The Keeper of Lost Things

Product Information

What these novels offer – beyond a template of kindness, community and friendship – is hope. As Hogan says: “No matter how bad things are, there is a way forward. I want my writing to focus on how you can find joy and happiness even when you’ve had a really tough time and even when things aren’t going your way.”

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 accidently 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 house that Anthony leaves to Laura is named Padua and without a doubt, there is the supernatural presence of Anthony's late fiance in the house and garden. Sunshine. a lively, clever, serious, delightful nineteen year old woman with Downs Syndrome, has a supernatural connection with Therese, despite never meeting her when she was alive. In fact, Sunshine just seems to know a lot of things about Therese and also about the owners of the lost things. The narration of her character had me seeing her so vividly, making her one of my favorite characters in a book full of touching characters. Not to be forgotten, is Freddy, the hunky gardener who allows Laura to think of love again, and Carrot, the mistreated stray dog, who knows that he is loved and safe, in his new home. All in all it was a very enjoyable read -and I will certainly look out for other titles from Ruth Hogan - who I assume is a fellow dog-lover, judging by the pride of place given to Douglas and Carrott! There is a compelling, magical appeal to this story, not in the literal sense, but it added a pleasant ambiance of imaginative goodness. I was particularly moved by the idea that the things we lose can still be found again in some way, shape or form.

Summary

This novel was very unexpected- I not only mean the novel itself— but my enjoyment of absolutely EVERYTHING ABOUT IT. I consider myself to be a modern woman —- I rarely tap into an appreciation for people’s sentimental tchotchkes. I ‘did’ ......tap into my appreciation for the smallest ‘lost things’. Silly me! Darn....where is that hair clip I lost- which I use to love? Would one of you please return it to Westgate Ave. in San Jose? Thank you, kindly! Readers looking for some undemanding, old-fashioned storytelling with a sprinkling of magic will find it here. There are two plot-timelines. Both were engaging—-but there was also a ‘third’ treat: stories within the storytelling. They were good! Afterall the Gentleman- Anthony Peardew, “Keeper of Lost Things”, was a writer!

How are we introduced to Laura? How would you describe her? Why has intimacy been such a problem for her? How does owning Peardew's house affect her? In what way does she become an agent of change and redemption? We all looked forward to reading The Keeper Of Lost Things as the concept of the story sounded interesting, however the majority of the group felt disappointed by this novel for different reasons. As Cannon says, the current political landscape “feels very treacherous and very fragile. When we look around us and see that fragility and that uncertainty we look for something we can hold on to. Community is a brilliant antidote to that fragmentation. It makes us feel more secure to be drawn to a sense of purpose and a sense of place.”

Ruth Hogan

When I was young my parents would take us on “Sunday drives,” which frequently meant we’d end up at some previously unexplored Antique Shop in some small town that had seemingly gone undiscovered for years, if I could judge by the dust. I used to imagine stories about the previous owners (and the ones before that, and so on) of these objects that ended up in our home. Imagine these objects in their hands, their homes. How did it come to be in a shop being sold by a stranger? 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 Hogan’s first novel reveals how even discarded items have significance and seemingly random objects, people, and places are all interconnected. The ending is especially perfect. It brings lots of tears, laughs and smiles, which probably made lots of folks on the trail I walk wonder what was going on with me.

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 all its lost treasures, including an irritable ghost. A charming, clever, and quietly moving debut novel of of endless possibilities and joyful discoveries that explores the promises we make and break, losing and finding ourselves, the objects that hold magic and meaning for our lives, and the surprising connections that bind us. The Keeper of Lost Things is Ruth Hogan’s debut novel which came out in 2017. The novel is a romance infused with elements of the paranormal and the magical. It had a bit of everything I enjoy in a book – romance, ghostly presences, magic, mystery, and clever literary references.Although the story has a definite"feel good" factor it is not sugary sweet and your feet are kept firmly on the ground by the rawness of some of the memory stories. A debut to watch for... I was hugely impressed by this f lawlessly written, most humane novel. * Ronald Frame, Sunday Herald (Books of the Year) * 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.

Hogan's touching, funny and romantic debut is that rare and precious thing: a real story with brilliant characters * Daily Mail * Oh my gosh..... please enjoy your favorite drink tea ‘ properly ‘ when you read this novel .....Ha.... The only promise that Therese had ever asked of him, and he had failed her. And so he had started to gather the things that other people lost. It was his only chance for atonement.” I really sniggered at many of the humorous passages: the WI lady's knowledge of something Italian she'd had in a restaurant, incidents with Portia and Sunshine's honesty. I also found the treatment of old age and Alzheimer's sympathetic. Then, he decides to pass his huge collection on to his house assistant and asks her to make sure everything finds its home, and this is when the story began unravelling to me, because she accepts this challenge as a way to make up for her being a huge disappointment to her parents?A very unique and clever premise for a book. Anthony is the “keeper of lost things”, the eponymous hero. He collects items which he finds and which he believes to have been lost. He carefully catalogues them all with the hope that he will one day be able to restore them to their owners and bring them happiness. When Anthony dies he leaves both his estate and the responsibility for completing his life’s work to Laura, his housekeeper/secretary. 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.” Full of character, wit, and wisdom, The Keeper of Lost Things is 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. That said, many of my book friends loved this one, and I can see why. I’d still recommend giving this a shot when you’re in the mood for a gentler read, if only to witness its generous amounts of creativity. Hope you enjoy!