The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly

High in his attic bedroom, twelve-year-old David mourns the death of his mother, with only the books on his shelf for company. But those books have begun to whisper to him in the darkness. Angry and alone, he takes refuge in his imagination and soon finds that reality and fantasy have begun to meld. While his family falls apart around him, David is violently propelled into a world that is a strange reflection of his own -- populated by heroes and monsters and ruled by a faded king who keeps his secrets in a mysterious book, The Book of Lost Things.
Taking readers on a vivid journey through the loss of innocence into adulthood and beyond, New York Times bestselling author John Connolly tells a dark and compelling tale that reminds us of the enduring power of stories in our lives.


My Thoughts/Review:

I scared myself silly last time I read this. Glad to know it still works. (In my defense though, something did jump out at me.)

David was an alright character, but he wasn't really what the book was about. The book was all about the stories. David is only in there because they needed a reason for all those characters to start telling their stories. The stories themselves though, were awesome. John Connolly rewrote all the fairytales in this book, made them his own, then pushed them out into the world. He did a good job. But I still can't get over David just being there, and not really being a true character! Even the Crooked Man was more of a character than he was. So, this book is entertaining, but not really something I'll read over and over and over.

                                                                        ♠♠♠

“You mean they killed her?" asked David.
They ate her," said Brother Number One. "With porridge. That's what 'ran away and was never seen again' means in these parts. It means 'eaten.'"
Um and what about 'happily ever after'?" asked David, a little uncertainly. "What does that mean?"
Eaten quickly," said Brother Number One.