Lost Property

by Megan Choritz

One morning Laine wakes up to discover that the man she's been married to for 15 years has been secretively living out a monstrous lie. Her world is tilted on its axis. Now she must unstitch her existence, and peck through the pieces of her past... Just as Laine thinks she's reached the end of uncovering all the bitter truths, a child appears who demands her attention. This small, fierce person forces her to see the horror and ignites the tiniest flame of hope within.
A brilliant debut novel.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

240 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 1, 2023

Reviews

[Anschen Conradie · Rating 5 out of 5]

#LostProperty – Megan Choritz
#MelindaFerguson

When the world comes apart at the seams; the earth tilts on its axis; chaos reigns and every belief is questioned, a desperate search for sense and solace will inevitably lead to the past; to less complicated times when life was so much simpler. After fifteen years of being married to Mark, Laine’s existence tumbles to the ground when she discovers that he had been living a secret life that she was no part of. Her failure to notice, to be aware of his darkness, leaves her questioning her own judgement and her ability to be a legitimate member of society.

In a desperate attempt to at least comprehend her own actions and failures, she revisits the past in a series of memory flashbacks. The introspection and recollections are intimate, uncomfortable, painful, and often humiliating, and she battles to reflect with brutal honesty instead of the traditional knee-jerk reaction to justify and excuse.

In emotional rather than chronological order, Laine shares her most private memories and feelings, ranging from early childhood. Brought up by a narcissistic mother who wrote letters that ‘feel like a journal of private misery’, and a gentle, if somewhat passive aggressive father, her fondest memories are of Dora, her nanny since birth and substitute mother. She thus describes herself as being born to two mothers in Yeoville on 18 April 1965.

But it was Dora who called her Lala and taught her about the birds; the feathered messengers, omens of tragedy, but also metaphoric protection and providers of knowledge; role-players in all significant events: ‘I cannot breathe. The birds have come closer.’ (77)

Laine’s narrative is conveyed by her references to both the past and the present, as well as her therapy sessions with one Graham (not his real name), invoking the sense that one is reading fragmented portions of a life truly lived; fiction as personal as an autobiography. Every individual recollection extracts a particular emotion; some are hard to find, like ‘…going over coals and finding tiny sparks.’ (133); some were buried with no intention of resurrection: ‘…it’s the part I didn’t think I would tell.’ (147), and others are so fragile ‘…it could blow away.’ (118)

She reveals that she had married Mark because his hands reminded her of her father: ‘This man’s hands are my father’s hands, just smaller and younger.’ (28); her father being the man that she only realized at age eleven was’…quite simply also a person as well as my father.’ (68)

Doubt regarding her credibility as narrator is created and maintained by her own words: ‘I am still thinking about whether to tell the actual truth…’ (15); ‘…I am gearing up to have an honest conversation…’ (56), and ‘…this part of the story has eleven versions and counting…’ (249). Tina, a tiny six-year-old girl, does seem to bring forth honesty within Laine, however: ‘This child who has chosen me, clung to me, glued herself to me…’ (152) and leads her to examine and reassess the bonds between parents and children; the choices regarding children, and what motherhood truly entails.

It is an intimate, poetic novel, recommended for those often doubting the world and themselves.

⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #Uitdieperdsebek NB-Uitgewers/Publishers

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't sleep on LOST PROPERTY, Megan Choritz. The form, the content, the writing style is absolutely amazing. LOST PROPERTY is one for the awards. I am still at "Other people's children have the talent to weave a delinear narrative."

Mel & NB Publishers you have given the people what they didn't know they wanted. They needed.

"This part of the story is something like family. It is an in breath and an out breath. It is the part of the story that feels like life. This part of the story is the octopus reaching out to touch a human hand."

You have to read the book to arrive at this part of the story.

I was saying to a friend that LOST PROPERTY is like a personal story we've always wanted to share without revealing ourselves. Like "Unfictions", Pilipose's first newspaper submission from THE COVENANT OF WATER, Abraham Verghese.

Thank you @nb publishers for the review copy. Melinda Ferguson ❤️

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant!

It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book I couldn’t put down. I read this one in two days, immersed in the story, the characters, the place, from the first sentence. Everything about the creation of this book is beautiful. I highly recommend it.

