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Overview
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.
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 fianc e, 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?
A charming, clever, and quietly moving 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.
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Details
- ISBN-13: 9780062473554
- ISBN-10: 0062473557
- Publisher: William Morrow & Company
- Publish Date: November 2017
- Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
- Shipping Weight: 0.45 pounds
- Page Count: 288
Related Categories
Book clubs: This is your life
Wally Lamb explores the ways in which the past impacts the present in his moving novel I’ll Take You There. Felix Funicello is a film buff who hosts a weekly movie event in an old cinema. One night in the theater, Felix is visited by two ghosts: Lois Weber, a pioneering silent-film director, and Billie Dove, who starred in one of Lois’ movies. The two spirits invite Felix to observe chapters from his past by watching them on the theater’s screen. The scenes feature the women who have most influenced him, including his daughter, aspiring writer Aliza, and his adopted sister, Frances. Initially, Felix is unsettled by his interactions with the ghosts, but he begins to anticipate their visits. Lamb uses the movie screening as a powerful narrative device—it’s an effective way of exploring Felix’s personal history—and his ghosts from the bygone days of Hollywood are wonderfully convincing. This is a rich and powerful novel that’s sure to satisfy Lamb’s many fans.
A HOUSE OF STRANGERS
A finalist for the Man Booker International Prize, Amos Oz’s poignant novel Judas takes place in Jerusalem in the 1950s. A young scholar in search of himself, Shmuel Ash is recovering from a breakup when he goes to work as a live-in attendant to gruff, elderly Gershom Wald, a former schoolteacher. Atalia Abravanel, an older woman whose late father was a Zionist organizer, also lives in Gershom’s apartment. Shmuel is captivated by Atalia, who remains elusive to him despite the close quarters. As time goes by, the three housemates—all very different, all trying to make sense of the past—learn more about one another and the connections that bind them. Oz delivers a timeless story of love, identity and the search for self in this beautifully rendered novel. Presenting fascinating insights into the nation of Israel—his home country—while taking inspiration from the traditional story of Judas, Oz constructs a multilayered narrative that’s provocative and rewarding.
TOP PICK FOR BOOK CLUBS
The Keeper of Lost Things, the impressive debut novel from British author Ruth Hogan, is a stirring exploration of love, the passage of time and the experiences—and objects—that inform everyday life. Anthony Peardew is filled with regret after he misplaces a gift he received from his fiancée, Therese. When she unexpectedly dies, he begins collecting abandoned items—gloves, umbrellas, buttons—and writing stories inspired by them. After 40 years of collecting, Anthony, now an elderly man, bestows his home and assemblage of objects upon his assistant, Laura. Single and somewhat at loose ends, Laura finds a new sense of purpose when she takes over Anthony’s estate, where her duties include returning Anthony’s items to their original owners. A beautifully crafted novel from a promising new writer, this is a narrative that holds many surprises. It’s a delightful read that’s just right for December.
This article was originally published in the December 2017 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.
Book clubs: This is your life
Wally Lamb explores the ways in which the past impacts the present in his moving novel I’ll Take You There. Felix Funicello is a film buff who hosts a weekly movie event in an old cinema. One night in the theater, Felix is visited by two ghosts: Lois Weber, a pioneering silent-film director, and Billie Dove, who starred in one of Lois’ movies. The two spirits invite Felix to observe chapters from his past by watching them on the theater’s screen. The scenes feature the women who have most influenced him, including his daughter, aspiring writer Aliza, and his adopted sister, Frances. Initially, Felix is unsettled by his interactions with the ghosts, but he begins to anticipate their visits. Lamb uses the movie screening as a powerful narrative device—it’s an effective way of exploring Felix’s personal history—and his ghosts from the bygone days of Hollywood are wonderfully convincing. This is a rich and powerful novel that’s sure to satisfy Lamb’s many fans.
A HOUSE OF STRANGERS
A finalist for the Man Booker International Prize, Amos Oz’s poignant novel Judas takes place in Jerusalem in the 1950s. A young scholar in search of himself, Shmuel Ash is recovering from a breakup when he goes to work as a live-in attendant to gruff, elderly Gershom Wald, a former schoolteacher. Atalia Abravanel, an older woman whose late father was a Zionist organizer, also lives in Gershom’s apartment. Shmuel is captivated by Atalia, who remains elusive to him despite the close quarters. As time goes by, the three housemates—all very different, all trying to make sense of the past—learn more about one another and the connections that bind them. Oz delivers a timeless story of love, identity and the search for self in this beautifully rendered novel. Presenting fascinating insights into the nation of Israel—his home country—while taking inspiration from the traditional story of Judas, Oz constructs a multilayered narrative that’s provocative and rewarding.
TOP PICK FOR BOOK CLUBS
The Keeper of Lost Things, the impressive debut novel from British author Ruth Hogan, is a stirring exploration of love, the passage of time and the experiences—and objects—that inform everyday life. Anthony Peardew is filled with regret after he misplaces a gift he received from his fiancée, Therese. When she unexpectedly dies, he begins collecting abandoned items—gloves, umbrellas, buttons—and writing stories inspired by them. After 40 years of collecting, Anthony, now an elderly man, bestows his home and assemblage of objects upon his assistant, Laura. Single and somewhat at loose ends, Laura finds a new sense of purpose when she takes over Anthony’s estate, where her duties include returning Anthony’s items to their original owners. A beautifully crafted novel from a promising new writer, this is a narrative that holds many surprises. It’s a delightful read that’s just right for December.
This article was originally published in the December 2017 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.