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The Luster of Lost Things
In this story for readers of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and A Man Called Ove, when all seems lost, he finds what matters most.
Walter Lavender Jr. is a master of finding. A wearer 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. Fortunately, he has The Lavenders—his mother’s enchanted dessert shop, where marzipan dragons breathe actual fire. He also has a knack for tracking down any missing thing—except for 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.
Walter Lavender Jr. is a master of finding. A wearer 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. Fortunately, he has The Lavenders—his mother’s enchanted dessert shop, where marzipan dragons breathe actual fire. He also has a knack for tracking down any missing thing—except for 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.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 8, 2017
155 people are currently reading
4842 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Chen Keller
3 books85 followersSophie Chen Keller is the author of The Luster of Lost Things. She was born in China and raised in Ohio and California. Her short fiction has won several awards and has appeared in publications such as Glimmer Train and Pedestal. After graduating from Harvard, she moved to New York City, where she currently resides with her husband and a not-so-secret cabinet of sweets.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 559 reviews
July 19, 2017
This is a beautiful story. I don't often feel that way when finishing a book, but this one has special meaning for me. This is the story of Walter Lavender, Jr., a 13-year old boy who has never met his namesake because he lost his father before he was born. His world is decidedly small, despite living in New York City, because he has a speech problem. He knows what he wants to say but struggles to say the words aloud. The more he becomes frustrated, the more his words sound like gibberish. He's teased at school and has retreated to his insular world with his awesome dog and attentive mother and for the most part doesn't try to speak much. Fortunately, we see the story from his point of view through his thoughts, and Walter's world is a beautiful place.
This book speaks to me because of Walter's inability to articulate his thoughts. My father suffered from Primary Progressive Aphasia and he slowly lost the ability to speak and understand language. My heart is still broken from watching the decline in my father's ability to communicate. When he was first diagnosed, his challenge was exactly like Walter in the story. He knew what he wanted to say but struggled to form the words in a way others could understand. Eventually his world became smaller as he could no longer communicate with people to any form of satisfaction for him. So, he stopped trying and became closer to his loyal dog, Pete. That is Pete in my profile picture. They understood each other in a way that only a speech-impaired man and the dog who loves him can understand.
So, reading about Walter, Jr. recognizing and rejecting the limitations of his speech did my heart good. He fought for a better life in a way my dad felt too tired and set in his ways to endure. I was rooting for him all the way.
Thank you to Penguin's First to read program for providing me with an advance copy for review. Thank you to Sophie Chen Keller for creating characters that nestled perfectly into the fractured parts in my heart.
This book speaks to me because of Walter's inability to articulate his thoughts. My father suffered from Primary Progressive Aphasia and he slowly lost the ability to speak and understand language. My heart is still broken from watching the decline in my father's ability to communicate. When he was first diagnosed, his challenge was exactly like Walter in the story. He knew what he wanted to say but struggled to form the words in a way others could understand. Eventually his world became smaller as he could no longer communicate with people to any form of satisfaction for him. So, he stopped trying and became closer to his loyal dog, Pete. That is Pete in my profile picture. They understood each other in a way that only a speech-impaired man and the dog who loves him can understand.
So, reading about Walter, Jr. recognizing and rejecting the limitations of his speech did my heart good. He fought for a better life in a way my dad felt too tired and set in his ways to endure. I was rooting for him all the way.
Thank you to Penguin's First to read program for providing me with an advance copy for review. Thank you to Sophie Chen Keller for creating characters that nestled perfectly into the fractured parts in my heart.
August 8, 2017
I love the positive vibes generated by this story. Walter Lavender Jr is a sweet, thoughtful kid who sets out on a mission to find a magical Book that has been taken from his mother’s bakery. The Book is responsible for creating magical desserts that keep Walter’s family bakery in business. I really enjoyed the first third of the story. Once Walter heads out on his adventure, the story really slowed down for me. However, overall I did enjoy The Luster of Lost Things. Thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 19, 2017
The Luster of Lost Things is one of my November selections for the Pick One For Me challenge with the group A Million More Pages.
This is a cute magical realism story with both touching and laugh out loud moments. It was a fun read, but I kept putting it down for some reason. There were a few boring moments, but then there were moments when the book kept my attention.
The narrator, Walter Lavender, Jr., is an intelligent boy who struggles to speak, and finds lost things, including the magical book that brings the pastries to life in his mother’s dessert shop in New York. People don’t understand why he can’t talk properly, so he’s often teased and ridiculed. He only talks unless it’s absolutely necessary. His father is a pilot, but never returned from the war and Walter holds on to hope that he’ll return. He’s lost and lonely until he adopts a Golden Retriever, Milton, who seems smarter than most people. Milton is goofy at times, reminiscent of Marley from Marley and Me, but not nearly that extreme in behavior. His nose is often covered in caramel and you’ll see him chasing dessert squirrel pastries down the street.
Walter meets some interesting characters while searching for the magical book. One of my favorite characters is Nico, a homeless guy Walter speaks to about the missing book. Nico tries to get Walter to moo on a street corner and the scene is hysterical. Here's a little clip of it.
What happens after that is even funnier, but I won't spoil that for you.
One of my favorite tender moments is when Walter returns from his day of searching for the book and has this interaction with his mom.
When you consider how much Walter struggles so speak, that scene made me a little teary-eyed.
The comparisons to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time is accurate, so if you enjoyed that book, you’ll enjoy this one too.
This is a cute magical realism story with both touching and laugh out loud moments. It was a fun read, but I kept putting it down for some reason. There were a few boring moments, but then there were moments when the book kept my attention.
The narrator, Walter Lavender, Jr., is an intelligent boy who struggles to speak, and finds lost things, including the magical book that brings the pastries to life in his mother’s dessert shop in New York. People don’t understand why he can’t talk properly, so he’s often teased and ridiculed. He only talks unless it’s absolutely necessary. His father is a pilot, but never returned from the war and Walter holds on to hope that he’ll return. He’s lost and lonely until he adopts a Golden Retriever, Milton, who seems smarter than most people. Milton is goofy at times, reminiscent of Marley from Marley and Me, but not nearly that extreme in behavior. His nose is often covered in caramel and you’ll see him chasing dessert squirrel pastries down the street.
Walter meets some interesting characters while searching for the magical book. One of my favorite characters is Nico, a homeless guy Walter speaks to about the missing book. Nico tries to get Walter to moo on a street corner and the scene is hysterical. Here's a little clip of it.
Nico leans back and tucks his chin in and takes a deep breath and hurls himself forward into a “MOOOOOOOO!”
I nearly jump out of my skin, and Milton springs to his feet and barks and all down the street startled faces swivel around. Nico waves at his audience and turns to me and says “Your turn,” and I think, Not in a million years, Not ever again.
What happens after that is even funnier, but I won't spoil that for you.
One of my favorite tender moments is when Walter returns from his day of searching for the book and has this interaction with his mom.
"I missed you," I say, and from the look on her face, no one could have said the words more perfectly.
When you consider how much Walter struggles so speak, that scene made me a little teary-eyed.
The comparisons to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time is accurate, so if you enjoyed that book, you’ll enjoy this one too.
April 9, 2017
This was glorious! Sweet, magical and very very special.
Journey with Walter and his dog Milton as they try and track down a missing book, the book that means success or failure for the bakery that is their entire world.
Along the way Walter must shake off the shackles that he has placed on his self, jump, step and dance out of his comfort zones and embrace the craziness of friends and acceptance.
Totally gorgeous. Was so sad when it ended, as it filled me with a soft glow, like a great hug, a fat slice of cake,or a hot water bottle on a cold night and I did not want it to go.
Reminded me of Sarah Addison Allen and Alice Hoffman.
Journey with Walter and his dog Milton as they try and track down a missing book, the book that means success or failure for the bakery that is their entire world.
Along the way Walter must shake off the shackles that he has placed on his self, jump, step and dance out of his comfort zones and embrace the craziness of friends and acceptance.
Totally gorgeous. Was so sad when it ended, as it filled me with a soft glow, like a great hug, a fat slice of cake,or a hot water bottle on a cold night and I did not want it to go.
Reminded me of Sarah Addison Allen and Alice Hoffman.
December 2, 2017
I should have liked this more. The writing was beautiful, it had an interesting setup, the story was inventive, but I never felt engaged in the characters. I like whimsy, but "The Luster of Lost Things" was like trying to cure hunger with a meal consisting only of cotton candy.
August 23, 2017
When I got this book in the mail, the sweet dog on the over sitting with a little boy totally did me in. We all know how I feel about covers with animals on them…I’m a complete and utter sucker!
What a way to lure readers….so cute and charming was this cover. Plus I love the blue and gold accents. Basically this was an easy yes for a review based on the cover.
But the question for me was when can I work it in to my schedule? I was already pretty tight for early fall reviews so I had planned on Oct for this one.
But the cover just kept coming to mind on a regular basis so I decided to make room and read this book so I could stop seeing a cute golden dog with his little boy in my mind every time I opened a new book!
This book is marketed to fans of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, a novel which is still hands down one of my favorite books. It’s such a memorable and unique story that stuck with me years and years after reading it and still resonates with me even now.
So needless to say that marketing tagline hooked me. Yet this book based on the description sounded nothing like The Curious Incident. I mean, The Curious Incident never had any magic or magical realism but I was still on board.
People make room in your reading schedule for this book. Move it up on your TBR list. Put down the book you are reading now. Whatever you need to do to read this book, do it now! Even if you aren’t a magical realism fan, this book has so much to recommend itself beyond the magical elements. I think what I personally loved the most was seeing the world through Walter’s eyes.
Writing an adult novel from the perspective of a child is challenging and then you add in a child with special needs and it becomes almost unheard of. The only time I thought it was well done was with The Curious Incident and then this one came along. Walter is an extremely likable, endearing character that I fell in love with instantly.
His dog Milton….and overweight golden retriever?! Sold. Enough said. I adore this dog. Together Walter and Milton create a memorable story. The story itself has an air of whimsey to it but still manages to be appealing to more serious minded readers.
I was only a couple of chapters in and I abandoned my other book to read this one and next thing I knew I was almost done and sad that it was coming to a close so rapidly. When it ended I was left with a warm cozy feeling and I felt good about how the characters and story lines were resolved.
But this novel was so much more to me than just another magical realism novel or even a contemporary novel. It was a very human story. Even with the magical or whimsical elements woven in, it didn’t take on an unrealistic feel. The characters were powerful and the character arch (especially for Walter) was fascinating and moving.
Everything was satisfying but for me it was the journey that made this book memorable and pushed me to keep reading .
See my full review here
What a way to lure readers….so cute and charming was this cover. Plus I love the blue and gold accents. Basically this was an easy yes for a review based on the cover.
But the question for me was when can I work it in to my schedule? I was already pretty tight for early fall reviews so I had planned on Oct for this one.
But the cover just kept coming to mind on a regular basis so I decided to make room and read this book so I could stop seeing a cute golden dog with his little boy in my mind every time I opened a new book!
This book is marketed to fans of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, a novel which is still hands down one of my favorite books. It’s such a memorable and unique story that stuck with me years and years after reading it and still resonates with me even now.
So needless to say that marketing tagline hooked me. Yet this book based on the description sounded nothing like The Curious Incident. I mean, The Curious Incident never had any magic or magical realism but I was still on board.
