The Book Of Lost Things

Before picking up The Book of Lost Things (2006), I had never heard of John Connolly, the author of the popular Charlie Parker mystery series. In addition to his adult fiction, he is also well known among young readers for his Samuel Johnson fantasy series. With this novel, Connolly departs from the series format and offers a feel-good, highly readable fable about childhood, loss, and the perils of wish fulfillment.

The story revolves around a young English boy mourning the death of his mother and grappling with his father's remarriage in the midst of World War II. Retreating into the world of books, he finds himself pursuing his late mother's voice into a land of nightmarish fairy tales. Unlike those in the friendlier versions deemed suitable for children, the characters and situations he encounters are closely aligned with the Grimms' dark originals.

Once I started, I flew through this book within a few hours. Connolly's writing style is accessible and engaging with a happy balance between the familiar and the strange. The Book of Lost Things is escapism at its best. I'm surprised it hasn't been turned into a film yet but perhaps that's due to some of the gory descriptions. Fans of the film Pan's Labyrinth will find this a satisfying but somewhat tamer tale.