A great adaptation of Rumplestiltskin with many other elements of fairy tales intertwined. I couldn't put this book down! ( )

Excellent, and moving in it's symplistic style. An interesting twist on fairytales many of us are familiar with. There is a difinite dark feel to the book, but not in a way that is vulgar, disturbing or unecessary. ( )

I'd never read John Connolly before and it turns out he's usually writes in the thriller genre. But this tale could be shelved under fantasy. It's the story of a young boy named David who lives in World War II-era London. After losing his mother to an illness, he's not too crazy about the new woman in his father's life and then, whoa, he enters into another realm. This realm is ruled by a mysterious king and overrun with all manner of beasts. And David needs to be particularly wary of the Crooked Man. He goes through a series of adventures that are pretty hair-raising in a dark fairy-tale sort of way. And there's one comic interlude I was chuckling at that involved seven dwarves. Great story. ( )

This creepy fairy tale is the story of one twelve year old boy named David, who is deeply troubled by the recent loss of his mother. On top of this, David's father becomes intimate with another woman just months later, remarries, and the two of them have another son. When David and his father move into his stepmother Rose's old family home, David is still mourning his mother and feeling resentful and jealous of his stepmother and new baby brother. In addition, his country is at war (WWII), which for his father means late nights at work, and Georgie, the new baby, keeps both parents sleep deprived and on edge. It's a rough time in general, and David's emotional problems make this domestic scene worse.

David and his mother shared a love for books, and with this knowledge, the good-intentioned Rose gives David the room that once belonged to her great uncle Jonathan, because it still contains so many of the books her uncle loved, and David seems to be so much like him. David later learns that Jonathan, along with an adopted little sister, wandered off one day and the two were never seen again. It was a family tragedy that was never explained.

Until now. This is a coming-of-age fairy tale in which a boy is lured away by an evil force, but fights his way back to return as a young man. David's character is transformed through his adventures and the lessons he learns about life and himself along the way. The adventures that John Connolly conjures are very scary, the characters fascinating. I'm impressed. Many of the situations are recognizable distortions of familiar fairy tales; take one of the Grimm stories and turn it into a more adult, grotesque nightmare, and you get the general idea. This tale is paced well, and I enjoyed reading it. I was in the mood for something very different and I found it! ( )

I loved this book! It is full of fantasy and adventure, while moving through a world that is both real and made-up all at the same time. This is one that we all can relate to! ( )

Wow...where should I start? I checked The Book of Lost Things out of my local library because I had heard that it was good, and I ended up buying my own copy and lending it to friends. I LOVED this book (and so did my friends).

Connolly has rewritten several classic fairy tales and woven them seamlessly into one larger, modern fairy tale. I particularly enjoyed that fact that the story revolves around a struggling adolescent male rather than the traditionally meek young female. In the story, David's mother dies then his father remarries and has another son rather quickly. In addition to navigating the challenges of childhood, David must now also deal with his feelings toward his new mother and brother. The pressure eventually becomes too great, so David escapes by entering the world of his books. However, instead of being a safe and comforting, David finds that the new world is even more dangerous and frightening than the one he left. He is forced to journey through the countryside and play parts in the fairy tales he remembers in order to find a way to return to his family.

I had a hard time putting this book down. It's a fantastic adult fairy tale that combines all the best elements of childhood tales with more mature elements to produce a truly satisfying experience. ( )

Although Connolly's take on several older fairy tales, woven into an overarching story, is certainly dark and disturbing, this book was heartbreakingly sincere and hopeful. Definitely not for younger readers, but I would recommend it to almost anyone else. ( )

John Connolly's The Book of Lost Things is a postmodern take on the classic fairy tale. Told through the eyes of David, a 12-year-old boy living in England at the beginning of World War II, it is a scrumptious book that is impossible to put down.

After losing his mother to a painful and debilitating illness, David's world seems to be crumbling around him. Not only does his father remarry quickly, but to add insult to injury, they have a baby, usurping the place David thought he should have within his family. Anger and jealousy fester within David, as he longs for things to go back to the way they were. Through an act of desperation, David is transported to an alternate reality, which seems to draw heavily on the fairy tales he grew up with.

During his journey through the un-named land, David encounters many strange and frightening beings. Many times, he wishes to be back in his own world with all the problems he had there, but he must conquer this new world in order to be released from it. By making his choice between good and evil, David begins to understand the true nature of love and forgiveness. He begins his journey as a child but ends it as a young man, and "all that was lost was found again."

Despite the fact that many of the creatures are shadows from tales of the Brothers Grimm, the story is wholly original in the telling. The Book of Lost Things sparkles with imagination and incredible detail. Connolly cleverly weaves the fabric of his novel around the classic fairy tales we all know and love, but focuses in on the darkness inherent in those tales. The book is well-written and told with the deliberate pace and style of a classic fairy tale. The characters are colorful and twisted versions of their familiar fairy tale counterparts, and the enemies step right out of the recesses of your deepest, darkest nightmares.