People make room in your reading schedule for this book. Move it up on your TBR list. Put down the book you are reading now. Whatever you need to do to read this book, do it now! Even if you aren’t a magical realism fan, this book has so much to recommend itself beyond the magical elements. I think what I personally loved the most was seeing the world through Walter’s eyes.
Writing an adult novel from the perspective of a child is challenging and then you add in a child with special needs and it becomes almost unheard of. The only time I thought it was well done was with The Curious Incident and then this one came along. Walter is an extremely likable, endearing character that I fell in love with instantly.
His dog Milton….and overweight golden retriever?! Sold. Enough said. I adore this dog. Together Walter and Milton create a memorable story. The story itself has an air of whimsey to it but still manages to be appealing to more serious minded readers.
I was only a couple of chapters in and I abandoned my other book to read this one and next thing I knew I was almost done and sad that it was coming to a close so rapidly. When it ended I was left with a warm cozy feeling and I felt good about how the characters and story lines were resolved.
But this novel was so much more to me than just another magical realism novel or even a contemporary novel. It was a very human story. Even with the magical or whimsical elements woven in, it didn’t take on an unrealistic feel. The characters were powerful and the character arch (especially for Walter) was fascinating and moving.
Everything was satisfying but for me it was the journey that made this book memorable and pushed me to keep reading .
See my full review here
August 21, 2017
So I finally managed to finish "The Luster of Lost Things" yet I've put off this review because I think it's going to be a hard one to write. Prior to reading this book, I looked at a few other non-spoiler reviews and a lot of people mentioned liking the first part of the book, which has most of the magical realism elements in it, and feeling the second part, Walter's quest, dragged the book down. I feel pretty much exactly the opposite but what else is new?
Walter Lavender Jr. is a young boy who lives with his mother above their bakery in New York. Walter suffers from a motor speech disorder and pretty much his friends consist of his Lab Milton, his mother and the staff at the bakery. His father disappeared during a flight when Walter was a baby and he waits patiently each day for him to return home. Because of his disability, Walter's life is quite lonely but he does have a knack for finding lost things and hires himself out to people looking for beloved items, which is his main interaction with the world outside the bakery. The bakery itself is "guarded" by a magical book which was given to his mother following his father's disappearance and this book makes the bakery a magical place where the delicious creations often come alive - literally. One day, the book vanishes and knowing that the disappearance spells doom for the bakery and Walter's comforting life, he and Milton go on an excursion to find it. The book ends up getting torn up so he has to find all 7 pages and out it back together within 24 hours if he hopes to save he and his mother's future.
Walter's quest was the most interesting part of this book for me. He meets lots of interesting characters and along the way, finds his own "voice." In fact, it was quite endearing when at the end of the book, Walter is able to return home and verbally tell his mother than he missed her. Walter helps a lot of the people he encounters as much as they help him and he and Milton also make a new best friend in the process which I found beyond cute.
The main reason this book didn't rate higher for me is purely because of the magical realism. I struggle with the genre in general and it took me much longer to read this book than it should have. Also, I wanted more Milton. He and Walter have an awesome bond, and Milton occasionally speaks to Walter and I just would have enjoyed the book more with more Milton. Of course, to those who know me, that's no big surprise.
This book has been quite popular this month since it's release and I've seen many people enjoying it. I'm glad I picked it up and it really is an adorable tale, it just fell a tad short for me. Lovers of magical realism should consider giving this book a chance but may find Walter's journey somewhat mundane.
Walter Lavender Jr. is a young boy who lives with his mother above their bakery in New York. Walter suffers from a motor speech disorder and pretty much his friends consist of his Lab Milton, his mother and the staff at the bakery. His father disappeared during a flight when Walter was a baby and he waits patiently each day for him to return home. Because of his disability, Walter's life is quite lonely but he does have a knack for finding lost things and hires himself out to people looking for beloved items, which is his main interaction with the world outside the bakery. The bakery itself is "guarded" by a magical book which was given to his mother following his father's disappearance and this book makes the bakery a magical place where the delicious creations often come alive - literally. One day, the book vanishes and knowing that the disappearance spells doom for the bakery and Walter's comforting life, he and Milton go on an excursion to find it. The book ends up getting torn up so he has to find all 7 pages and out it back together within 24 hours if he hopes to save he and his mother's future.
Walter's quest was the most interesting part of this book for me. He meets lots of interesting characters and along the way, finds his own "voice." In fact, it was quite endearing when at the end of the book, Walter is able to return home and verbally tell his mother than he missed her. Walter helps a lot of the people he encounters as much as they help him and he and Milton also make a new best friend in the process which I found beyond cute.
The main reason this book didn't rate higher for me is purely because of the magical realism. I struggle with the genre in general and it took me much longer to read this book than it should have. Also, I wanted more Milton. He and Walter have an awesome bond, and Milton occasionally speaks to Walter and I just would have enjoyed the book more with more Milton. Of course, to those who know me, that's no big surprise.
This book has been quite popular this month since it's release and I've seen many people enjoying it. I'm glad I picked it up and it really is an adorable tale, it just fell a tad short for me. Lovers of magical realism should consider giving this book a chance but may find Walter's journey somewhat mundane.
February 22, 2017
I can't think of another way to describe this book than cozy and warm. The writing wraps you up in a blanket and makes you crave freshly baked desserts and a friend to share them with. Loved this book and the characters in it, especially Walter Lavender Jr.
August 9, 2017
This is likely me and not the book. It seemed well written but I never connected with the characters. I liked the magical realism aspect but the execution failed for me.