[Elizabeth Kimberley Rochat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was everything it needed to be and said everything that it needed to say. The style of writing allows the reader to spiral, ache and overflow with the characters and by the end, all I wanted for was these people to be in my life. It became something I couldn’t put down.

This novel was unapologetically raw, real and South African. It left me thinking about many things like the complicated dynamics of family and a country and why Choritz always chose to call Dora Modise by her full name. It made me think about healing and how once you step out of yourself, you will find it and once you make room for the healing, so you also make room for love and genuine connection. Like scrubbing a wound, opening yourself up, leaving your heart raw to soak up the goodness and healing of love salve.

[Caryn Sher · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t usually write reviews , but seeing as the Author was affronted by my rating and picked me out on X about it, here we go. I was intrigued by the cover design (yes, I literally judge books by their covers!), but unfortunately this book didn’t pass my “10% test”. What’s that? I’ll give any book a fair shot - read 10% of the way in - but life’s too uncertain for bad books, and so I gave up pretty early on.
In fairness, I don’t particularly love local literature to begin with, so this book was on the back foot starting out. My sense was that it was probably the kind of story that’s therapeutic for the author to write, but that doesn’t always make for good reading.
Maybe it gets better further in, but I gave up.
Maybe a 1 was a bit harsh, will adjust to a 2. It was a nice cover, and I reckon it’s not easy to get published in SA, so that’s worth something.

[Sasha Kelberg · Rating 1 out of 5]

Throughout this book, I felt like not the reader, but her therapist "Graham, not his real name", but whereas he was at least getting paid for it, I was getting nothing in return: the writing is not particularly poetic (even the birds metaphor felt like an artificial distraction pulled by its wings from the the skull-aching frustration of being forced to witness someone's screwed-up life), no "turnaround and finally stand up for yourself" inspiring moral, just chapter after chapter of her submitting to abusive people and circumstances and not changing her behaviour to finally take charge of her life. And finally, all the "positive" that eventually happens in her life, happens by chance, happens *to her*, none of it is of her initiative, and she submits to the good outcome with the same weakness as she submitted to her abusive mother, husband and her life.

[Leila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t stayed up late to finish a book in a long time. Was it a perfect read? No, there were a few things I didn’t like about the book but it was totally captivating and that deserves 5 starts.

[Iman Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

With words, women, wings 🪡🪽

- “Nobody should have been her child, and I understand this only now. My mother, Merle.”

I picked up Lost Property after hearing Megan Choritz formulate conversations around the “Mother Wound” at Open Book Fest recently. She hit a nerve I thought was secluded in a musty, embarrassing corner — that nobody has ever shone a light on for me.

How dearly Laine (Megan’s protagonist) was held by her dad Larry, when her mother, Merle insisted on stomping parallel to Laine’s very essence. Lost Property felt like unwrapping a stubborn sweet that has sat in the sun for a bit and so, engaged it’s wrapper in a frustrating, sticky dance of push and pull. Frustrating because, you are longing for something to take the bitter taste out of your mouth, to bear witness to your fragilities and aching wound — the Mother Wound. Many things stood out for me and so I felt tenderly held by Laine’s recollections, her grace, her tenderness, her shortcomings.

The Mother Wound is gaping and large and festers. It demands a lot. It leaves you looking for tenderness elsewhere. Laine shows us how neglected daughters cling to motherly figures like Dora Modise, (the domestic worker) and mothers rip into that by laying down the laws of labour. As someone who is navigating this wound, to be resilient and strong is sometimes too much - oh, to have a mother who instructs your father to unleash the rage that you wouldn’t accept from her. I want to hug little Laine and I want to hug little me.

The spine of this story is made up of beautiful, soothing whispers. Heartbreaking, but guiding. Overwhelming but needed.

If you’re a struggling daughter or if you’re a mother looking to forge a different path than the one you were given, I recommend reading Lost Property. It’s written beautifully (how is this a debut novel again?). It’s gripping, tangible and heartbreaking. It’s running around like a headless chicken trying to buy band-aids for broken relationships. It’s realising the bleeding is coming from inside, and is going to take a long time to fix. But you’re here, you’re willing.

[Raeesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NB Publishers for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Lost Property is a book written by a South African author, and follows the main character, Laine, throughout various phases of her life. There isn’t really a linear plot to follow in this book; rather, it is told in little vignettes that portray Laine’s childhood, teenage years, marriage, and life after her marriage has fallen apart. The book jumps around a lot, but there are still a few threads that can be traced through the story. These plots mainly focus on Laine’s relationships with other people. We get to learn more about her relationship with her parents, with Dora (who worked for Laine’s family and was a very influential person in her life), and with Tina, the young girl who lives in her street. The main plot is trying to figure out what Mark, Laine’s husband, did to destroy their marriage.

This is not my kind of read at all, and certainly not something I would have picked up on my own, but I am so incredibly glad that I had the privilege of reading this! Even though not much happens throughout the book, the little that does happen is so impactful. The story is beautifully and heartbreakingly written, and I found myself fascinated by the various contrasts in the book – such as the extreme brutality in one chapter which was then juxtaposed with small beauties in the next.

This book was real and raw and made me feel so many emotions, and I ended up unexpectedly loving it!

[Helen Nicholson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took a while to get into Lost Property, but once I did I was thoroughly engaged. If you grew up in Joburg in the 80s there will be moments that bring up so many memories, and ones that make you wince at the injustices of our history.

I loved her style of writing- it’s almost staccato and then it hits you in the solar plexus. This was a tender, beautifully written book!

[Diana Boynton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Knock your socks off story, left me breathless and sleepless - incorporates all issues facing us in SA , and probably world wide. I found myself skimming as each sentence did not grab me , but wow the story !!

[David Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rarely has a work of fiction felt so like non-fiction to me. I know Megan Choritz through social media. We have not met. Yet. I may be completely wrong but I feel like I know her rather well after reading Lost Property. I took her book with me to the Magaliesberg, for a few days away from the city with my partner and our dogs. It was wonderful. The book however had me short of breath in places, my chest felt tight, as I got very close to the bone in what it a strangers life - fiction - non-fiction - I don't know. i suppose that's what makes great fiction - not being able to separate fact from imagination. In any case, Lost Property is a fantastic South African story - time, place, characters, even smells and sounds. I did not grow up in South Africa, but i have spent the largest part of my life here. I knew the old days of apartheid as well as the now extended version of transition and liberation. Before reading her book, I knew, from social media, that Megan Choritz was not like the average run-of-the-mill white South African - I mean that as a compliment. I had the same sort of feeling when I read Marion Sparg's Guilty & Proud. I have often thought of South Africa as possibly the world's biggest social experiment. As is the case with experiments, it's not clear what the end result will be. Perhaps there never is an end result. Lost Property adds a lot of meat to my thoughts on this transitional experiment. I am thankful for the courageous words Choritz uses. The families in the book, whether hers or not, are dysfunctional in upper case letters (as perhaps most families are). I experienced a certain amount of tension and/or stress while reading it because some of the characters were hitting me close to home. Please continue writing Megan Choritz.

[Beryl Eichenberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is Lost Property? Are we all lost at some time in our lives and how do we find ourselves? ‘Lost Property’ by Megan Choritz is a wonderfully revealing novel or should I say 'auto fiction' as it felt extremely personal. It is a deeply searching work that dives into the soul of a 40 something woman, Laine. She is recovering from the horrific discoveries and subsequent divorce from her husband of 15 years, navigating the lockdown and aftermath, her inquisitive neighbours in her suburb of Observatory and reflecting on her childhood as a benchmark for her present situation. A chain smoking, narcissistic mother Merle who really didn't care, a weaker but kind father Larry who Laine adored, and the ever present, sensible Dora Modise who essentially brought her and her brother up. It is their influences that have shaped her as she works through her pain, hauling out memories that are still open wounds and scabs that are still being picked. She spares the reader nothing in her outpourings, but the writing is lyrical and authentic, ingenious maybe the right word, many chapters being prefaced with ‘This part of the story…” as she opens the doors of her memory. It is that flitting through the many rooms of her mind that creates the rhythmic read. Then there are the birds...which Dora taught her to love - flying to freedom or trapped? Omens of danger or symbols of hope...you be the judge. And along comes a feisty six year-old, the neighbour's child, who sees Laine as her 'safe' place and is the catalyst for new beginnings and hope. Beautifully written and Choritz, as the playwright she is, has directed the scenes to produce an enthralling read. A superb debut novel.

