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