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Loading... The Secret of Lost Things (original 2007; edition 2008)by Sheridan Hay
Work InformationThe Secret of Lost Things by Sheridan Hay (2007)
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. The secret of lost things is the story of Rosemary Savage, a native of Tasmania who loses her mother at age 18. A bookstore owner and friend of the family gives her a ticket to New York and her new life begins. She finds a job in a book store and meets its employees: Walter Geist, the store's manager and an albino; owner George Pike; Pearl, a transgender cash register operator, Robert Mitchell, rare books curator; Arnold, in charge of art and photography; Oscar, head of non-fiction; and several others. She begins her stay at the Martha Washington Hotel for Women where she befriends Lillian, the receptionist who is from South America. The relationships between the characters becomes a large part of the book, especially the friendship between Pearl and Lillian, whose son was one of the "disappeared" in Argentina. (And, along with apartment prices helps date the story to late 70'sor early 80s.) The story is also a mystery into the lost manuscript of Melville, The Isle of the Cross. Rosemary and Oscar research the work at the local library, while Rosemary becomes more involved with Mr. Geist. Author Sheridan Hay lists the sources used by Rosemary and Oscar and gives citations for all quotes used in the book. She a;lso goes into more detail about the events in Argentina to help explain the "disappeared," persons who were killed for their political views. The book is compelling and reads quickly. This is Sheridan Hay's only book to date, which is a shame as I'd like to read more of her work. Lovely book about the mystery of bookstores. A red-haired Tasmanian orphan moves to Manhattan in the late 1970s and begins work in a used book store where she becomes enmeshed in the search for a mysterious Melville manuscript. Echoes of Borges, Moby Dick - a tad twee in places but overall, quite a good read. Such a disappointment. Almost gave it two stars, but at least I did finish it. The book had such an interesting premise, but was poorly developed. I couldn't ever connect with the characters. It's been described as a coming of age story, but even being 18 can't explain the abysmally poor judgement of the main character. ”
Hay's debut has all the elements of a literary thriller, but they don't quite come together. When Hay leaves the 19th century and bounds back to the weird world of the bookstore, she’s a lyrical, exciting writer. Rosemary is an unspoiled innocent, a quality that attracts the others, and it’s partly because of her that the novel, while so literary in its aspirations, isn’t pretentious. Awards
Eighteen years old and completely alone, Rosemary arrives in New York from Tasmania with little more than a love of books and eagerness to explore the city she's read so much about. She begins her search for independence with appealing enthusiasm, and the moment she steps into the Arcade bookstore, she knows she has found a home. The gruff owner, Mr. Pike, gives her a job sorting through piles of books and helping the rest of the staff, a group as odd as the characters in a Dickens novel. But when a letter arrives from someone seeking to "place" a lost manuscript by Herman Melville, the simmering ambitions and rivalries of the Arcade staff rise to a boiling point. No library descriptions found. |
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10/03/2020:
I read The Secret of Lost Things in 2008, and I didn't even remember it. I still fill the same about this book I felt 12 years ago. Appreciated the descriptiveness of the novel, it was unique and compelling. The plot did fall a bit short, though. It was not terrible throughout most of the story; there was a mystery and what was promising to be an exciting climax. The thrilling climax, for me, really never came. The ending fell short, and there wasn't a clear message.
None of the characters were particularly likable to me, and I couldn't understand why Rosemary was so in love with Oscar. Also, it bothered me that all the people that worked in the shop seemed to be so vicious.
I am happy that this book is a library one. ( )