The Luster Of Lost Things, by Sophie Chen Keller ~ 5++++++++++ Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Bullying, Disabilities, Family Bonds, Friendships, Magical Realism, Societal Roles

Thanks to G.P. Putnam’s Sons for providing an ARC in exchange for and honest review.

Release Date: Available Now

304 Pages

Synopsis: Walter Lavender Jr. is a master of finding. A wear of high-tops. A maker of croissants. A son keeping vigil, twelve years counting.

But he wouldn’t be able to tell you. Silenced by his motor speech disorder, Walter’s life gets lonely. Forth he has The Lavenders—mother’s enchanted dessert shop, where marzipan dragons breathe actual fire. He also has a knack for tracking down any missing thing—except his lost father.

So, when the Book at the root of the bakery’s magic vanishes, Walter, accompanied by his overweight golden retriever, journeys through New York City to find it—along the way encountering an unforgettable cast of lost souls. 

Steeped in nostalgic wonder, The Luster of Lost Things explores the depths of our capacity for kindness and our ability to heal. A lyrical meditation on why we become lost and how we are found, from the bright, broken heart of a boy who knows where to look for everyone but himself.

You guys! This book! I’m not sure how to even begin except to say that while I’ve read some fantastic books so far this year, The Luster of Lost Things surpasses them all!

Walter Lavender Jr. is a thirteen-year-old boy who is not only dealing with a motor speech disorder that makes it difficult for him to communicate, but he longs for his father who went missing before he was born. Because he’s “different” from his classmates, he doesn’t have any friends, and is the victim of bullying. But he has his loving and devoted mother, Lucy, and their magical bakery, The Lavenders. There, it’s completely normal to see chocolate mice jump rope with licorice, and other desserts come to life. The source of the magic is the Book, a gift given to Lucy, one cold winter’s night by a woman to whom Lucy gave shelter. I’m trying really hard not to include any spoilers, so I’m just going to say that ever since the Book was left, the, desserts came to life and the shop prospered. 

When the Book mysteriously disappears, the magic also departs and the future of the shop is in peril thanks to a new greedy landlord. So, young Walter, who has an uncanny knack for finding lost things, accompanied by his best friend and Golden Retriever, Milton, embarks upon a quest to find the missing book. Along the way he meets some incredible people who turn his journey into much more than a quest to find a magical book. This turns into a voyage of self-discovery, where Walter gains confidence in himself which in turn leads him to successfully form lasting connections to the people he meets. 

Walter is one of the most likable, charming and relatable characters I’ve come across in a very long time. By the end of the first chapter he stole my heart and I felt as though I was inside the story accompanying him and Milton as they traveled through the gritty streets of New York City on their mission. All of the characters in this book, including Milton are vividly brought to life, and each of them have a hand in young Walter’s transformation. 

There are really three parts to this book. The beginning which is set in the bakery and is full of magical realism. Then there’s the middle, where Walter is away from the warmth and safety of his mother and their shop. And finally, the ending which has Walter back where he began, albeit a much different boy then when he left. There have been many reviewers who have commented that they loved the beginning, but found Walter’s journey too slow. I have to respectfully disagree. While Walter’s quest does depart from the magical realism the book opens with, that doesn’t take away from the connections he makes with the quirky people he meets. And while, they all help him in some fashion, the positive impact he has on them is truly remarkable. 

Writing an adult book from a child’s perspective can’t be easy, and when that child suffers from a speech disorder, well, that’s almost unheard of. The only other book I’ve read that’s successfully done this is The Curious Incident of the Dog In Night-Time, by Mark Haddon. Sophie Chen Keller brilliantly brings to life this young boy who is highly intelligent and knows what he wants to say, yet frustratingly struggles to say the words out loud. We see the story unfold through his eyes and thoughts, and it’s a wondrous thing because Walter’s world is amazing and beautiful. 

The Luster of Lost Things is one of those rare books that if you read it, you’ll remember for it a very long time. I wish I had tons of money, because I’d buy hundreds of copies and leave them in train stations, subways, park benches, restaurants, mail them to all of you and, well, you get the picture. As I’m not rich, I’m just going to encourage everyone who reads this review to buy themselves a copy, or borrow it from their library. This is an uplifting and beautifully told tale with a boy who will touch your heart in ways you can’t imagine. It’s a confectionery delight that is a lovely respite from the real world. Please, give yourself a gift that will not only give you the warm fuzzies, but will also remind you what’s truly important in life.

 

Wendy Darling: Stars (Wendy Darling #1) ~ Colleen Oakes – 3.0 Stars

Tags

Abusive Relationships, Adventure, Dark Fantasy, Societal Roles, YA Fiction

 I received this e-Arc from NetGalley and SparkPress in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: October 13th, 2015

Synopsis: Wendy Darling has a perfectly agreeable life with her parents and brothers in wealthy London, as well as a budding romance with Booth, the neighborhood bookseller’s son. But while their parents are at a ball, the charmingly beautiful Peter Pan comes to the Darling children’s nursery and–dazzled by this flying boy with God-like powers–they follow him out the window and straight on to morning, to Neverland, an intoxicating island of feral freedom.

