The Book of Lost Things: A Novel
by John Connolly
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Book Summary Information
Author: John ConnollyEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2006-11-07
ISBN: 0743298853
Number of pages: 352
Publisher: Atria Books
Book Reviews of The Book of Lost Things: A Novel
Book Review: Enjoy the reading of a sublime novel!!
Summary: 5 Stars
The Book of Lost Things: The lost things, yes, as well as the sometimes "LOST" passion, dedication, and charming pleasures in reading a good and well-written book. It is difficult to find the "one adjective" I would use if someone were to ask me to resume this novel in one word. I read a lot of books (and of all kinds and genres), but very seldom (unfortunately) I feel a sense of melancholy and nostalgia once I have finished it. These mixed feelings, after all, are most positive. I think that one of the greatest satisfactions for a writer is the ability to condense in very few sentences what the gist of the novel is - in short, what it wishes to convey. The last two chapters of this book are sublime and yet unpretentious. I have finished reading the book, and yet I am not able to close it or put it aside. Why? Well, somehow, I must admit a feeling of emptiness. Emptiness, yes! As absurd as it may sound, well I have finished reading this novel, and am having difficulties shifting my attention over other books. Yes, this book (in its simplicity) is outstanding!!
OUTSTANDING! Yes, outstanding because it is not the fairy-tale that sometimes appears to be. David is the adolescent protagonist of this book, and the one who happens to travel in two different worlds. One is the world as we come to know it, or the world of reality. The second one is a metaphysical world, where anything can happen. This journey is beyond time. It could be the journey of a day, a week, a year, or a life. It's not a matter of time, but rather a matter of change. The adolescent David, rather shy and clumsy, but gifted with remarkable cognitive abilities as well as an unlimited curiosity and wish to know more (the passion and companionships with his old books, books that at times become anthropomorphic) enters the unknown metaphysical world as a fearful and unsecure boy. His story reminds me of the Jungian Collective Unconscious, or the Unconscious that is shared by all human beings. It is the wealth of experiences, ideas, and truths accumulated since the first mind came to being. It is a metaphysical conceptualization that repeats itself over and over. Anything is possible in that world as it is built upon mythology, folk-tales, epics, and legends. By means of metaphors and symbols, David goes through a metamorphosis: From the hanged man or the joker he becomes the hero, or probably the Archetypes of Strength and Justice. David becomes the Hero. Long life to David, our Hero.
The adolescent David and his tribulations remind me of `Santiago,' the boy character who appears in another lovely book ("The Alchemist" written by the Nobel-prize winner Paulo Coelho, 1988). The two boys, as metaphorically most of us, choose (or are bound) to travel years (physically, mentally, psychologically, and through dreams) in search of something, of someone, or a meaning - only to find out that what they (or we) are looking for are often times already very close to us. We do not notice them because they are already there. We give for granted that whoever is close to us is somehow less interesting. We engage in metaphysical trips with the conviction that we deserve better things, better people, or whatever is part of our secret wishes.
"The Book of the Lost Things" is a novel. At times it seems like reading a fairy-tale. My admiration goes to the author, John Connolly, and his choice of using a blend of mythological accounts as well as some of the symbolically most powerful tales of our childhood. With a well-balanced use of metaphysical concepts (the innuendo of a world similar to the Jungian Collective Unconscious), plus what someone would define a (skilled) "words salad" (a compound of folk-tales, ballades, epics, and surreal legends), Connolly has enriched us with a very pleasant and eloquent novel. The book conveys a number of powerful messages neatly imbibed with fair wisdom. The reading of this novel will please those who have a flexible mind. The book although at times descriptive, flows extremely well. Once the reader gets caught by the novel, s/he might then be able to notice that through an almost imperceptible but ardent abstraction, the author is sending a series of powerful subliminal messages. The book uses a number of intense metaphors, symbolisms, and is supported by mythological wisdom. It reminds me a bit of Voltaire's "Animal Farm" and not only because of the war between human beings, wolves, monsters, and loops. In a number of ways the novels is a satire about the meaning of `power.' There are hundreds of ways to acquire power, and yet often it appears to be unachievable. Power is like a game. Many believe that certain behaviors will lead them to control others (more than themselves). However it goes, power is a central theme in this book, and danger is a constant variable. Now, who will then achieve power here? The last two chapters offer some valid suggestions, but most of all, imply some interesting qualities of character that are somehow necessary in the climbing of the ladder.
Enjoy the reading of this delightful novel. I hope you will not consider it as a waste of time. The Book of the Lost Things: Obviously, this title is also a powerful metaphor. The Lost Things - keep in mind those, and the fact that some of the Lost Things are not always lost forever. Enjoy the novel.....and the metaphysical journey!!
Summary of The Book of Lost Things: A Novel
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.Taking readers on a vivid journey through the loss of innocence into adulthood and beyond, New York Times bestselling author John Connolly tells a dark and compelling tale that reminds us of the enduring power of stories in our lives.
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