The Keeper of Lost Things

Product Information

Everything was an alliteration - Poisonous Portia, Slinked seductively into the salon (everything was alliterated, all the time! It had a bit of everything, romance, ghostly presences, magic, mystery and clever literary references being just some. We agreed, however, that reading is best done in bigger chunks of time than half an hour before bed; that reading is highly important to us however we do it, especially as now (being mostly a retired community) we have more time to concentrate on it; and that a reading group has the advantage of presenting us with books we might not have chosen for ourselves, thus opening up new windows onto the world.

Charming and endlessly endearing, Hogan’s novel of a collector of lost objects and his determined mission to reunite them with their owners is a feel-good tale about atonement, affection and doing the right thing.The Keeper of Lost Things is a delightful easy-read book with a unique story that is entertaining and highly enjoyable. The story of lost things was intended to be an insight into lost souls and self discovery but we felt that it was a very shallow exploration of this theme. 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. This book was conceived when she got cancer in 2012 and the insomnia-fueled writing produced the keeper of lost things. It's a quiet but beautifully intricate novel that will remind readers that we are each other's points of connection.

When Anthony dies he leaves both his estate and the responsibility for completing his life’s work to Laura, his housekeeper/secretary. That of Eunice, a young woman when the story starts in the 70s who meets Bomber and falls in love but Bomber is gay, and they form a strong friendship and working relationship which span’s decades. She does a really great job at helping the reader be present in the story and actually imagine being there with the characters. It was the invisible thread that would have connected him to her even after she was gone, but now it was broken along with his promise to her. Ever since I finished it, I've been puzzling over why this novel irked me so, because I do enjoy the occasional light and fluffy book.She started writing seriously following a car accident in her early 30’s which left her unable to work for some time.

It's one of those cute, sweet, Hallmark-movie type stories that I wish I did like, but the simpleness and sweetness and the obvious way that everything wraps up perfectly is so implausible that it made me groan in frustration. 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. I loved the symbolic representation of these lost items, and how they resemble each character’s journey to finding their own way; their own home. The background and interaction with the characters in the story add wonderful perspectives, especially with Sunshine. However the group loved Sunshine and found her character quite sensitive and funny in an endearing way (though it was noted that it seemed a bit odd that her parents let her spend so much time with complete strangers for so long).Maybe my expectations for this book were a bit too high since I picked it up because it was nominated for Goodreads’ Best Fiction 2017, but I can’t say I understand why it’s on this list.

I would describe the novel as a modern day fairy tale in which fantastical events intertwine all of the characters and their fates. This experience is a charming and gently moving journey into finding oneself and exploring the hidden meaning behind seemingly random items. But working for Anthony has started to give the meaning which she adores; helping him with day to day living and dealing with his paper work. This was a joy to read - I haven't enjoyed a book this much since I first read Lord of the Rings back in the 70s.I became immersed in learning about him, those connected with him, and the lives of those who lost the items. Whilst all the characters were really well portrayed and the minor characters were given enough scope to support the main characters and add to the narrative - Sunshine was something else - a beautifully written girl whose character developed through the story; every time she appeared I could see her in my mind.