What Was Lost: A Novel
by Catherine O'Flynn
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Book Reviews of What Was Lost: A Novel
Book Review: Mildy Entertaining
Summary: 3 Stars
I was anticipating a great experience when I picked up "What Was Lost" after reading all the reviews. Unfortunately for me, it was less than I had hoped for. It isn't "thrilling" in any way but it is a well done story that has the unique twist with interesting characters. The plot moves quickly in the beginning with the reader being introduced to Kate Meaney a 12 year old who has had some major loss in her young life and who has invented an imaginary world playing detective which fills the voids and loneliness. The story slows down mid way through and loses it's magic becoming very mundane. In the end, the quirky twist and clever wrap up save the story and perhaps make this worth recommending. I expect great things from Catherine O'Flynn, this was certainly a well done first novel.Book Review: Not perfect....but no "4" either
Summary: 4 Stars
Rarely do I find a book I can't put down...but this was one of them. Although I didn't want to savor every page, I wanted to know what was next without hesitation. The first part of the book is heartbreakingly sweet and funny. After that it is heartbreaking in its sadness and struggles. There are odd little breaks where random people's thoughts on randoms subjects are explored. I wanted them to make sense in the long run - but they didn't. They make this book less then great - but I definately recommend this book to anyone in love with a well written, imaginative, and memorable story.Book Review: poorly executed, poorly written, overhyped novel
Summary: 1 Stars
I was surprised to see all the awards this book won. I felt the first section was a lame, less well written, English version of Harriet the Spy. The middle version rapidly shifted both point of view and style, which I found irritating and unconnected to the first section. The final explanation, completely anti-climatic, and the final narrative shift to Teresa left me without a main character to relate to. "What was Lost" ? I would say the focus of the book. This thing reads more like a loosely framed TV screenplay, where narrative shifts would be immaterial than a true novel.Book Review: Unforgettable debut
Summary: 5 Stars
I read this book this summer for relaxation, not realizing how beautifully written and emotionally moving it would be. The style is literary but completely accessible. The characters are three dimensional. O'Flynn takes a mundane setting, a shopping mall, and makes it as exotic as any place on earth. I was lying down, relaxing, and after a few pages I had to sit up--it was that absorbing. The author reminds me of Mark Haddon, Denise Mina, and other contemporary British writers, not because of style or subject, but because of the sheer, intelligent enjoyment they provide.Book Review: There's a lot of great writing in this book...
Summary: 4 Stars
There's quite a bit of good writing in this book. However, do not listen to the audio version. The reader's voice is irritatingly sing-song and whiny. And the story itself is a downer. There is something quite hideous about the vast, spiritually empty landscape painted here. I thought to myself, This is a good book to have a nervous breakdown with. The characters themselves were extremely unattractive, for one thing. Again - well-written but "icky."