The Book of Lost Things

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So I really recommend this one to those who enjoy fantasy and to those that appreciate the escapism that books can bring. Connolly's "Book of Lost Things" came highly recommended as a modern take on the fantasy genre. What I found instead was a completely unlikeable main character, an array of interchangeable father figures, and a disappointing rehash of the usual fairy tale parodies.

For in every adult there dwells the child that was, and in every child there lies the adult that will be.” but those are aberrations; despite them, Connolly more than succeeds in creating delightful and intriguing reinterprations of figures from fairy and folk tale. even better, David's character is a slow-burning but dynamic one, changing in bits and starts from boy to man with each new encounter. he is a realistically flawed protagonist as well as a brave and endearing little hero. A hybrid between coming of age in difficult times and pure fantasy delight, full of fractured fairytales and real problems to be dealt with, this is a perfect example of young adult fiction for all ages. There is a Crooked Man. THE Crooked Man. There is a jealous, angry young boy with a mind full of stories he has read. There is a nightmare and a dream and a reality beyond the factual world.The ending of this book tore me to pieces, it's the most perfectly written ending that i have ever encountered in a book. i cried so much. it is the kind of book that stays in your head even after you finish it.

the use of revisionism is, sadly, not always successful. a comic interlude with the socialist Seven Dwarves and an obese, monstrous Snow White is depressingly unfunny and a little desperate (at least to this reader). and a long part near the end, depicting various torture chambers and examples of The Crooked Man's terrible villainy seems to be merely an excuse for Connolly to indulge himself with a gloatingly vicious array of sadistic tableau. both sequences were eye-rolling and sigh-inducing. In his dreams and around the house, David began seeing a figure of a man with distinct, odd features. Drawing closer and closer to him, waiting in the shadows, was the Crooked Man.This reading group guide for The Book of Lost Things includes an introduction, discussion questions, and ideas for enhancing your book club. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion. We hope that these ideas will enrich your conversation and increase your enjoyment of the book.