Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914
Format: Bargain Price
Label: Washington Square Press
Manufacturer: Washington Square Press
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 480
Printing Date: October 16, 2007
Publishing house: Washington Square Press
Sale Popularity Level: 168845
Studio: Washington Square Press
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Product Description:
High in his attic bedroom, twelve-year-old David mournsthe death of his mother, with only the books on his shelf forcompany. But those books have begun to whisper to him in thedarkness. Angry and alone, he takes refuge in his imaginationand soon finds that reality and fantasy have begun to meld. Whilehis family falls apart around him, David is violently propelledinto a world that is a strange reflection of his own -- populatedby heroes and monsters and ruled by a faded king who keeps hissecrets in a mysterious book, The Book of Lost Things.
Taking readers on a vivid journey through the lossof innocence into adulthood and beyond, New York Timesbestselling author John Connolly tells a dark and compelling talethat reminds us of the enduring power of stories in our lives.
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Rated by buyers 
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I found this book to be a great read. It is fast paced, with unexpected twists. I do think it is for adults more than children, and has a powerful ending.
Rated by buyers 
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This book is what would happen if you were to truly step into a world populated by characters from all the children's fairy tales that don't end so well. It would be a very scary world indeed. I started out not liking the author's writing style, but I was completely drawn in by the end. David's mother dies and his father remarries and has another child. Of course, David doesn't like this and loses himself in his books ... literally. One day he finds that he's stepped through the trunk of a tree in his garden into a different world which seems to be the embodiment of all the fairy tales he's grown up with. However, the reality here is a bit different than he remembers from his book ... and much more "grim". Little Red Riding Hood has married the big bad wolf and their children are terrorizing the forest, it was really the 7 dwarves who poisoned Snow White because she was eating them out of house and home, and centaurs and other half-breed animals are being medically created by a serial killer, etc. David has to make his way through a forest full of wolves, over a troll bridge, and escape capture by the sinister Crooked Man in order to find the king and his "Book of Lost Things" which is supposed to show him the way back home.
This is not shelved as a children's book, but when I think of the nature of many of Grimm's fairy tales, I have to wonder how much worse this story is than them. I think that perhaps Grimm's fairy tales are only not boycotted because they've become a staple of childhood. However, I'm imagining that many a parent would object to the graphic nature of some of the situations in this book. Personally, I thought it was great
Rated by buyers -
How many avid readers just like us have used books as a retreat from life's difficulties. That's exactly what David does, when his mother dies, his father remarries, and a new little half brother enters the scene. WWII is heating up, and when a German bomber goes down in flames, landing in the family garden, David finds that the weirdest characters and places from his adventure tales are real. And dangerous. His life will never be the same, not even if he manages to escape with his life and return to his family.
An allegory on war and on conquering one's fears, The Book of Lost Things is anything but didactic. On the contrary, it's a perilous quest in the classic sense, full of the stuff of nightmares and horror stories. No cute little elves or fairies in David's new world, only plenty of slavering werewolves, terrible trolls, and horrific monsters which take shape in accordance with his own deepest dreads. The way in which he handles these unimaginable challenges forms the core of this story, which is magical in content but realistic in its truths.
Recommended highly to readers of skillfully written fantasy, especially if interested in "the uses of enchantment".
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i am an avid reader, read anything and everything. i have a particular affinity for john connelly's books. perhaps because he is irish, his writing seems to be lyrical and mesmerizes me. i have read everyone of his published books and love each one more than the last. this book is very special as it is very different from his previous works, but yet so similar. the subject matter is haunting, i could not put this book down and literally slowed down at the end to make it last a few moments longer.
the story is familiar but the telling is so unique, i think anyone who enjoys fantasy would love this book. my favorite book growing up in the 70's was a "wrinkle in time," this book brought back all of those wonderful memories of my youth. i have told anyone who loves reading to read this book.
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I was mesmerized by the rhythm of Mr. Connolly's prose instantaneously. The book is well constructed and masterfully done. Highly recommended.
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