[Lara Dunwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

"This is the part of the story when ..." is the familiar refrain of this wonderful novel. You think the narrator is preparing you for what's to come, every time she says this - she sketches the frame, but what follows always grabs you by the heart, and by surprise. So much of the novel is familiar, in part because I'm of an age with the narrator and the South African complexities she shares and stumbles over are ones I know. More so, it's familiar because the narrative weaves back and forth in time and imagery. I loved the use of the birds in the book - on a mythopoeic level, as well as on a practical one, the birds drive the story, and I learned to be grateful to spot one in the text, knowing how important it was going to be.
"A story is what happens when you leave most of the action out" said Russell Hoban, and this is true of "Lost Property" - it's not about the action as much as about story itself. How we make up stories for ourselves, have them ripped apart and their endings or even their beginning changed for us; what it means to be the author of your own life's meaning.
Also there are wonderful touches of humour and sadness. Honesty, mistakes, bravery and adventures - the longest journey, it seems, can carry one all the way across the street to the home of one's neighbour.
Strongly recommend this book, and can't wait for another one. Megan Choritz is a talented writer and an amazing story-teller.

[Fazila Cariem · Rating 5 out of 5]

I allocated 3 days to read this book - in between my normal day to day life. But I ended up finishing it within 6 hours - sacrificing my sleep because I truly have no self control when it comes to reading a good book.

I am surprised that this is Megan's first book. The writing style was so unique but fast paced - this is why I couldn't put it down!

But more than that - this story was relatable in so many ways. It follows Laine as a child, Laine as a married adult and then Laine post marriage. I felt Laine's pain as a child. I hated Merle with a vengeance until her one redeeming moment when she made me see and understand why she was the way she was - she must have been hurt herself. I forgave Merle then. But Laine as an adult frustrated me. I understand WHY she looked past all Mark's red flags but still.

This book was a deeply emotional read - and for some reason the part I cried with tears and all was the part with the pine trees. I dont know why. I think it was such a big metaphor. For everything, our country even, I just felt it on another plane of being.

I cant wait for more from this local author.

#booktributetuesday #bookreview #bookstagram #books #localauthor #capetownauthor #capetown #novel #fiction #autofiction #generationaltrauma #trauma #southafrica #mentalhealth

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this novel, the narrator, Laine, tries to make sense of the breakdown of her marriage, while navigating the unexpected arrival of a neighbour's child who doesn't want to go home. The narrative weaves between the present and the past, as Laine revisits scenes from her childhood and marriage, gradually exposing the faultlines that have shattered her personal world.

This is a rare book. It's intensely personal, and you get the feeling reading it that the author must have gone through some of this trauma herself to articulate it so honestly. But at the same time it doesn't feel like veiled autobiography - the story is crafted into a compelling work of fiction. Even though the subject matter is somber, the writer has a deceptively light touch with language, which makes for an engaging and easy read.

I was born and grew up in Cape Town, so the story felt seeped through with familiarity - the author evokes the grit and texture of the location in a way I could just about taste. As far as I know, this book is only published in South Africa in hard copy, but I hope it reaches a wider audience via the Kindle edition. It's an extraordinary debut novel, and I'm hoping to see more from this author.

[Tara Macpherson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lost Property by Megan Choritz (@meganshead) is a tale of loss and rediscovery.
And what a beautiful tale it is.

Laine has recently learned the man she was married to was secretly a different person all together. It has shifted her entire world view and is forcing her to confront parts of herself, her past and her present that have contributed to the here and now.

The novel travels across Laine's life. Her childhood with her complicated parents and magical childhood nanny, her early university life, the beginning of her married life (and it's unravelling) and her present. In her present life she is coping with Lockdown, Loadshedding, therapy and a neighbourhood child who needs her.

This was a beautiful read. The way in which each chapter opens had a easy way of easing you into Laine's life and world. All the characters were so nuanced and dynamic. My heart hurt and warmed.
I just loved reading this book.

If any of this is your thing I highly recommend!
Also another South African book!
I've been trying to read more local books and have been so excited by the talent!

[Jaqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put Lost Property down … yesterday I kept sneaking moments between meetings and work to sneak a page or two and then last night after teaching yoga I stayed up till three in the morning to finish it. (I’m a slow reader)

Megan Choritz has created the magical alchemy of turning pain and trauma into gold. This book is incredible. I loved the compelling magical realism of the world she created and the finely observed characters and detail. The novel is bleak and terribly sad, but also funny and finally there is redemption and a kind of healing … not a trite ‘happy ever after’, but the deep relief that hope is possible.

The images stayed with me long after I closed the book. Read it!

[michelle chesno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming,Brilliant I loved it

I have just finished reading this heartwarming , well written book . Can’t recommend it enough . Megan is a gifted writer . Her writing style feels original and you feel like you are in conversation with the main character ,her thoughts and feelings . I felt so drawn in and couldn’t put it down . Read it in 2 days gripped from page to page .
We can all relate to the complexity of emotion and experience especially those of us who grew up in South Africa. But it’s not only a South African story its about the human experience of life ,love, loss and hope .It’s thought provoking without being patronising .Thank you Megan for sharing your story with us . I honestly believe it should be nominated for all the prizes ! I think Megan is brilliant .

[Bonnie Espie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many have written reviews on this extraordinary debut novel.
Is it a novel? It felt autobiographical.
Although I am a little older than the protagonist, Laine, it transported me back to my childhood of growing up in Germiston. If you’re a baby boomer born in South Africa, this novel is filled with nostalgic memories.
Rather than repeat the praise already showered on this book, I thought I would take one sentence that shows the writing style.

“Come. I’m hungry. Let’s make more sandwiches”
I get up, and we are escorted inside by tiny green birds, the ones you can only see when you close your eyes after you’ve been in strong sunlight.

You know those tiny green birds, don’t you?

[Kathleen Dey · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're planning to read the opening paragraph of Lost Property make sure it's a Saturday morning and you have no plans for the weekend because you won't be able to out it down. It's that easy to read and that riveting without being literary candy. It's deeply nourishing. And it's got me thinking about many, many things long after I came to the end of it and dropped it off at my friend's house earlier this week, promptly putting an end to her workday.

[Cayla Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those read while the kettle boils, while you wait for the microwave, between classes/meetings, on the loo, while your partner runs off after the waiter to change their order, kinda books. I reached for it whenever there was a break in the day, no matter how short.

It was easy and difficult. I could not put it down but had to pause after every chapter to truly feel what I had just read.

Beautiful, honest, heartbreaking and hearthealing work. I can't wait to read it again.

[Erika Bornman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Give yourself the gift of this book. Order it now, express delivery. The author has given the world - us - a most precious gift here. I sat down one afternoon and only looked up when I’d read the last word. Other reviewers have done it more justice, I just want to urge everyone to read it. I have come undone in the most perfect way today. It’s magical, it’s perfect, it’s everything a book can be. Just get it, read it and you’ll see why I can’t find any words right now…

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

To me this book felt like it was a very personal and cathartic experience for the author. It’s raw and real and beautifully written but I struggled a bit with the changing timelines. I read many books with changing timelines, but this book has very short chapters so one reads a couple of pages and then one’s back in another time in Laine’s life. Other than that, it’s quite an emotional experience. A worthwhile read.

[Pamela Shapiro Muller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book you will want to read and you won't be able to put it down. A unique and genuine voice that takes you by the hand into the spaces of remarkable self discovery as the story unfolds in beautiful and truthful sense of place and time. A superb memoir. I want to read it all over again.

[Penny Haw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enthralling, heart-rending and utterly original, I enjoyed every moment of this book. There’s a quote attributed to Jane Austen that says, “If a book is well written, I always find it too short.” The final page of Lost Property came too soon for me. Highly, highly recommended.

[Carmen Gee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't even know where to begin! This book exceeded every expectation. It is clever, perfectly-paced, and utterly heart-wrenching. Choritz is incredibly talented and weaves tales with evocative imagery and tiny details that tug at the heart strings. Put this on your TBR right now.

[Melanie Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't normally read local written stories but this one was different. The story was intriguing and in some parts I could relate. It is a sad story. I did struggle with the way the story was told. To much jumping around, going back and forth.

[Lynette Clennell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it two days. Could not put it down. I loved the way South African history is subtly woven in.

[Chantal Stanfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredibly wrenching story! So cleverly written that, when the huge revelations happen, I had to stop and breathe and re-read those sections a few times!