As time passes in Neverland, Wendy realizes this Lost Boy’s paradise of turquoise seas, mermaids, and pirates holds terrible secrets rooted in blood and greed. As Peter’s grasp on her heart tightens, she struggles to remember where she came from–and begins to suspect that this island of dreams, and the boy who desires her–have the potential to transform into an everlasting nightmare. 

I finished this book a few days ago but I’ve put off reviewing this because I’ve been waffling over how high a rating I should give it. After giving it much thought I decided on 3 stars mainly because the world-building is wonderful, and perfectly captures Neverland and all it’s magic, good and bad. Colleen Oakes also adds some interesting tweaks to the original story which makes it stand out from some of the other recent retellings of this childhood classic. That said however, I had some real issues with the characters which prevented me from truly enjoying the book.

Let’s start with Wendy. In this story she’s portrayed as a sixteen-year-old, the oldest in an upper-middle class family. Her father’s an accountant and amateur astronomer and her mother is a stereotypical socialite who flutters worryingly around everyone. Wendy is sweetly in love with Booth, a likable bookseller’s son who unfortunately is considered unsuitable due to his social and economic circumstances. Within the first few pages Wendy is already being forced to choose between her family and their wealth, or possible impoverishment and love. At this point she comes across as being rather shallow and vapid and spends a fair amount of time dithering over what she should do. That said, she does summon up the courage to plan on sneaking out to join Booth despite her father’s threats that he’ll send her away to a boarding school. Unfortunately that’s the night that Peter makes his appearance and her plan goes awry. Once she’s in Neverland, she develops into a heroine worth rooting for. At the same time she’s discovering that this magical island and Peter are not what they seem, she’s also discovering her own hidden strength. What I especially loved about her was her relationship with little Michael. She’s more of a mother to them him than their own, who is rather a ditz. Their relationship is so lovingly depicted it became my favorite part of the book.

Like in other recent retellings, Peter Pan does not come across well in this story. Handsome and oozing charm, you can understand why any teenage girl would be swooning over him. (By the way, in this tale he’s about Wendy’s age.) It doesn’t take long though for you to see he definitely has a dark side. The Lost Boys number over 200 and they’re all pretty much slavishly devoted to him. Equally so is Tinkerbell, despite the abysmal way he treats her. And therein lies the problem. Peter doesn’t care for anyone except for himself. His Lost Boys fight Hook and his pirates over things like alcohol, but they fight with real weapons which result in quite a few being killed. But no matter. It’s all just an adventure and game to Peter. By the end of the book it’s clear he’s a psychopath and a liar, and even worse likes to abuse women. His relationship with Wendy isn’t just dark, it’s creepy. He’s obsessively possessive, and in one scene he comes very close to raping her. Between this and a particular scene involving Tink, I was left feeling very uncomfortable. 

Equally detestable is John who I’d guess is about fourteen. He’s jealous, bitter and angry and takes out his feelings constantly on Wendy. It’s never really explained why he’s like this though. While Wendy is close with their father, it’s John in his role as the oldest son who receives the most time with him. I have to admit his attitude drove me crazy throughout the entire book. He also bullies Michael, which didn’t exactly endear me to him either.

I found Tinkerbell to be a complicated character. When she’s first introduced she is one nasty piece of work. She’s insanely jealous of Wendy and does just about everything she can to get rid of her. But then she does something truly dreadful in order to keep Peter to herself. Surprisingly because of the repercussions of that one act, she actually becomes a much more sympathetic figure. 

The one character who I completely fell in love with was Michael. He’s all wide-eyed innocence, and as adorable as only a five-year-old can be. The passages showing his and Wendy’s relationship were my favorites by far.

Everyone’s favorite pirate, Hook, doesn’t really make an appearance (except in flashbacks courtesy of Peter), until the end of the book. Thanks to that ending though I will probably read the next book, although I think I’ll borrow it from the library rather than purchasing it. While this first book in the Wendy Darling series has quite a few flaws regarding it’s mainly one- dimensional characters and some awkward dialogue, I do think that as a series it holds some promise. I’m hoping in the next book there’ll be much more about Hook, and that Wendy and Tink join forces against Peter. It would be nice to see the only two women featured, throw off their figurative shackles and team up to fight. 

 

A Thousand Nights ~ by E.K. Johnston – 3.5 Stars

Tags

Classic Story Retellings, Fantasy, Societal Roles, YA Fiction

 I received this e-Arc from NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion in exchange for an honest review. 

Release Date: October 6th, 2015

Synopsis: Lo-Melkhiin killed three hundred girls before he came to her village, looking for a wife. When she sees the dust cloud on the horizon, she knows he has arrived. She knows he’ll want the loveliest girl: her sister. She vows she will not let her be next.