September 12, 2017
You can read all of my reviews on my blog -> Cover2CoverMom
The Luster of Lost Things falls into the magic realism category. Magic realism can be a very difficult genre to do in my opinion. When done right, magic realism gives us a touch of magic, while still staying grounded in reality. Far too often I have read a magic realism book that crosses the line from enchanting, to just plain weird. ((I’m looking at you Little Nothing)) It really is a fine line. I feel Keller did a good job on this front. There was just the right amount of magic to give this book a dreamy quality without overdoing it. Who wouldn’t be allured by an enchanted bakery where the desserts & pasties move, dance, and breathe fire? Actually, this book reminded me a bit of the movie Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium in regards to some of the magic realism elements. I also loved Walter’s special ability for finding lost things. I could actually use Walter’s specific gift as I often lose things (my phone, keys, wallet… basically anything not attached to my body). The ability to see the “luster of lost things” would definitely come in handy. Overall, I found the magic realism elements very charming & creative.
Let’s talk about our main character, Walter. Walter goes through so much personal growth throughout the course of this book. It truly was a pleasure to watch him go from a boy who secluded himself from the outside world, to a young man with a new thirst for life. Can I just give a huge shout out to Keller for including a main character with a motor speech disorder? Walter is portrayed as a child with childhood apraxia of speech, which is a neurological disorder where the brain has trouble coordinating the muscle movements required for speech. I can tell Keller conducted a lot of research into motor speech disorder for Walter’s character, which I always respect. You can really tell Keller wanted to represent a motor speech disorder in an accurate & sensitive manner. I could feel the frustration that Walter feels when he is unable to physically say what he wants to communicate. I would think it would feel like being trapped inside your own head. It really made me realize how I take my own ease of speech for granted. Books with main characters who have any type of disorder/disability are SO important. They give those of us not affected a valuable perspective into what it is like to have some type of disorder/disability. As a parent with a child who has a disorder (my son has a visual processing disorder, which basically means his brain does not process visual stimuli, text in particular, the way it should), I really appreciate Keller writing a book with a main character like Walter.
There are some wonderful themes included within the pages of this book: overcoming adversity, coming of age, helping others, overcoming fear, compassion, stepping outside of comfort zones, family & friendship. The Luster of Lost Things, at its core, it is an exploration of human nature. It is a coming of age story where the main character discovers their inner strength through a journey that brings them into contact with many different types of people. With each new person that Walter comes into contact with, he learns something new about the world & himself. This book is definitely more of a slower paced character driven novel.
I only had a few slight complaints about this book. While I felt Keller did a good job with the creative magic realism elements, I did also feel they were a bit unclear/confusing at times. For example, was the bakery alive to all of its employees & customers, or was it only Walter who saw the desserts come to life? I wanted more clarification with some of these elements. Also, many reviewers felt like the book starts off with a bang and loses steam while Walter is on his journey to find the book, however I actually felt the opposite: I had a hard time getting into the book & magic realism elements at first, but things turned around quickly once Walter begins his quest. Nothing major that hindered my overall enjoyment of this book.
There was something very endearing about The Luster of Lost Things. I feel like this book will appeal to many types of readers. I particularly recommend it to fans of magic realism, food lovers (Keller’s descriptions of the baking process & the decadent desserts will leave your stomach growling), dog lovers (Walter’s side kick happens to be a golden retriever named Milton, who has a bit of a sweet tooth), and NYC lovers (Walter’s journey takes him all around NYC). If you are looking for a sweet feel-good book with a touch of magic, then give The Luster of Lost Things a go!
*Big thanks to G.P. Putnam’s Sons for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Luster of Lost Things falls into the magic realism category. Magic realism can be a very difficult genre to do in my opinion. When done right, magic realism gives us a touch of magic, while still staying grounded in reality. Far too often I have read a magic realism book that crosses the line from enchanting, to just plain weird. ((I’m looking at you Little Nothing)) It really is a fine line. I feel Keller did a good job on this front. There was just the right amount of magic to give this book a dreamy quality without overdoing it. Who wouldn’t be allured by an enchanted bakery where the desserts & pasties move, dance, and breathe fire? Actually, this book reminded me a bit of the movie Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium in regards to some of the magic realism elements. I also loved Walter’s special ability for finding lost things. I could actually use Walter’s specific gift as I often lose things (my phone, keys, wallet… basically anything not attached to my body). The ability to see the “luster of lost things” would definitely come in handy. Overall, I found the magic realism elements very charming & creative.
Let’s talk about our main character, Walter. Walter goes through so much personal growth throughout the course of this book. It truly was a pleasure to watch him go from a boy who secluded himself from the outside world, to a young man with a new thirst for life. Can I just give a huge shout out to Keller for including a main character with a motor speech disorder? Walter is portrayed as a child with childhood apraxia of speech, which is a neurological disorder where the brain has trouble coordinating the muscle movements required for speech. I can tell Keller conducted a lot of research into motor speech disorder for Walter’s character, which I always respect. You can really tell Keller wanted to represent a motor speech disorder in an accurate & sensitive manner. I could feel the frustration that Walter feels when he is unable to physically say what he wants to communicate. I would think it would feel like being trapped inside your own head. It really made me realize how I take my own ease of speech for granted. Books with main characters who have any type of disorder/disability are SO important. They give those of us not affected a valuable perspective into what it is like to have some type of disorder/disability. As a parent with a child who has a disorder (my son has a visual processing disorder, which basically means his brain does not process visual stimuli, text in particular, the way it should), I really appreciate Keller writing a book with a main character like Walter.
There are some wonderful themes included within the pages of this book: overcoming adversity, coming of age, helping others, overcoming fear, compassion, stepping outside of comfort zones, family & friendship. The Luster of Lost Things, at its core, it is an exploration of human nature. It is a coming of age story where the main character discovers their inner strength through a journey that brings them into contact with many different types of people. With each new person that Walter comes into contact with, he learns something new about the world & himself. This book is definitely more of a slower paced character driven novel.
