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• Feb 22, 2017

The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan

Release Date: February 21, 2017
Publisher: HarperCollins; William Morrow
Pages: 288 pages
Source & Format: Publisher; ARC
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Summary (from Goodreads)

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. 

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?

Thoughts on The Keeper of Lost Things

It seems fitting that a book about a man who collects lost things, hoping to return them to their rightful owners, would arrive on my doorstep as a surprise. I hadn't requested a copy for review - or, truthfully, even heard anything about the book. But a kind publicist thought it might be a good fit and sent it my way. I have no idea if I would have discovered The Keeper of Lost Things on my own, but I'm so happy I had the opportunity to read it! It's a quiet novel, but it contains a magical and meaningful story about the things that connect us.

Many years ago, Anthony Peardew lost a cherished keepsake and the love of his life on the same day. Both losses have haunted him ever since, though he has managed to find some healing by rescuing misplaced objects that he finds. As he nears the end of his life, he realizes that his personal mission - to reunite the objects with their owners - is still unfulfilled. So, he bequeaths his estate and his collection to his assistant, Laura. She's a lost thing in her own right - recovering from a bad divorce and brokenhearted about the way her life has turned out. Anthony's home is a safe haven, and his "assignment" just might be the push she needs.

"When he had started gathering lost things all those years ago, he hadn't really had a plan. He just wanted to keep them safe in case one day they could be reunited with the people who had lost them. Often he didn't know if what he had found was trash or treasure. But someone somewhere did. And then he had started writing again; weaving short stories around the things he found. Over the years he had filled his drawers and shelves with fragments of other people's lives, and somehow they had helped to mend his -- so cruelly shattered -- and make it whole again. Not picture-perfect; of course not after what had happened. A life still scarred and cracked and misshapen but worth living nonetheless."

Anthony's story of his lost love and Laura's mission to return the objects make up the bulk of the book, but there's another storyline that plays a vital role in the drama that's unfolding. Eunice has her own story of something lost and something found, and it's woven throughout The Keeper of Lost Things. Every few chapters or so, the story jumps back in time to Eunice's life. I found myself looking forward to each flashback because she was my favorite character! There's a line early on that perfectly describes it:

"This was definitely the job for her. She would chain herself to one of the filing cabinets if necessary to secure it. Fortunately it wasn't."

I felt that way when I met Eunice - she was definitely the character for me, and I would chain myself to her side if necessary to get to know her better. I loved her job, her friendship with Bomber and the adorable dogs they cared for, her sense of humor and her loyalty to the people she loved. She was so full of life!

Laura paled a bit in comparison. She's lost her way, and I think Anthony hopes that becoming the keeper of lost things will be as healing for her as it was for him. I'll let you decide for yourself whether or not it is! There's a blossoming romance for her, which was sweet but fell flat for me. I just wasn't invested in it, but it's a minor quibble because Eunice's friendship with Bomber and Anthony's love for his fiancée more than make up for it!

I figured out the connection between the characters early on, but I don't think it's really supposed to be a mystery. The magic of this book is watching the two stories come together and exploring the lives of the people who have lost things along the way. There are stories scattered throughout the book - brief descriptions of an object with notes on where and when Anthony found it followed by a story of how it was lost. I couldn't wait to get to each one because I'd immediately find myself invested and longing to know more about what happened next. The stories had the potential to seem gimmicky or distracting, but they ended up bringing so much depth to the book. In fact, those stories are what I'll remember most.

My only real concern involves the young girl, Sunshine, who lives next door to Laura. Sunshine has Down syndrome and possesses somewhat of a sixth sense when it comes to the lost objects. I believe the "magical disability" is often a harmful trope, so this representation might be problematic. Other readers may be able to offer greater insight into the representation in this book, but I did think it was worth mentioning.

In many ways, this book reminded me of a British version of Sarah Addison Allen (and I love her!). It had similar elements - the comforting setting, the quirky but loveable characters, the pinch of magic, and the heartwarming emotions. Despite the moments of grief and pain, there's so much laughter and joy in these pages. Hogan's writing is just so lovely!  The Keeper of Lost Things is a testament to love, a celebration of life after loss and a moving depiction of friendship that I found utterly charming.

So Quotable
"Her grandmother had once told her that one could blame ugliness on one's genes and ignorance on one's education, but there was absolutely no excuse whatsoever for being dull."

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review consideration. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review.