The Luster of Lost Things

By: Sophie Chen Keller

Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne

In this story for readers of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and A Man Called Ove, when all seems lost, he finds what matters most.

Walter Lavender Jr. is a master of finding. A wearer of high-tops. A maker of croissants. A son keeping vigil, twelve years counting.

But he wouldn’t be able to tell you. Silenced by his motor speech disorder, Walter’s life gets lonely. Fortunately, he has The Lavenders—his mother’s enchanted dessert shop, where marzipan dragons breathe actual fire. He also has a knack for tracking down any missing thing—except for his lost father.

So when the Book at the root of the bakery’s magic vanishes, Walter, accompanied by his overweight golden retriever, journeys through New York City to find it—along the way encountering an unforgettable cast of lost souls.

Steeped in nostalgic wonder, The Luster of Lost Things explores the depths of our capacity for kindness and our ability to heal. A lyrical meditation on why we become lost and how we are found, from the bright, broken heart of a boy who knows where to look for everyone but himself.

a jubilant story about human connection

If, like me, you are desperately seeking a sweet escape from the appalling, unpredictable, scary place our world is fast deteriorating into, look no further: you have found your story. Young Walter Lavender, with his trusty retriever companion, Milton, is on a quest to find a lost treasure. Overcoming his fears and a speech impediment, he journeys through and beneath the streets of NYC connecting with memorable characters along the way. Though this is a contemporary novel, there is a timelessness to this tale which lends it a fable-like quality. Keller's luscious descriptions lean towards the fantastical (especially when describing the sweet treats to be found in Lucy Lavender's shop) but feel like they could germinate from any 12-year old's imagination. Make no mistake though, this is a tale for adults to savor and is so much more than the fantasy it is being marketed as. The true magic in this book is the joy it engenders as Walter comes out of his shell, makes unexpected friends and discovers how small acts of kindness can change a life, especially his own.

Kirby Heyborne breathes life into Walter and the other characters with pitch perfect narration. I think this would be an enjoyable book to read but I'm glad I listened instead. In fact, I actually discovered this audiobook through my local library and when I was done and realized Audible had no reviews yet, I bought the book which I know I'll enjoy re-listening to so I could encourage fellow audiophiles to take a listen and hopefully bring this novel to the attention of Audible editors so they might highlight it and help others find this treasure.

Delicate and Beautiful Story of Loss and Love

This book is a journey, the hero's journey, of a young man and all those who enter his world as he finds his path and spreads kindness.

Keller is a literary wizard

Lustrous descriptions aren’t for everyone, but if you love a perfect blend of story and prose, you’ve found it. Keller brings Walter Lavender into your heart. A young boy who’s lost so much but has never lost hope finds himself on a quest to find more than he realized he had lost. Beautiful story. Thank you, Sophie, for sharing you heart and your whimsical genius.

Thank you!

This was an amazingly unique story that I didn't realize I needed to hear until after I had listened to it.

Some magical, meaningful sections

I loved the beginning chapters of this book, but the story gets bogged down and tedious midway through. There is some kind-hearted wisdom dispersed in the pages, but the plot is contrived.