather rated it really liked it

This was creepy, poetic, intriguing and whimsical. While not perfect--dawdled a bit, ending too tidy for my taste--it reminded me how much I love English fantasies from time to time. That aura of mystery paired with a love of language will always snare my interest. Nicely done.

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