I only had a few slight complaints about this book. While I felt Keller did a good job with the creative magic realism elements, I did also feel they were a bit unclear/confusing at times. For example, was the bakery alive to all of its employees & customers, or was it only Walter who saw the desserts come to life? I wanted more clarification with some of these elements. Also, many reviewers felt like the book starts off with a bang and loses steam while Walter is on his journey to find the book, however I actually felt the opposite: I had a hard time getting into the book & magic realism elements at first, but things turned around quickly once Walter begins his quest. Nothing major that hindered my overall enjoyment of this book.
There was something very endearing about The Luster of Lost Things. I feel like this book will appeal to many types of readers. I particularly recommend it to fans of magic realism, food lovers (Keller’s descriptions of the baking process & the decadent desserts will leave your stomach growling), dog lovers (Walter’s side kick happens to be a golden retriever named Milton, who has a bit of a sweet tooth), and NYC lovers (Walter’s journey takes him all around NYC). If you are looking for a sweet feel-good book with a touch of magic, then give The Luster of Lost Things a go!
*Big thanks to G.P. Putnam’s Sons for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 19, 2021
The Luster of Lost Things lost me pretty early on.
The beginning of this book hooked me--great title, lovely prose, and an interesting premise. Unfortunately, the plot quickly becomes a formulaic plodding forward with a few events and characters that required a little more suspension of disbelief than I was ready to give.
The book seemed to be trying to have the heartfelt, young-boy-with-a-missing-parent-on-a-mission plot of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, with the poetic prose of All the Light We Cannot See, mixing in a dash of magical realism and charming characters a la Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. Unfortunately, it fell short for me on all of these accounts.
The beginning of this book hooked me--great title, lovely prose, and an interesting premise. Unfortunately, the plot quickly becomes a formulaic plodding forward with a few events and characters that required a little more suspension of disbelief than I was ready to give.
The book seemed to be trying to have the heartfelt, young-boy-with-a-missing-parent-on-a-mission plot of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, with the poetic prose of All the Light We Cannot See, mixing in a dash of magical realism and charming characters a la Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. Unfortunately, it fell short for me on all of these accounts.
May 21, 2017
With a hint of magical realism, this sweet story follows 12 year old Walter as he searches for things, both physical and not.
Walter has a disorder where he has trouble speaking. His words get jumbled and he keeps to himself, his mother, and his mother's chocolate shop where chocolate mice jump rope with licorice, and other desserts do other magical things. He spends is spare time helping people find missing objects, from musical instruments to thimbles.
Then, one day, the book of drawings that holds the magic, and the shop, together goes missing and Walter takes his golden retriever Milton out on a day long adventure to find it. Along the way, Walter meets and helps a variety of lost people, including a homeless man named Nico who just needs a shower, a man named Karl who has just lost his wife, and Ruby, a young girl looking for a friend.
But, at the core of the story is Walter's own "lost." His father, who went missing before he was born, has been a constant loss for him, and his language, limited to specific phrases and notes in his notebook. As he meets each new character, Walter begins to think about his own missing pieces and, in the end, finds what he needs to save the store and himself.
Walter has a disorder where he has trouble speaking. His words get jumbled and he keeps to himself, his mother, and his mother's chocolate shop where chocolate mice jump rope with licorice, and other desserts do other magical things. He spends is spare time helping people find missing objects, from musical instruments to thimbles.
Then, one day, the book of drawings that holds the magic, and the shop, together goes missing and Walter takes his golden retriever Milton out on a day long adventure to find it. Along the way, Walter meets and helps a variety of lost people, including a homeless man named Nico who just needs a shower, a man named Karl who has just lost his wife, and Ruby, a young girl looking for a friend.
But, at the core of the story is Walter's own "lost." His father, who went missing before he was born, has been a constant loss for him, and his language, limited to specific phrases and notes in his notebook. As he meets each new character, Walter begins to think about his own missing pieces and, in the end, finds what he needs to save the store and himself.
October 17, 2017
The Luster of Lost Things by Sophie Chen Keller is the story of Walter Lavender Jr, a 12 year old boy who has the knack of finding lost things. He lives with his mother who runs a bakery in New York City. The title implies that there is ‘luster’ in the lost things. There is not. I found the story dreadful and not magical at all. But worse than that, the book is depressing and dreary. Walter wanders the city looking for a magical book and finds the most lifeless and lackluster characters imaginable. Not only do we not care about the other characters, but we are surprised why they are in the story to begin with. And to make the book seem even less interesting, there is a dog inserted into the story for no apparent reason. I don’t think a giant meteorite, crashing down into the bakery, could have saved this book.
June 25, 2018
Dit boek was absoluut niet aan mij besteed. Ik verwachtte een feelgood roman over een bijzonder 12-jarig jongetje maar kreeg een middlegrade verhaal met een magisch realistisch tintje. Ik vond de toon van het verhaal erg belerend. Walter doet tijdens zijn zoektocht naar het boek heel veel inzichten op over zichzelf,maar ik vond het allemaal too much. Te zoetsappig. Te vol met zogenaamde inspirerende quotes. Sowieso duurde de zoektocht mij veel te lang en vond ik de stoet aan kleurrijke personages op het vreemde af.
Mijn complete recensie lees je op Boekvinder.be.
Mijn complete recensie lees je op Boekvinder.be.
August 7, 2017
This book was absolutely stunning, magical, and whimsical. I adored it! This is the story of a thirteen year old boy, Walter Lavender, Jr. He has a motor speech disorder. This disorder causes him to rarely speak out loud, for he is afraid of his words coming out jumbled and being made fun of for it. He keeps a notebook where he writes down all his perceptions of the world and the people around him. This book is not told by saying, rather than by perceiving. We see and notice everything Walter Jr. sees in his mind’s eye. It is quite a unique take on a character point of view. I loved getting the insight of someone with a speech disorder. They pick up so much more detail with the world than the average person; always looking and paying attention to the world around them. Walter Jr. can speak when he wants to, usually short, practiced sentences.
