The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly: I love fairytales partly because they tell us universal truths about life and partly because they are fun. And I loved this book for both reasons. It's the story of a 12-year-old boy, David, whose mother dies, and who consequently immerses himself in books. He can hear the books in his room whispering to him, telling their stories in low voices. When his father remarries and has another child, the story takes a turn that is reminescent of the movie, The Labyrinth. David is thrust into another realm where the fairytales and adventure stories are real, only they don't turn out the way either David or the book's reader expects them to. The character of the Crooked Man, who has been shadowing David since before his mother died, is genuinely creepy; it took me awhile to actually identify him with his associated fairytale -- he's much scarier here. David's journey through this new realm, to find the king and the book of lost things, is a typical quest tale and reminded me of one of my favorite Stephen King novels, The Talisman. David, like Jack Sawyer, has to find the strength within himself to survive in this new land, to protect his family, and to return home. One of the really nice things about this copy of The Book of Lost Things is that the fairytales are included in the back of the book as well as notes from the author, so if you don't remember the story, you can read it again.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Fairytales and Lost Things
The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly: I love fairytales partly because they tell us universal truths about life and partly because they are fun. And I loved this book for both reasons. It's the story of a 12-year-old boy, David, whose mother dies, and who consequently immerses himself in books. He can hear the books in his room whispering to him, telling their stories in low voices. When his father remarries and has another child, the story takes a turn that is reminescent of the movie, The Labyrinth. David is thrust into another realm where the fairytales and adventure stories are real, only they don't turn out the way either David or the book's reader expects them to. The character of the Crooked Man, who has been shadowing David since before his mother died, is genuinely creepy; it took me awhile to actually identify him with his associated fairytale -- he's much scarier here. David's journey through this new realm, to find the king and the book of lost things, is a typical quest tale and reminded me of one of my favorite Stephen King novels, The Talisman. David, like Jack Sawyer, has to find the strength within himself to survive in this new land, to protect his family, and to return home. One of the really nice things about this copy of The Book of Lost Things is that the fairytales are included in the back of the book as well as notes from the author, so if you don't remember the story, you can read it again.
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10 comments:
Isn't it lovely? I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I've not seen Labyrinth, but it's been recommended to me before, same with Stephen King: I'm yet to read any of his books!
Wow, I can't wait to read it, and I know my 16 year old daughter will love it too.
lc: The Talisman is very different from most King books -- it's more on the order of this book. And I'm so glad you mentioned this book in your blog or I may not have read it.
Marsha: That's the cool thing about this book -- good for adults and 16 year-olds too.
I was saying to BB that I picked this book up a number of times when it first came out but did not buy it. It looks like the evidence is mounting for me to take the plunge with it - I like the sound of your copy with the fairytales included at the back of the book.
Ah man...now you made me add *another* book to my list! It sounds really cool.
On another note, since you mentioned the movie "The Labyrinth", have you seen the Spanish movie "Pan's Labyrinth"? Fantastic!
If you haven't seen it I highly recommend it.
nutmeg: I really think you will like it.
Hilda: I haven't watched Pan's Labyrinth yet -- I really wish I had seen it in the theater.
I'm adding it to my "to read" list as well!
Sari: Based on what you've read in the past, I would be surprised if you did not like this book. How's the baby?
I just added it to my list and moved it right up to the top of the list! It sounds great and I agree with Hilda, if you have not seen Pan's Labyrinth, it is a must see, one of the best (if not the best) movie of 2006!
I think I'm going to move Pan's Labyrinth to the top of my netflix queue == I've heard nothing but good things about it.
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