The Book of Lost Things

By: John Connolly

Narrated by: Steven Crossley

High in his attic bedroom, 12-year-old David mourns the loss of his mother. He is angry and he is alone, with only the books on his shelf for company.But those books have begun to whisper to him in the darkness, and as he takes refuge in the myths and fairytales so beloved of his dead mother, he finds that the real world and the fantasy world have begun to meld. The Crooked Man has come, with his mocking smile and his enigmatic words: "Welcome, your majesty. All hail the new king."

With echoes of Gregory Maguire's and C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia, author John Connolly introduces us to a cast of not-quite-familiar characters - like the seven socialist dwarfs who poison an uninvited (and unpleasant) princess and try to peg the crime on her stepmother. Or the Loups, the evil human-canine hybrids spawned long ago by the union of a wolf and a seductive girl in a red cloak.

As war rages across Europe, David is violently propelled into a land that is both a construct of his imagination, yet frighteningly real - a strange reflection of his own world composed of myths and stories, populated by wolves and worse-than-wolves, and ruled over by a faded king who keeps his secrets in a legendary book...The Book of Lost Things.

©2006 John Connolly (P)2006 Recorded Books, LLC.

Kept me listening.

I really enjoyed this book. It started a little bit slow, but once the little boy disappeared into the other world, I couldn't stop listening. You couldn't help rooting for him, and understanding how he thought. The people he met were as interesting as he was.

Chilling... and Utterly Brilliant

A phenomenal book that should never become a Lost Thing, no matter how far - or near - its journey.
Highly recommended, although more so for mature readers (and listeners) - there is violence, and sadness, and loss... much loss. Yet it is a story both touching and ever so sweet...

Brilliantly written and narrated, thank you so much to Mr. Connolly and Mr. Crossley!

Absolutely a joy!

My goodness...what a wonderful tale...kept me hooked from the beginning to end, where I did, I must say, she'd a few tears. I love this author, and truly loved this book. Narrator was right on the mark, also. I can't think of one negative thing to say. I wouldn't really say this is a children's book, and you will see for yourself what I mean by that once you read it. It truly is more of an adult fairy tale. All I know is that I was swept into the story and savored every single word. I highly, highly recommend this book and author. Come, be swept up into this story...you will not regret it. Enjoy!

Not for the faint of heart

The original headline for the review was going to be "What a sweet lesson", but as I thought back on the book, it would have been quite misleading! The story was unique; the premise even more so. If you like a little twist in your fairy tales, this is the book for you!

get lost in the imagination

wonderful story with fairy tail feature
not all happily ever after but a look into the other side of them

Offbeat fairy tale

Insightful, beautifully told. A bit slow at first, but once it takes hold you won’t want to stop.

A Dark, Memorable Fairytale

I read The Book of Lost Things years ago and I never forgot it. I recommended it to several friends who loved it just as much. Set during World War II, this book tells the tale of a young boy, David, who has recently lost his mother. His life is further uprooted when his father remarries and has another son, and they move into an old, mysterious house in the country. David begins to hear voices and suspects there is an evil man prowling around the house. One night, David goes into the garden and he is suddenly transported into another world. It is a world filled with an array of fascinating characters, some of which aim to help David return home and others who mean to harm him. Connolly takes well-known fairy tales and turns them on their head (e.g. Snow White is really a fat, nasty person and the Seven Dwarves are Communists who seek to overthrow her). You will love the Woodsman and Roland and be truly frightened by the Huntress and especially the Crooked Man. Connolly has a magical writing style that is a reminiscent of other fairy tales and he has you hooked with the first few lines. Steven Crossely has a wonderful range for the many characters' voices. I highly recommend this book and believe it will stay in your memory for years to come.

gruesome adult fairytale

I don't like gruesome stories especially with children involved, leaves my soul feeling worse then when I started.

Delightful

Entertaining and enlightening. A book worth the time to listen to it. Bravo. I recommend it to you.

Better than expected

Interesting story with some imaginative twists and turns. The reader was good and the characters well drawn. I liked it.