My whole life, my mouth had been shut and my eyes wide open, and the deeper and darker my silence became, the more I began to sense outside of it–traces of light, shifts in matter, changing undercurrents.”
-Sophie Chen Keller, The Luster of Lost Things
Walter Jr. has a knack for finding lost things. He lives in New York City, so when he sees a sign for a lost item, he contacts the person and helps them find their lost thing. He has solved every case he has ever taken up; all besides his own case. When he was just a baby in the womb of his mother’s belly, his father, Walter Lavender Sr., disappeared while co-piloting a flight. Ever since Walter Jr. realized he had a knack for finding things, he made it his goal in life to find his father and bring him home.
Walter Jr.’s mother, Lucy, owns a magical dessert shop, where the desserts actually come alive. Each dessert has a distinct personality of its own. The shop hasn’t always been magical though. One wintry night, a woman sat outside the shop in the snow with nowhere to go. Lucy invited her in for the night to keep warm. The next morning when her and Walter Jr. awoke, the woman was gone but she had left a book behind. The book was the story of the woman’s life, in drawings, and it ended with the kindness of Lucy letting her into the shop to keep warm. Ever since that book was left, the dessert shop became enchanted, the desserts came alive, and people started noticing the shop.
One day, the book goes missing, along with the magic. The desserts were no longer alive and people stopped coming in. Lucy and Walter Jr. were on the verge of losing the shop forever. Walter Jr. being a professional in finding lost things, goes out into the city, with his best friend and dog, Milton, to find the missing book. What he finds along his journey is much more than a missing book. It is a journey of finding the confidence in himself to do what he wants most in the world, to form a connection with others rather than just observing. He finds the confidence in himself to speak up rather than shut himself inwards. He finds new friends and discovers that an act of kindness can make a difference in a person’s life. This is truly a beautiful read.
“I feel like I have been walking toward this moment, the final movement of some opus of existence in which I already experienced love and fear and anger and loneliness, and along the way I found courage and vulnerability and connection and conviction.”
-Sophie Chen Keller, The Luster of Lost Things
I recommend this book to readers who enjoy stories with great character development or like character-driven stories. I also recommend it to anyone who loves the genre magical realism. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to Penguin's First to Read program for an advanced copy of this book for review in return for an honest review.
My whole life, my mouth had been shut and my eyes wide open, and the deeper and darker my silence became, the more I began to sense outside of it–traces of light, shifts in matter, changing undercurrents.”
-Sophie Chen Keller, The Luster of Lost Things
Walter Jr. has a knack for finding lost things. He lives in New York City, so when he sees a sign for a lost item, he contacts the person and helps them find their lost thing. He has solved every case he has ever taken up; all besides his own case. When he was just a baby in the womb of his mother’s belly, his father, Walter Lavender Sr., disappeared while co-piloting a flight. Ever since Walter Jr. realized he had a knack for finding things, he made it his goal in life to find his father and bring him home.
Walter Jr.’s mother, Lucy, owns a magical dessert shop, where the desserts actually come alive. Each dessert has a distinct personality of its own. The shop hasn’t always been magical though. One wintry night, a woman sat outside the shop in the snow with nowhere to go. Lucy invited her in for the night to keep warm. The next morning when her and Walter Jr. awoke, the woman was gone but she had left a book behind. The book was the story of the woman’s life, in drawings, and it ended with the kindness of Lucy letting her into the shop to keep warm. Ever since that book was left, the dessert shop became enchanted, the desserts came alive, and people started noticing the shop.
One day, the book goes missing, along with the magic. The desserts were no longer alive and people stopped coming in. Lucy and Walter Jr. were on the verge of losing the shop forever. Walter Jr. being a professional in finding lost things, goes out into the city, with his best friend and dog, Milton, to find the missing book. What he finds along his journey is much more than a missing book. It is a journey of finding the confidence in himself to do what he wants most in the world, to form a connection with others rather than just observing. He finds the confidence in himself to speak up rather than shut himself inwards. He finds new friends and discovers that an act of kindness can make a difference in a person’s life. This is truly a beautiful read.
“I feel like I have been walking toward this moment, the final movement of some opus of existence in which I already experienced love and fear and anger and loneliness, and along the way I found courage and vulnerability and connection and conviction.”
-Sophie Chen Keller, The Luster of Lost Things
I recommend this book to readers who enjoy stories with great character development or like character-driven stories. I also recommend it to anyone who loves the genre magical realism. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to Penguin's First to Read program for an advanced copy of this book for review in return for an honest review.
August 8, 2017
The leaves are starting to turn on the trees here, and as much as my heart desires to prolong summer, Autumn is undeniably on its way. My daughter enters Kindergarten this Wednesday, and my morning runs are starting to take on a slight chill to them. With the changing weather and season of life it has been the perfect time to curl up with something cozy and heartwarming, and The Luster of Lost Things by Sophie Chen Keller is just that sort of book. Easily a 5 Star novel (seriously, I didn't even hesitate) this book is bound to be one of my top ten fall reads.
Twelve year old Walter Lavender Jr. finds things. His life revolves around The Lavenders, a magical sweet shop in Manhattan that connects people, but one that only appears to those that need it. Coping with a speech disorder, Walter quietly goes through life searching for connection, and his missing father. But his quiet haven is disrupted when the thing that matters to him the most disappears. Now Walter must go on an epic journey through New York City with an affable golden retriever sidekick in search for the Book that has infused The Lavenders with its magic, before the shop is lost for good.
The prose in this book is whimsical with a poetic touch. Keller's words come to life and sweep you away into the magic corners of New York City and Central Park. Hints of magical realism give the story a nostalgic fairy tale feel, like your favorite children's book left to age, and the lessons that Walter Lavender Jr learns along the way are sure to pull at any person's heart.
