Tuesday Review, What Was Lost

Today I'm reviewing another first novel, What Was Lost, by Catherine O'Flynn.

What Was Lost is a bit quirky, written from several different people's perspectives, different points in time. A young orphaned girl detective wanna-be is the focal point of the book, she and her stuffed monkey, Mickey. Cute little kid - sheltered, bright, lonely. Then she disappears.

I like this book. I do. But I found myself wondering throughout if everyone in England is so lonely, lost, hopeless. All of the characters seem to be ... apathetic. The journey ends well, in a sense, and the apathy begins to lift for several characters, the lost feeling. In every chapter I was drawn back to the book's title because I felt the loss so strongly.

It's tough to review a book without revealing too much. This entire novel revolves around not only a young girl, but a large mall. They both effect every character. If you read this, pay attention to each character's losses and how it determines their fate, their choices. Even the peripheral characters come to life, especially near the end.

All in all, a very good book. I hope to read more of Ms. O'Flynn's work in the future. Oh, and this isn't a long read. I finished it in the better part of one afternoon and evening. Feel free to take it to a doctor's appointment or while waiting for a child at school, etc.

Until I write again ...

Flea