This is not a story for children (or for the faint of heart for that matter.) The Book of Lost Things is delightfully creepy, and I can't imagine the kind of nightmares it might produce in the child reading it. That being said, it was a truly delicious read, and I loved every minute of it. ( )

Everyone has their favorite childhood fairy tales, memories of hearing riveting stories as early as one can remember. And everyone remembers their most haunting childhood nightmare, the dark dreams which kept them awake night after night, afraid to fall asleep for fear of what might be found there. In his exquisitely-written novel, The Book of Lost Things, John Connolly recalls for his readers those childhood feelings and memories - the favored tales and primal fears - and brings them together in a hauntingly bittersweet coming of age story.

The book centers around David, a twelve year old boy, who has trouble coping with his mother's death and his father's remarriage. As his life dramatically shifts from what he knew of his childhood to the terrifying unknown of adolescence, David turns to his books and favorite stories for comfort. That is, until the new baby arrives. The definite line between David's imagination and reality begins to blur, and soon David finds himself on an epic journey through the stories he remembers and the fears he does not as he struggles to find himself amongst the convoluted nightmare of his imagination.

Connolly, an experienced writer of thriller novels, uses his craft to bring readers into that terrifying point in one's life between childhood and adulthood as he shows David's struggle to navigate the changes in his life. With guest appearances by some classic fairy-tale characters, The Book of Lost Things is an excellent read for anyone who has ever been afraid of growing up. ( )

Great book! On the eve of WWII in late 1939, 12 year old David, whose father remarries after his mother's death, is full of animosity and resentment. He immerses himself in books and imagination that suddenly turn into 'his reality'. Many different characters fill the book with on his quest to return from being "Lost'- The Woodsman, Roland, Leroi, Fletcher, Crooked Man and many more. The book is like Alice in Wonderland meets Wicked meets the movie Labyrinth/Neverending Story... I enjoyed it and would recommend it if you like any of the books/movies listed - 4 stars... ( )

Couldn't get past the first chapter or so. ( )

After 118 reviews what more can be said for such a great book. Will be on my best reads for 2009. ( )

Although I thoroughly enjoy a good fairy tale, this book truly takes them to a whole new level of disturbing. It begins with a boy named David who has a close relationship to his mother. They both share a love of books that other people may not share. The books for them are more than just stories, but are more like members of their family. Now the boy's mother dies and he is forever devastated. Not more than six months had pasted since his mother dies, when his father takes up with a woman named Rose. She gets pregnant and they move into her family home. David goes through all kinds of feelings of betrayal by his father to him and his mother. He is determined not to be friendly to Rose and then to his new brother. Then he makes a discovery of the books in his new room. They seem to speak to him and actually seem alive. He ends up finding himself in another world of disturbing fairy tale characters when he was following the voice of his mother. High school students who enjoy a good disturbing mystery will enjoy this one. I am still not sure how I feel however. Snow White will never be the same. ( )

There is no wonder why this book received an Alex Award in 2007 and why adolescents might be so enthrolled in it, even though officially it is an adult book. It deals with one of the most important, if not the most important experience they go through - the transition from childhood into adulthood. What is so captivating about The Book of Lost Things, though, is that it deals with this subject so successfully without giving up on the fantasy and the supernatural so many kids love, live in and live with on a daily basis. In a way Connolly presents us with a maturation that happens without pushing out the childhood world completely. Added to that is the incredible imagination of the author with so many bizarre and unusual sitations through which the twelve year old main character has to go in order to transition to adulthood. Thus, not only are the success and popularity of this story inevitable, but in a way the only logical and natural consequence. Let's not forget also, for all the booklovers out there, this is a hymn in praise of the power of books like no other. If one ever scrambled to explain why reading is so addictive a hobby and how books can acquire a life of their own, have them just recommend this book. That's all that's necessary. ( )

David is struggling to accept his new life. His mother has died, his father has married another woman, and now he has a new baby brother. When he is moved to the country side outside of London to escape the threat of German bombings, David slips further into the world of his beloved books. His favorites are the fairy tales. Not long after moving to the country David sets about exploring a sunken garden behind the house and slips through a crack in a garden wall and emerges into a different world, one where fairy tale characters abound. David soon discovers that the only way to get back home is to journey forward to see the King. But his journey is made difficult by the constant threat of the loupes and their ever growing army of wolves.
While the story is ripe with fairy tales, it is not a children's book. Connolly strips fairy tales down to their essence, revealing their often cruel lessons of life. This is a coming of age story that follows the journey of a young boy as he deals with intense tragedy, initially escaping into a world of fantasy, but ultimately facing his worst fears in a brutal world. Throughout his journey David faces gruesome villains against which he learns to wield a sword to survive. Connolly has done a masterful job of giving new life to classic tales as he weaves them throughout his story. ( )

