The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly

In The Book of Lost Things, David, a complex character, changes over the course of the text.  In the beginning of the book, David is very shy and quiet.  After his mother dies, David becomes angry and frustrated, and doesn't know how to handle and deal with his feelings.  As the plot moves forward, David meets many other characters that give him advice on how to handle his feelings.  David moves the plot forward by listening and trying to do what the characters say he should do.  He interacts with other characters through dialogue and actions, which also advances the plot. David develops through the actions of his character and others, and changed as a whole throughout the book.  In the text, a supporting character says to David, " 'When you came here, you were consumed by anger and grief.  You would have given in to the blandishments of the Crooked Man, and then all would have been lost...Instead, while others aided you along the way, it was your own strength and courage that brought you at last to an understanding of your place in this world and your own.  You were a child when I first found you, but now you are becoming a man.' "(Connolly 328).  This explains the change of David's character, and shows he became a strong individual, who grew up a little on his journey.  

The theme is a result of the plot advancing.  Though there were many themes that came from the book, one theme that I liked the most was even though there are many evils in the world, one must remain strong and battle to get through to a happier time.  A quote to support this is, "But as time progressed, David discovered that about one thing at least the Crooked Man had not lied: his life was filled with great grief as well as great happiness, with suffering and regret as well as triumphs and contentment." (Connolly 335).  This theme developed through David, because it was the overall lesson that he learned.  Without a relatable complex character in the text, the theme would not develop and would not be useful in the word today.  The Book of Lost Things had a strong theme because David is a teenager looking for his place in the world, which is relatable for most teenagers.

Here is an article that goes into greater detail about the style that John Connolly writes in.  Though parts of the review may seem confusing, the book is really about how you interpret it, rather than the author directly telling you the theme and purpose of the book, and I believe I interpreted the book in the same way as the author of the review did.

The Book of Lost Things Review


Here is a brief summary of The Book of Lost Things: