The Keeper of Lost Things

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Anthony Peardew is THE KEEPER OF LOST THINGS. Having never located something he once held dear, he knows all too well the pain of loss. In fact, his experience with loss in general runs deep. So he collects random objects—meaningless to others—and imagines what they once meant to their owners. The idea that it is possible to fix what is broken – whether individuals or communities – is particularly compelling in today’s fractured political landscape, and goes some way to explaining why these novels are resonating with readers. “When the world is absolutely out of control,” says Hogan’s publisher Lisa Highton, “there’s a rather delicious sense of the pieces of the puzzles of these [characters’] lives coming together. I’m not publishing these books to make a statement, but like most readers I’m connecting with that humanity and warmth and a sense that you can fix things yourself.” A wonderfully multilayered, descriptive story, The Keeper of Lost Things is full of sorrow and joy that weaves the life stories of its characters, exploring relationships, illness and loss * Manchester Weekly News *

Anthony had made her tea at the interview. He had brought it into the garden room; teapot with cozy, milk jug, sugar bowl and tongs, cups and saucers, silver teaspoons, tea strainer and stand. I found myself growing bored, waiting for a captivating moment that never came. The delicate romance was sweet and kept me hopeful, but nothing seemed to deliver on what felt promised. Realising he is running out of time, he leaves his house and all its lost treasures to his assistant Laura, the one person he can trust to fulfil his legacy and reunite the thousands of objects with their rightful owners. I am Alan Greenwell, aged 66, sole male member of Hartlepool Central Library Reading Group. My usual reading matter is military history, techno thrillers and fantasy. There is a compelling, magical appeal to this story, not in the literal sense, but it added a pleasant ambiance of imaginative goodness.

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From the attention-grabbing opening paragraph, to the joyful conclusion, Ruth Hogan has stirred together a charming fairytale in which the people may be more lost than the things; and generosity and compassion may be the key to finding a way home. Also there are dogs. Delightful. Helen Simonson Full of character, wit and wisdom, THE KEEPER OF LOST THINGS is a 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. 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.

The narrative of Eunice and Bomber is woven between Laura and Anthony’s story. These two characters have a deep connection to the lost objects. The reader also gets to experience the stories behind the lost objects. While there are several pov’s, all are intertwined and have a unique connection to the lost objects. 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 accidentally 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. The story opens with a writer, Anthony, who enjoys collecting lost things (such as a lone puzzle piece in the street, a forgotten umbrella in the park, etc.) When Anthony dies, his assistant, Laura, is tasked with trying to return the hundreds of lost items to their rightful owners. I started to really worry about the book when it became clear that there would be no shift in the narrative voice whatsoever - and what I mean by that is that, when the little 'stories behind the items' were included, they were narrated in the exact same manner as the text that had come before it, with Laura in centre stage. Given that they were supposed to have been written by Anthony, this was a grievous mistake. You may laugh out loud at the comedies waiting for Laura and Eunice; so don't read this book on a train. Or, what if events disrupt your journey, and you leave it there?

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What a cute, quirky, charming book that gives you the 'feels-goods' all over. Sometimes you have to believe, that things happen for a reason. And this book, certainly points that out. 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. This mystical and spiritual tale is a joyous read that will broaden your imagination and warm your heart * OK! *

It was such a delicious book! There is no other way to describe it. I did not want it to end. -- Preeti Shenoy, author of THE RULE BREAKERS Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart. Bomber has a tense relationship with his sister Portia who wants to be a writer. Bomber is frustrated by Portia’s writing style, finding it very derivative of famous novels. After Bomber’s father Godfrey dies, Bomber’s mother tells Bomber that she knows he is gay and wants him to be safe. As Bomber ages, he develops dementia like his father Godfrey had. Bomber is eventually put in a nursing home where Eunice continues to look after him. When Bomber tells Eunice he does not want to live anymore, Eunice helps Bomber to die.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.

Perhaps, when all is said and done, it is not only for the things we do well, but it is also with our imperfections for which we are loved. A minor caveat: I couldn't finish the book. I stopped at about a third of the way in and then looked up a summary of the plot online. And am I glad I did. Obvious and bland. The characters in The Keeper Of Lost Things are very relatable, and it was easy to sympathize with them throughout their journey. A beautiful story of love, loss and the redemptive power of friendship * Catherine Hall, author of DAYS OF GRACE *All set out on a tray with a tray cloth. Pure white, lace –edged linen. The tray cloth was definitive. Padua was clearly a house where all these things, including the tray cloth, were part of every day life”. Crafted in an unusual way, this was a lovely book to read. I enjoyed the little stories about the lost items which were often bittersweet, such as Maud and Gladys' tale and Eliza's wedding. My only criticism is that there are a few instances of curious things happening and these are never explained. This takes parts of the book into the realm of the paranormal. The whole concept of the book was so wonderful that I really wanted to be transported into a world which I believed was real. I think these minor deviations from reality were unnecessary and, for me, detracted from the perfection of the book. From about the 10% mark, I knew that this book was probably going to be a one star, and I couldn't wait for it to be over. Personally, I am a reader who likes to think (imagine that). When I thought of The Keeper of Lost Things, I had in mind the imagination of Neil Gaiman, almost a fantasy point of view, where I could dream up a story for each of the lost items, go on an adventure with the characters. Instead, the reader is presented with a story right away about each item. Ugh.