And so she is taken in her sister’s place, and she believes death will soon follow. Lo-Melkhiin’s court is a dangerous palace filled with pretty things: intricate statues with wretched eyes, exquisite threads to weave the most beautiful garments. She sees everything as if for the last time. But the first Sun rises and sets, and she is not dead. Night after night, Lo-Melkhiin comes to her and listens to the stories she tells, and day after day she is awoken by the sunrise. Exploring the palace, she begins to unlock years of fear that have tormented and silenced a kingdom. Lo-Melkhiin was not always a cruel ruler. Something went wrong.

Far away, in their village, her sister is mourning. Through her pain, she calls upon the desert winds, conjuring a subtle unseen magic, and something besides death stirs the air.

Back at the palace, the words she speaks to Lo-Melkhiin every night are given a strange life of their own. Little things, at first: a dress from home, a vision of her sister. With each tale she spins, her power grows. Soon she dreams of bigger, more terrible magic: power enough to save a king, if she can put an end to the rule of a monster.

“There is life, and there is living–that is what she learned.”

This is the second retelling of One Thousand and One Nights I’ve read in the past few months, the first being the incredible The Wrath and the Dawn, by Renee Ahdieh. While it was extremely difficult not to compare the two, for the most part I was successful. If you choose to read both these books, I recommend you space them apart. Unfortunately I find myself feeling a bit conflicted regarding the merits of this book.

Let me first address one of the most criticized elements of the book: the fact that none of the characters actually have names except for King Lo-Melkhiin, not even the heroine. Everyone else is referred to as “my sister, my mother” and my personal favorite, “my father’s father’s father”. Many reviewers have found this to be distracting from the story and I can understand why, but once I got used to the author’s writing style, I found it quite clever on her part. Lo-Melkhiin casts such a strong evil pall over the entire story, you can understand why the other characters would have a difficult time establishing their own identities. But you know what? Amazingly they do. 

First, there’s our unnamed heroine who for the purposes of this review I’m going to call ‘S’ for the original Scheherazade. S is one of the most intriguing characters I’ve read thus far this year. Her quiet strength and fortitude is what drives this story. She sacrifices so much, not only for her sister, but also for her people. She’s presented with the opportunity to escape her situation more than once, yet she refuses to take the easy way out–instead choosing to act for the greater good. This is a woman who uses her wits to survive each night spent with a demon. While she starts out as another soon to be forgotten bride, she ends up as a leader in her own right.

Lo-Melkhiin is anything but a stereotypical dimensional villain. While he’s despicable and commits some horrific acts, not the least taking young innocent girls and killing them shortly after the marriage, there is a reason behind his actions. I’m not going to say too much in the interest of not giving away spoilers, but it’s revealed that he’s a victim also. The descriptions of his life before he becomes the villain makes him just as a compelling character as S. There’s little romance in this book, and the few slightly intimate passage are repugnant because of the corruption in Lo-Melkhiin. 

There are many outstanding secondary characters such as the sister of S, Lo-Melkhiin’s mother, and even the woman who is in charge of painting henna on S whenever she ventures out in public. Which leads me to one of the greatest strengths of this novel. Despite this world seeming to be at first ruled by a patriarchal society, it’s anything but. When all is said and done, A Thousand Nights is about the women–Women whose devotion and quiet strength are the very foundation of this story. It’s the type of female representation that should be included in every novel, especially those written for children and YAs. 

The other strength of this novel is the beautiful language the author employs to create this captivating world and it’s characters. “Sumptuous” and “exquisite” don’t even begin to do justice to what E.K. Johnston has created. Reading this novel for me was like watching an artistic master like DaVinci paint right before my eyes. The amount of detail provided in regards to the physical surroundings, clothing, etc. is simply amazing. I felt the sand of the desert stinging my face and the silkiness of the cloth used to garb S in her role of Queen. Weaving plays an important part in this story: the weaving of cloth, the weaving of the stories told by S to Lo-Melkihiin, the weaving together of the characters lives. It’s all done with incredible care by Johnston. 

All this brings me to what I perceive to be the main weakness of this book: the slowness in the unfolding of events, especially in the first half of the story. As I said, one of the greatest strengths is the amount of detail put into the world-building. Unfortunately, it’s this same amount of detail that tends to bog down the action. Once you reach the midway point however, the pace picks up. The problem is that by the time this happens, I fear many readers, particularly teens, will have given up. This is a shame, because I think otherwise, this book offers so much. 

While in some respects the ending takes a somewhat easy way out, there are some twists which save it from being your typical, eye-rolling Disneyfied happily ever after. 

So. Would I recommend A Thousand Nights? Surprisingly, my answer is yes. While lacking some of the passion and action of The Wrath and the Dawn (I know. I know. I said I wouldn’t compare the two, but honestly, if you read the two books, you really can’t help it), this book is one of those quiet ones that quietly sneaks up on you and winds up leaving quite an impact.