(HS Fantasy) This book completely envelopes the reader in another world. One can feel the damp, cold haunted quality of Rose’s house and the untamed peril of the fairytale world. Moreover, the David’s quest succeeds on two levels. The development of his character is compelling and believable. The journey follows the archetypal structure of the hero’s journey, providing a universal resonance. Be warned though: no one lives happily ever after in this book. David’s life is ultimately very sad and the ending is bittersweet. All in all, though, a great book and a wonderful read. ( )

Up to this point in my 29 years of living, so far, this is my absolute favorite book. The writing submerged you from the very beginning and never let go until the very end. Afterward, I offered this book to my Mom, who isn't normally a fan of these "type" of stories, but her too, was hooked, and truly loved it as well. Wonderful writing, with wonderful characters. ( )

A fantastic novel, I would say suitable for all ages. a colourful twist on old fairy tales. ( )

Young David loves stories and books, but not as much as he loves his mother. After she dies, and his father remarries, David begins to hear whispers from the books on his shelves -- then he starts seeing the Crooked Man.

Soon David finds himself lured by the voice of his mother into a strange and dangerous land that seems somehow familiar.

This is a dark and compelling fantasy that feels familiar, like an old classic re-read. It is not a children's fairy tale; the stories in this book are deeper and darker than anything Disney.

Review by Ms. DuVall

This book is a good book-reader's book. It is an interesting portrayal of how books seep into our unconscious mind and change our view of the world. An especially good weaving of fairy and folk tales into modern literature, the story is fresh and worth reading every page. It is a solid coming of age tale, and provides an interesting perspective on overcoming or being overpowered by grief. It provides a full anthology of the tales referenced in the book at the book's end, so novices to these stories can read up before or after to gain the full effect. I highly recommend to those who like dark fantasy. ( )

While I enjoyed the retelling of fairy tales inside this book, the overall story arch that surrounded them seemed a bit.. weak. I haven't read anything else by this author yet, and I'm not sure if this is a bad example of the solidness of his writing, or if I just won't enjoy his style. ( )

This book is a good book-reader's book. It is an interesting portrayal of how books seep into our unconscious mind and change our view of the world. An especially good weaving of fairy and folk tales into modern literature, the story is fresh and worth reading every page. It is a solid coming of age tale, and provides an interesting perspective on overcoming or being overpowered by grief. It provides a full anthology of the tales referenced in the book at the book's end, so novices to these stories can read up before or after to gain the full effect. I highly recommend to those who like dark fantasy. ( )

The Book of Lost Things jumps out at you. The cover art is beautiful and the premise enticing. Heaps of praise have been handed to it. And the website? Well, it's a shimmering site to behold. Yet, is that enough? Can a fancy website and a ton of praise bear out the book’s worth?

Protagonist David is a twelve-year-old boy who has recently lost his mother. If this weren’t enough, his father has remarried and the woman is pregnant. David’s father has moved them all to his new wife’s countryside home where it's safer from the German WWII bombings in London. In this respect, The Book of Lost Things begins as a fairly standard tale.

But David’s new attic bedroom has a shadow that continues to both taunt and entice. The books that have long afforded David an escape no longer captivate him. A Crooked Man seems to be beckoning, and soon David has entered a world of danger and horrors.

It is David’s entry into the world of the Crooked Man that turns The Book of Lost Things from standard to unique. Fused with both Grimm-like fairy stories and Oz-like wonders, where David must rely on his own wits to bridge the gap between child and adulthood, The Book of Lost Things begins to shimmer much like its elegantly designed cover and website.

The Book of Lost Things seems an all-out bildungsroman: David must make the arduous journey to adulthood while maneuvering through a land of sometimes-conflicting characters. His progress on the other side of the journey is marked by maturation and personal growth. And while the characters David meets seem to be pulled straight from a Grimm’s tale, they are also timelier. They are a twisted version of a Grimm tale, a more psychologically charged foil. The dual settings, WWII and the fantasy world David enters, are both dark and evil-filled places. David’s quest will be a difficult one (as are all journeys out childhood’s door) and his respect and understanding of the bookish will be his saving grace.

David’s love of books and his escape into them, both real and analogous, is the underlying theme in The Book of Lost Things. In many ways, the entire story is an ode to books. Author Connolly's own love of tales must be considerable as his familiarity is brimming. In fact, the only real flaw in the writing is the inclusion of so many references that they become somewhat distracting, causing loss of momentum as the reader pauses to reflect on the origins.

The Book of Lost Things begins with a great opening line, "Once upon a time -- for that is how all stories should begin -- there was a boy who lost his mother," but it ends with an unnecessary epilogue. Readers do not need the know the everyday nuances in adult David’s life. It detracts sorely from the magic the rest of the tale holds and muddies the poignancy of David’s quest and triumph.

Read The Book of Lost Things, because it’s a really good tale, but skip the last chapter. The luminous praise, website and cover reflect the magic that lies within its pages.

Review first published on Many A Quaint & Curious Volume
© Tasses 2007-2009 ( )

This book is an adult version of some children's stories. Each fairy tale of old is given a slightly different twist.

This book is recommended for older YA and adults.

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. ( )