The Keeper of Lost Things
Books | Fiction / Magical Realism
3.7
(639)
Ruth Hogan
A charming, clever, and quietly moving debut novel of of endless possibilities and joyful discoveries that explores the promises we make and break, losing and finding ourselves, the objects that hold magic and meaning for our lives, and the surprising connections that bind us.Lime green plastic flower-shaped hair bobbles—Found, on the playing field, Derrywood Park, 2nd September.Bone china cup and saucer—Found, on a bench in Riveria Public Gardens, 31st October.Anthony Peardew is the keeper of lost things. Forty years ago, he carelessly lost a keepsake from his beloved fiancée, Therese. That very same day, she died unexpectedly. Brokenhearted, Anthony sought consolation in rescuing lost objects—the things others have dropped, misplaced, or accidently left behind—and writing stories about them. Now, in the twilight of his life, Anthony worries that he has not fully discharged his duty to reconcile all the lost things with their owners. As the end nears, he bequeaths his secret life’s mission to his unsuspecting assistant, Laura, leaving her his house and and all its lost treasures, including an irritable ghost.Recovering from a bad divorce, Laura, in some ways, is one of Anthony’s lost things. But when the lonely woman moves into his mansion, her life begins to change. She finds a new friend in the neighbor’s quirky daughter, Sunshine, and a welcome distraction in Freddy, the rugged gardener. As the dark cloud engulfing her lifts, Laura, accompanied by her new companions, sets out to realize Anthony’s last wish: reuniting his cherished lost objects with their owners.Long ago, Eunice found a trinket on the London pavement and kept it through the years. Now, with her own end drawing near, she has lost something precious—a tragic twist of fate that forces her to break a promise she once made.As the Keeper of Lost Objects, Laura holds the key to Anthony and Eunice’s redemption. But can she unlock the past and make the connections that will lay their spirits to rest? Full of character, wit, and wisdom, The Keeper of Lost Things is heartwarming tale that will enchant fans of The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, Garden Spells, Mrs Queen Takes the Train, and The Silver Linings Playbook.
AD
Buy now:
More Details:
Author
Ruth Hogan
Pages
288
Publisher
HarperCollins
Published Date
2017-11-28
ISBN
0062473557 9780062473554
Community ReviewsSee all
""It was a sweeping story of love and loss, life and death, and, above all, redemption. It was the story of a grand passion..."
Heartwarming, bittersweet, and, at times, laugh out loud funny. There are puzzle pieces scattered throughout. When a couple come together you feel like you've really been paying attention. The moment when the last piece of puzzle slips into place, you are simply stunned by the stunningly beautiful work of art before you."
"Underwhelming"
C
Chrissy
"I’ve heard great things about this book, but in the end it didn’t click for me. I did like the fantasy/magical realism elements, and I became invested in Eunice’s story more so than Laura’s. I couldn’t connect with Laura or with the characters on her side. I did like how everyone in each storyline ended up having some kind of connection at the end though. The short stories for me really didn’t work with the atmosphere of the main story, especially when they kept getting darker. I ended up skipping them on my audiobook. Overall, an ok read but not one I’ll revisit."
"An okay read for me. Not bad but not amazing. It wasn't quite what I was expecting. I like the story behind each object but thought there would be more to it in terms of finding the owner. But has an interesting mix of real life and magic."
J
Jeni
"I love the stories interwoven within the main story. Heartfelt, funny and charming."
L G
Lori Gookin
"This book made me smile from start to finish. Ruth Hogan's description of each character really brought them to life for me, making the story almost personal. The story itself is one of love, trust and self-empowerment. It's really well written and I was actually sad when it was done."
D D
Denise Dowden
"One is my favorites so far! I may read it again this weekend. There are so many stories within stories. So sweet!"
C C
Connie L Chowaniec