Since I started reading more book blogs, and started up my own book blog again, I’ve been seeing so many great recommendations for books. Normally, when I hit up the library, I’ll wander aimlessly and pick out a book from the huge collections of spines on the library’s shelves. Now, I don’t complain about that—this is how I discovered the greatness of Kristin Hannah—but sometimes it’s nice to have a quick trip to the library, knowing exactly what I’m picking up. I’ve been frantically putting books on hold, or on my “later” shelf at my local library these days—not to mention, my shelves at home are quite full, leading me to seriously consider buying yet another bookcase for my collection. One such book that I had heard great things about was John Connolly’s The Book of Lost Things. I honestly had no clue what it was about, but I had seen it recommended so often that I didn’t care what it was about—I had to read it. After finishing it, I was happy to have listened to everyone’s suggestion—it was truly a book not to miss. Reminiscent of Narnia, Harry Potter, and maybe even a bit of Saw (yes, those scary movies), The Book of Lost Things follows young David as he loses his mother. In time, his father moves on and marries Rose. With her, they have another child, a boy, named Georgie. David keeps his spot in his room, reading his books, wanting nothing to do with this new family. Strange things start happening—his books seem to whisper to him, a strange man appears in his bedroom window—and David ultimately lets his curiosity get the best of him as he searches the sunken garden in the yard, which leads him to a hidden world. Obviously, Narnia comes to mind when this happens, and I figured it would be just another story of a young boy in a faraway land. However, this book was unique in that there are so many fairytale references going on—and not just your usual Disney-fied fairytales, but old tales of the Grimm brothers. Those creepy, not quite right, tales. The mood of the book was light in places, suspenseful in various chapters, and downright creepy and scary as a whole. Yet, it left the reader feeling satisfied in the end, leaving many messages to the reader. It’s a book about growing up, facing your fears, and learning to love what is new. It is easy to grow attached to all the characters in the novel, as Connolly writes them so well. At times, the reader is in a fairytale but doesn’t know it. At other times, the reader knows the fairytale so well that it’s a treat to see Connolly’s spin on it. Once you finish the book—at least in my copy—there’s about 100 pages including an interview with Connolly and references to all the fairytales referred to and written about within its pages. Connolly goes through the origin of the fairytales and gives the reader the original tale, or one which he thought was fascinating. While I had learned quite a bit about fairytales in university, I learned so much more from this book. I had no idea there were so many versions of these fairytales. This is not a children’s book. While the thought of fairytales may automatically ring alarm bells in an adult’s mind that this book is too young of a read, be warned. There are quite a lot of scares in this book. The fairytales are not what your kids may be used to. The Book of Lost Things is not to be missed. It is a great read and one of those books that will instantly be deemed a classic.

"Once upon a time – for that is how all stories should begin – there was a boy who lost his mother." Thus begins John Connolly’s amazing story The Book of Lost Things. When I finally turned the last page of this book this morning, I felt that keen sense of satisfaction one feels when they have read an amazing book, a book you know you are going to recommend to everyone. I loved every minute of it. David is just twelve when his mother dies. An only child, David is devoted to his mother and does everything in his power to keep her alive. "He prayed. He tried to be good, so that she would not be punished for his mistakes….He created a routine, and he tried to keep to that routine because he believed in part that his mother’s fate was linked to the actions he performed." David is not able to save his mother however; she dies. Soon after, his father remarries and he and his new wife, Rose, have another son, Georgie. David, still heart-broken over the loss of his mother, resents his father’s wife and his new brother. This family drama plays against the backdrop of WW2. One night, after a fight with Rose, David escapes to the garden. From the sky, a German bomber falls and to escape, David slips into a crack in the swimming pool turned sunken garden. He finds himself, suddenly, in another world; a world of dark and twisted fairy tales. I am making the book sound much simpler than it actually is. The Book of Lost Things is a coming-of-age-tale and a hero’s journey, a quest for truth and a horror story all rolled into one. Fairy tales, many familiar, are upended, revealing their slimey and rotten underbellies. David’s youth is slowly taken from him as he must fight, both alone and with companions, for his survival. David begins his journey as a scared and self-involved adolescent, but as he makes his way towards the castle where the old king apparently has a ‘book of lost things’ which may have the answer of how David can get home, he matures and comes to understand certain truths. It’s an exciting story; funny in places, creepy in others. And like Dorothy’s journey to Oz, David soon comes to understand the value of what he has left behind. At journey’s end, he is a changed person. I was profoundly moved by the book’s final pages.

This was just the book I needed to rebound from the disappointing one I read before this. John Connolly spins a fairytale in its own right, building from some of the traditional fairytales we know so well and adding great ideas of his own. Even with its imaginative fantasy, the plot remains real and grounded. The language is simple and the story starts of that way so much so that I thought it was miscategorized as an adult fiction rather than teen fiction. The fairytales become more sinister as the story delves deeper into a child's journey into adulthood, learning to put behind his grief, fears and insecurities, while embracing new emotions and morals that will save him from the distorted world of darkness. It does not matter where it is shelved or what age you are, so long as you and others read it. A movie adaptation (or better still, one that stays 100% true to the book) that will not suck, please?!

A coming of age story that takes a young boy on a (imaginary?) journey battling characters borrowed and warped from fairy tales like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Narnia, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Wizard of Oz, Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf among others The book reads simply and smoothly on the surface as a new (and at times somewhat gruesome) fairy tale but that also carries a fundamental story beneath it of discovering the boys own bravery, cooperation, trust, faith, and hope, while overcoming his jealousy, fear and pride. Some of the themes throughout include; names we assign DO have power – but only if you let them, it is not only the destination one aims for but the journey as well, and that which we see as black and white when we are younger become shades of gray as we age. There were a few times when the narrative was a bit predictable but I didn’t feel it diminished the story at all. Overall I really enjoyed this book.

Murder mysteries are usually my first choice when it comes to reading material so this one was unexpected. This fantasy world that Connolly creates is so well crafted and his ability to integrate classic fairy tales (with a bit of a twist) into the plot drives the story from beginning to end. Anyone who is a fantasy fan or even if you just like fairy tales, this book is for you.

Fans of the Brothers Grimm and Alice in Wonderland will love this adventure form beginning to end. A story of what happens when an innocent mind mixes reality with the stories of childhood. The young boy in the story embarks on adventure that takes him through a land inhabited by fairytales but with a dark and menacing twist to every character and story he encounters. A land where he must think his way through every dark corner, and evil villain in order to reach the castle with hopes of getting home.

I loved this book very much! John Connolly takes a very interesting view on fairy tales, and I couldn't get enough of it!! This book reminds a lot The Chronicles of Narnia, a really great adventure!!!

My boyfriend searched dilligently this christmas for a book for me and discovered this gem of a book. The plot is interesting and disturbing at the same time.

What a wonderful story! Dealing with such themes as loss, grief and a child's anger, it nevertheless manages to be funny and touching at the same time. I adored the way John Connolly incorporated classic fairy tales into this book, it felt like I was returning to the old stories I loved as a child, only different (and perhaps better!) The only tiny negative I'd have is that there are about 125 pages at the end of the book that detail all of the fairy tales used (Rumplestiltskin, The Three Surgeons, etc). It was a little disappointing to expect to read a 450 page book only to realise that the last section was just filler. Otherwise, though, I loved this book.

A dark and enchanting fairy tale with ingredients of a modern twist. It tells the story of David, who mourns the death of his mother, entering the world of petrifying ancient fairy tales. Superb story-telling. Extremely enjoyable. I love this book, simply as that. Highly recommended.