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The Secret of Lost Things Audiobook
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(3.00) - 2,162 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
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.
The Secret of Lost Things is at once a literary adventure and an evocative portrait of life in a bookstore very reminiscent of the world-famous Strand.
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"I think the key to this book was the strangeness of the characters. Oscars asexuality, Geist's albinism, Pearls gender transition, and more. These elements made an otherwise subtle story line come to life and keep me interested till the very end. This book also made me want to start reading more Herman Melville..."
— Alexis (4 out of 5 stars)
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“Hay’s writing is lively and relaxed…the best way for a novelist to celebrate books is to write a good one. And The Secret of Lost Things is just that.”
— New York Times Book Reviews -
“Hay does a good job with innocent, intelligent Rosemary’s attempts to deal with sinister doings and…captures Rosemary’s nostalgic memories of Tasmania…”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Benjamin’s clear, luminous voice draws listeners in, adding a touch of mystery to this appealing audio.”
— Booklist -
“Rosemary’s journey from naiveté to self-knowledge is realistically portrayed and compelling, as are Hay’s loving depictions of 1980s-era New York City and the wonder of a young woman discovering it for the first time.”
— BookPage -
“A triangle of unrequited love and a tussle over an apocryphal Melville manuscript enliven Hay’s bildungsroman.”
— Kirkus Reviews
The Secret of Lost Things Listener Reviews
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" I really enjoyed this book, mostly because it is set in New York City. The descriptions of The Arcade were so reminiscent of The Strand that I got homesick. I loved the story line and the quirky characters. Recommended, especially for book lovers. "
— Vivian, 2/18/2014 -
" This book is haunting and lyrical with characters that stay in your mind. There is a fragile nature to every character in this book that speaks to the fragile nature of all human-beings. The story made me think of what I value in my life;what is really important to me. What consumes some people ultimately destroys them or they are awakened and rise to a new level of understanding. "
— Andrea, 2/16/2014 -
" Really, really good. I hope she writes a new book every year! "
— Leslie, 2/5/2014 -
" A looong read with little to no pay off in my opinion ... I bought it because the NY Times review got me curious ... and I am a book whore ... bought it (in Mass Market Paperback), read it, forced myself to finish it ... but I cannot recommend it. "
— Daryl, 2/4/2014 -
" A world of its own in a bookstore - complete with Herman Melville, albinos, secret letters, innuendos, .... "
— Barbara, 1/20/2014 -
" Promising premise that never really goes anywhere. It all just seemed too thin- we never get to know the characters that well, and the "plot" is only surface-level at best. Not a bad read, I just wanted more out of it. "
— Kenny, 1/17/2014 -
" I really wanted to like this book. I thought it started well enough. But it strayed, or perhaps, it went places I didn't think it needed to but I am merely the reader. It could have been a contender, like Marlon Brando. However, it failed. "
— stevenallenmay, 1/14/2014 -
" 5/30: I've just started reading this, and I can already tell I'm going to have lots of things I want to quote. I have to read parts over and over, because the way certain parts are written really grab my attention, and then I forget to remember the plot development! "
— Tayler, 1/8/2014 -
" This is a coming of age book of a girl moving from Tasmania to NYC at 18 after her mother dies. She goes to work at a huge used book store in NY. It's an engaging story that ties in literature, mystery, intellectualism, and growing up. All around a good read. "
— doug, 12/29/2013 -
" I enjoyed this book. I love to read books about books and this fits the bill. The only problem I had was that it talked about "Moby Dick" and since I had never read that I thought I'd give it a try on audio. I got half way through and couldn't take it anymore. But I liked Secret of Lost Things. "
— Frances, 12/25/2013 -
" not super great, but okay "
— Jennifer, 12/10/2012 -
" The Secret of Lost Things was an interesting read. For the most part it held me captive because the story line took place in a book store. It was a good read. "
— Rene, 10/2/2012 -
" At first this book was interesting but the more I read it the better it got. The ending was a surprise! I really enjoyed reading this book. "
— Sbugsy, 7/22/2012 -
" Yet another good book about books "
— Mike, 5/10/2012 -
" quirky story, good read "
— Tina, 3/16/2012 -
" I really like this so far, its pretty neat. "
— Kirsten, 2/26/2012 -
" Really loved this book. Wonderful coming-of-age novel which is maybe a little darker than you'd expect... "
— Keya, 5/11/2011 -
" Coming of age story of a young girl in NYC. She works at a bookstore modeled on the Strand. I enjoyed the kooky book characters and the hint of mystery as they try to track down a missing Melville novel. "
— Robin, 4/25/2011 -
" I kept expecting something to happen, but then nothing really did. "
— Heather, 4/24/2011 -
" I kind of liked it, but I ended up speed-reading to get through it. It was missing something but I can't put my finger on what. "
— Jeanne, 4/22/2011 -
" A very different book---the characters are very interesting. I like the setting being in a old bookstore in New York (reminds me of a bookstore in downtown Mesa). "
— Theresa, 4/10/2011 -
" I wish this book had lived up to my expectations, but instead it fell far short of them. The characters were unlikable and the plot unnecessarily drawn out. It did not get interesting until the middle of the book, but the awful characters were too distracting for me to enjoy it. "
— Kim, 4/8/2011 -
" The book had its moments--the characters seem interesting (would of like to meet Pearl)... "
— Theresa, 4/8/2011 -
" A world of its own in a bookstore - complete with Herman Melville, albinos, secret letters, innuendos, .... "
— Barbara, 3/1/2011 -
" Picked this up last year at the Lifeline bookfest. Chosen mainly for the cover design (which is different to this picture). No where near as good as I hoped. Disappointed. "
— Tracey, 1/25/2011 -
" Fairly boring...there was never any tension built up. It felt like I was reading about a college research paper...ho hum. "
— Monica, 1/17/2011 -
" Almost a 4 star but not quite. Interesting but a bit draggy. Cast of characters a bit too bizarre.(or however you spell that word) "
— Barbara, 1/17/2011 -
" This was a real page turner, with authentic human relationships, interesting characters, and a plot that moved. The main character is sympathetic, and I enjoyed growing with her in the book. I'd recommend this. It's been a while since I devoured a book in this short of a time. "
— Catherine, 1/17/2011
About Sheridan Hay
Sheridan Hay earned an MFA in writing and literature from Bennington. She worked in bookstores and in trade publishing in both her native Australia and in New York, where she has lived for the past twenty years
About Vanessa Benjamin
Vanessa Benjamin (a.k.a. Roe Kendall) is a native of the British Isles. Some twenty-five years ago she moved to the United States with her family and set down roots in Maryland. She graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London, receiving their silver medal as well as the Sir Emile Littler and Caryl Brahms awards. Benjamin has performed on stage in the Washington, DC, area for several years and at many venues and has performed at the Kennedy Center as Mrs. Schubert in the long-running show Shear Madness. An accomplished actress and narrator, she has recorded over two hundred books. Her work as a freelance voice-over artist and narrator has led her in many interesting directions, from technical government materials to eighteenth-century romance novels to hotel advertising, but narrating books is what she really enjoys. “I really love playing all the parts when I narrate a book. It’s an adventure, a challenge, and above all I feel that I learn something new with each book I read. I do a lot of reading for the Library of Congress’ Blind and Physically Handicapped program, and it is so rewarding for me especially when I get a letter from a patron; it’s a great service for the listener.”