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The Book of Lost Things Audiobook
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(3.86) - 24,431 listener ratings
Publisher Description
High in his attic bedroom, twelve-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 Wicked and C. S. Lewis's 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.
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"I really wasn't sure what to think of it at first. It was really quirky and became even more so further in, but even in its strangeness, it had that draw to it like you just couldn't put it down - you had to keep reading to see what happened next. It ended up being brilliant and quite genius. I borrowed this book from my Auntie but will definitely get a copy of my own so I can read it again."
— Arianne (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“A moving fable, brilliantly imagined, about the agony of loss and the pain of young adulthood.”
— The Times (London) -
“The Irish thriller-writer breaks new ground with this extravagant fantasy.”
— Kirkus Reviews -
“Despite horrific elements, this tale is never truly frightening, but is consistently entertaining as David learns lessons of bravery, loyalty and honor that all of us should learn.”
— Publishers Weekly
The Book of Lost Things Listener Reviews
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" Pretty good book. Some dark twisted parts to it which were creepy but an interesting enough read. "
— Emily, 2/19/2014 -
" Amazing book! The Crooked Man is a serious trickster, and an amazing character. I love how the main character grew throughout the chapters...from beginning to end...I seriously loved this book! "
— Charmika, 2/13/2014 -
" This is the best book of all time! "
— Stuart, 2/4/2014 -
" I really enjoyed this book because it brought about a different perspective to fairy tales and a modern perspective of them. Parts of it were scary, but Connolly provides great imagery and an amazing story about a young boy growing up and how he struggles to figure out his place in life with his father and new family. "
— Bexa, 2/2/2014 -
" I wish this book was a series! It was such an amazing, wonderful, magical book. I highly recommend this for anyone. "
— Kaytee, 1/28/2014 -
" This was an unexpected book from Connolly. It was dark and creepy and felt like a fairy tale the way they really are. Full of death and pain and blood and lose and sadness. I really liked it. "
— Georgia, 1/21/2014 -
" This book is feast for the mind of an illustrator! "
— Jean, 1/11/2014 -
" A child-appropriate tale with a very dark edge--made for an interesting light read. "
— Keisha, 1/1/2014 -
" I love this book so much :) "
— Meliantha, 12/24/2013 -
" Wasn't in the mood for fantasy. "
— Marcia, 12/9/2013 -
" fantastic read for anyone who has fallen out of the habit of reading "
— Lee, 7/25/2013 -
" Loved the origins at the back of the book "
— Lisa, 7/12/2013 -
" this was a fun read for halloween season. John connolly did a great job with the bad guy. I love how many of the twists and turns revolve around classic fairytale and I thought it was a good story line. there are some morbid scary parts but it added to the mood. "
— Amber, 6/8/2013 -
" Brilliantly written, very cleverly thought out. "
— Olivia, 12/18/2012 -
" This book was really sweet. It's a weird mix of fairy tales in an adult version. While I was reading it, I wasn't sure it was that good. But somehow I couldn't put it down. And I finished it within a week. "
— Kate, 12/8/2012 -
" I thing I may not finish this book "
— Sallie, 10/31/2012 -
" Disappointed...Had expected more from this book after hearing great things about it. "
— Sapna, 5/15/2012 -
" Singularly one of the best books I have ever read. An expert blend of reality and fantasy and a delightful ride through the dark and light of fairy tales. Be on your guard for this one; it won't let you rest and it's not docile. If you liked Raymond Feist's "Faerie Tale", keep going with this one. "
— Tansy, 2/14/2012 -
" This was a fun, quick read. Basically a different spin on all of the familiar folk-tales we've all heard, but maybe a PG-13 version instead of G. I enjoyed Connolly's attention to detail throughout the book. He paints a vivid picture and puts the reader right into the scenes. "
— Erin, 11/1/2011 -
" ...very dark for a children/young adult book... "
— slowreader, 5/20/2011 -
" I actually liked the book until the very last chapter. It was if you were lead up nicely to be really rushed and let down at the end. My thoughts... "
— Soulfulewe, 5/20/2011 -
" A fun story full of fairy tales, many with a new twist. I wouldn't recommend it for kids though, it's pretty violent and twisted at times. "
— Hayley, 5/16/2011 -
" Lots of fairy tales either told in the story or found in the story. Hint: Snow White wasn't someone that was kind to the dwarfs. "
— Ange, 5/10/2011 -
" Again another book I never finished, but really enjoyed what I read, I now have it back out from the libery and hoping to finish it. "
— Victoria, 5/10/2011 -
" Meh. I can't get into the story properly, I think because of the style of writing. Story concept seems cool but it took too long to get into. Unfinished for now.... "
— Olivera, 5/5/2011 -
" This is a book of bizarre (to say the least) fairy tale twists. Some parts are alarming and some are funny, overall, in interesting read so far. Not one of my favorites but an interesting adventure. "
— Lee, 5/1/2011 -
" If you like creepy original fairy tales before their Disney and kids book makeovers, you'll love this book. "
— Amy, 4/27/2011
About John Connolly
John Connolly is a New York Times bestselling author known for his detective Charlie Parker mysteries and supernatural and fantasy novels. His twenty-five novels, nonfiction, and short stories have won the Agatha, Barry, Edgar, Shamus, and Anthony Awards, as well as being finalists for the Hughes & Hughes Irish Novel of the Year, H. R. F. Keating Award, and Bram Stoker Award.
About Steven Crossley
Steven Crossley, a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, has built a career on both sides of the Atlantic as an actor and audiobook narrator, for which he has won more than a dozen AudioFile Earphones Awards and been a nominee for the prestigious Audie Award. He is a member of the internationally renowned theater company Complicite and has appeared in numerous theater, television, film, and radio dramas.