Having lived in New York City for two years, I felt that Keller's book did a good job at capturing the spirit of the city. Her descriptions of Manhattan drew me back to my runs in Central Park and rides on the subway to the point where it felt like it was yesterday. There were also some autobiographical underpinnings in conjunction with Walter's speech disorder and her own language barriers as a Chinese immigrant that gave the novel a personal touch.
If you are in need of a warm encouraging novel that restores your faith in the power of kindness and people,The Luster of Lost Things is the perfect thing to slip into your fall reading stack.
*Thank you to First to Read, Penguin, and author for providing me with a free copy in exchange for a honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
Twelve year old Walter Lavender Jr. finds things. His life revolves around The Lavenders, a magical sweet shop in Manhattan that connects people, but one that only appears to those that need it. Coping with a speech disorder, Walter quietly goes through life searching for connection, and his missing father. But his quiet haven is disrupted when the thing that matters to him the most disappears. Now Walter must go on an epic journey through New York City with an affable golden retriever sidekick in search for the Book that has infused The Lavenders with its magic, before the shop is lost for good.
The prose in this book is whimsical with a poetic touch. Keller's words come to life and sweep you away into the magic corners of New York City and Central Park. Hints of magical realism give the story a nostalgic fairy tale feel, like your favorite children's book left to age, and the lessons that Walter Lavender Jr learns along the way are sure to pull at any person's heart.
Having lived in New York City for two years, I felt that Keller's book did a good job at capturing the spirit of the city. Her descriptions of Manhattan drew me back to my runs in Central Park and rides on the subway to the point where it felt like it was yesterday. There were also some autobiographical underpinnings in conjunction with Walter's speech disorder and her own language barriers as a Chinese immigrant that gave the novel a personal touch.
If you are in need of a warm encouraging novel that restores your faith in the power of kindness and people,The Luster of Lost Things is the perfect thing to slip into your fall reading stack.
*Thank you to First to Read, Penguin, and author for providing me with a free copy in exchange for a honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
August 18, 2017
4.5 rounding up. They say you can't judge a book by its cover, but I can, I knew instantly this book was for me. A sweeping story, magical, bittersweet, heart pattingly good. The beginning delighted me, full of food and whimsy, the adventure wanned a bit for me, meeting sad underground souls was heartbreaking. I am sure if you knew NYC this would be extra delightful. I thought it was a fanciful journey in life's lessons with delicious side dishes. I visited the authors webpage, she is beautiful and looks like she radiates joy, so glad she shared her story.
August 8, 2017
3.5 stars This was an adorable book. I loved the magical elements in the bakery and how it literally came to life. I want to go there! When Walter when out on his adventure, those were the parts I didn't enjoy quite as much. Which I think is opposite how how I should have been feeling. But I loved Walter and his character development was great. Cute book!
June 5, 2019
This was a book club read, but I was so eager to pick it up, because I love the comped titles. Unfortunately, it has neither the intrigue of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time nor the personality of A Man Called Ove. What it does have is a feelgood, easy-read sort of charm with a happy enough ending to leave a reader all warm and tingly when they finish the book, and that certainly counts for something. I'd definitely recommend this for anyone looking for a quick, uplifting read.
My Thoughts:
- This story has all the warm feels and feel-good moments you would expect, which makes it a really uplifting read. I didn't quite expect it to be so ... wholesome, I guess? So it was a really nice surprise. The journey in this book is more of self-discovery, so there's a lot to be learned. But that doesn't mean it's all rainbows and sunshine. A lot of what the characters go through encompasses the darkest parts of life. The important thing, though, is how they persevere and handle it, and I thought that was so well done.
- The magical realism is really cute and charming, such as the bakery where treats come to life. Someone should make this a real thing, because these things just sound waaaay too cute. I'm not entirely sure I could bring myself to eat them. Maybe I'd just keep a marzipan mouse as a pet. Who knows?
- The crux of this story is a journey of self-discovery, and I LOVED it. There were a lot of beautiful lessons and sentiments to be gleaned from this story, some so poignant that they just almost take your breath away. There's no doubt that the writing was beautiful and not afraid to shy away from the darkest aspects life, while still remaining uplifting and hopeful. Each new character that was introduced on Walter's journey brought a new sort of struggle and a new sort of hope, which was really lovely. But perhaps the best part was Walter's own arc and the way he finds himself, little by little, as he helps everyone else find the things they're looking for.
- There's a dog! Which is important, because who doesn't like doggos? Milton is a character just as much as Walter is, with his own personality and impact on the other characters. He's given his own voice, as Walter attributes words to actions as the dog seems to speak to him (and as any dog owner can attest, dogs can certainly be expressive creatures).
Sticking Points:
- I just didn't really connect to any of the characters in any sort of meaningful way. Sympathized with them, yes, but it was a pretty surface level thing. Now, there were several secondary characters whose stories were beautiful and I loved, but it wasn't really a connection. It was more an empathizing, in passing.
- The book is written in first person from the point of view of a 12-year-old boy, yet it sounds like the thoughts and musings of a 30-year-old. It kept tripping me up really hard, especially because there are moments when he does, in fact, act like the 12-year-old he is. I'm not sure why the book wasn't just written in third person, because the first person doesn't actually add anything, and it just kept striking me as super odd that a 12-year-old is thinking/talking like this. At one point, he thinks of relief "descending around my shoulders like a peppermint mist," which sounds lovely (though, I don't understand the image here and where peppermint comes into it I guess), but it doesn't sound like a 12-year-old. At one point, one of the observations he writes is, "A heady rush of happiness," which is also such a weird description for a kid that age. It kept pulling me out of the story, personally.
