Book Review: “The Book of Lost Things”
Just finished reading John Connolly’s The Book of Lost Things. I’d heard about/read about this book when it came out and meant to pick it up, but never did. Two years later and I saw it on sale at the local Borders, so it became mine.
I liked the description of the book:
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.
but even more I liked the cover art, so simple but twisted, intricate and decorative but somehow also malevolent. Good job cover artist, whoever you are. Crap, now I am going to have to go look that up, aren’t I?
Anyway, picked it up on Thursday evening and dove in on Friday, it’s a short but intense read. I couldn’t decide if I appreciated the author’s somewhat choppy style; the writing was at times a bit staccato, reminding me of books written for children, though this book wasn’t something I would ever give to a child in my care. It was the story of a child, sure, and it was about things that typically happen in children’s stories, OK. But the dark and twisted violence in this story (though probably closer to the murky musings of an actual child than most modern fairy tales) isn’t something I’d want to insert into the fevered imagination of a child or even pre-teen. Way too many people tortured, burned alive, eaten and mangled for my comfort. The monsters here were way too close to home, serial killers, amoral entities who would destroy you as soon as talk to you - it was too realistic for fantasy. Not to say it wasn’t good - it was good. Just not a children’s book.
I guess I am still muddling over in my head what kind of book it WAS, exactly. The extreme, pervasive violence makes it inappropriate (in my mind at least) for children, the aforementioned choppy writing and overly obvious climax/dénouement make it a little simplistic for adults… but nevertheless I really, really enjoyed it. So perhaps it’s a fairy tale for me. Realistic enough to keep me horrified, comforting and childish enough in its predictability to remind me of a time when I thought things were going to turn out right if only I consistently Tried Hard and Did the Right Thing.
Not perfect, but what is? I am going to give it a “Slender Tampon” rating.
Edit: The cover artist is Robert Ryan, his charming work can be seen here http://www.misterrob.co.uk/
Edit again: And… that just became birthday self-gift #2
6 Responses to “Book Review: “The Book of Lost Things””
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On Wednesday I had an appointment with my solicitor (not sure if you have those in US, so Lawyer) to sign the papers for my new apartment. Appointment was 4.30pm, and I got home at around 4pm, so went straight there and had 20 minutes to kill. I went for a browse in the local chepa bookshop and bought this exact same book.
Just up to chapter 7 so far (been away for the weekend and bought some more books yesterday so read one of those today) but I’ll continue with it tonight.
I’ll pop back and read what you thought of it after I’ve finished it.
Can’t wait to hear what you thought of it. Sometime soonish I should finish “Soon I will be Invincible” shouldn’t I? *ahem*
Oh yeah, I’m dropping the Vulcan Long-Distance Mind Meld now…frankly, as a simple country boy who lives in a sheltered valley, I’m a little embarrassed at some of the things I’ve seen in your mind ;-P
I think I’d have to say the author was going for “Adult Fairytale” since as you said the writing was reminiscent of something for children, but the content and themes were adult. Actually suits me overall because I tend to read a lot of stuff that is aimed at “young adults” - like the Forgotten Realms stuff by R A Salvatore and the Discworld books.
Only disappointment for me was the very end as the child grows up - I thought the author was unnecessarily hammering home the point that life is unfair.
My prediction for the future of this book? Someone in Hollywood will find it and decide to make it into a film. But they’ll take out the deaths. And make the wolves more cuddly. And move the start from wartime England to modern-day Generic US Small Town. Oh, and maybe give the kid some special magic powers so we all know he’s a bit heroic - possibly get someone to call him a “Chosen One” or something.
I second your prediction, and the Loups will be done with very low-budget CGI too. Also, in your head, how were you pronouncing “Leroi?” “Lee-roy” or “Leh-wra” (or something like that) like the French phrase? It distracted me every time I saw it in the text, wondering.
BTW - Agree with you that the cover art is very nice, and I took a look at the link to the artists site you posted. Probably what drew my attention to the book also. Strange that it’s on sale both here and in the US at the same time.