- It felt like it took a long time for this story to ramp up. There were a lot of descriptions of baking, which is not the most thrilling thing to me. Not only did I spend the entire time reading this drooling and hungry, but I also apparently am clueless about the world of baked goods, because I spent a lot of time googling just what the heck they were talking about. To me, not a whole lot happened for a good third of the book. Mostly just quotidian things, introducing the characters and world, etc, which made it a bit of a slog to get to the real action. Even then, there were scenes that felt like they dragged endlessly.
- There's a point toward the middle where the magical realism turns into almost a long, extended hallucination scene, and it really threw me for a loop. Until then, the magical realism had been pretty unobtrusive and slipped neatly and easily into the real world. But in the middle, there's a really long scene where a bunch of things happen (helpful, right? But I don't want to spoil anything) that feel like hallucinations more than actual legitimate plot points. Yet, we're supposed to take everything as being real and actually happening/existing. I was just so confused for this part, and it was a pretty big section.
- Walter is a bit of a unique character in that he suffers from childhood apraxia of speech, which is a struggle that he has to overcome because talking is exhausting and requires work and practice. How the author handled this struggle in the end, though, felt really icky to me. MILD SPOILER, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED: The key to Walter's speech appears to have been in him all along and he basically just had to want it and try harder, essentially. I mean, it was part of his personal growth, in a way, to realize that he has the words. However, this isn't very realistic (I know, I know, it's fiction and it doesn't have to be). But considering that it's a real problem, this sort of makes it seem like people suffering with it just have to try harder and it'll be fine, when that's not the case. That's obviously NOT what the author is going for (and I'm not saying it is), but that's how it came across to me, like most of Walter's struggle was just in his head.
My Thoughts:
- This story has all the warm feels and feel-good moments you would expect, which makes it a really uplifting read. I didn't quite expect it to be so ... wholesome, I guess? So it was a really nice surprise. The journey in this book is more of self-discovery, so there's a lot to be learned. But that doesn't mean it's all rainbows and sunshine. A lot of what the characters go through encompasses the darkest parts of life. The important thing, though, is how they persevere and handle it, and I thought that was so well done.
- The magical realism is really cute and charming, such as the bakery where treats come to life. Someone should make this a real thing, because these things just sound waaaay too cute. I'm not entirely sure I could bring myself to eat them. Maybe I'd just keep a marzipan mouse as a pet. Who knows?
- The crux of this story is a journey of self-discovery, and I LOVED it. There were a lot of beautiful lessons and sentiments to be gleaned from this story, some so poignant that they just almost take your breath away. There's no doubt that the writing was beautiful and not afraid to shy away from the darkest aspects life, while still remaining uplifting and hopeful. Each new character that was introduced on Walter's journey brought a new sort of struggle and a new sort of hope, which was really lovely. But perhaps the best part was Walter's own arc and the way he finds himself, little by little, as he helps everyone else find the things they're looking for.
- There's a dog! Which is important, because who doesn't like doggos? Milton is a character just as much as Walter is, with his own personality and impact on the other characters. He's given his own voice, as Walter attributes words to actions as the dog seems to speak to him (and as any dog owner can attest, dogs can certainly be expressive creatures).
Sticking Points:
- I just didn't really connect to any of the characters in any sort of meaningful way. Sympathized with them, yes, but it was a pretty surface level thing. Now, there were several secondary characters whose stories were beautiful and I loved, but it wasn't really a connection. It was more an empathizing, in passing.
- The book is written in first person from the point of view of a 12-year-old boy, yet it sounds like the thoughts and musings of a 30-year-old. It kept tripping me up really hard, especially because there are moments when he does, in fact, act like the 12-year-old he is. I'm not sure why the book wasn't just written in third person, because the first person doesn't actually add anything, and it just kept striking me as super odd that a 12-year-old is thinking/talking like this. At one point, he thinks of relief "descending around my shoulders like a peppermint mist," which sounds lovely (though, I don't understand the image here and where peppermint comes into it I guess), but it doesn't sound like a 12-year-old. At one point, one of the observations he writes is, "A heady rush of happiness," which is also such a weird description for a kid that age. It kept pulling me out of the story, personally.
- It felt like it took a long time for this story to ramp up. There were a lot of descriptions of baking, which is not the most thrilling thing to me. Not only did I spend the entire time reading this drooling and hungry, but I also apparently am clueless about the world of baked goods, because I spent a lot of time googling just what the heck they were talking about. To me, not a whole lot happened for a good third of the book. Mostly just quotidian things, introducing the characters and world, etc, which made it a bit of a slog to get to the real action. Even then, there were scenes that felt like they dragged endlessly.
- There's a point toward the middle where the magical realism turns into almost a long, extended hallucination scene, and it really threw me for a loop. Until then, the magical realism had been pretty unobtrusive and slipped neatly and easily into the real world. But in the middle, there's a really long scene where a bunch of things happen (helpful, right? But I don't want to spoil anything) that feel like hallucinations more than actual legitimate plot points. Yet, we're supposed to take everything as being real and actually happening/existing. I was just so confused for this part, and it was a pretty big section.
- Walter is a bit of a unique character in that he suffers from childhood apraxia of speech, which is a struggle that he has to overcome because talking is exhausting and requires work and practice. How the author handled this struggle in the end, though, felt really icky to me. MILD SPOILER, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED: The key to Walter's speech appears to have been in him all along and he basically just had to want it and try harder, essentially. I mean, it was part of his personal growth, in a way, to realize that he has the words. However, this isn't very realistic (I know, I know, it's fiction and it doesn't have to be). But considering that it's a real problem, this sort of makes it seem like people suffering with it just have to try harder and it'll be fine, when that's not the case. That's obviously NOT what the author is going for (and I'm not saying it is), but that's how it came across to me, like most of Walter's struggle was just in his head.
March 1, 2017
via my blog: https://bookstalkerblog.wordpress.com/
“It’s strange,” he says, swallowing with difficulty, “to miss something you never had.”
There are times you need to read something uplifting, which is not to say that several characters don’t suffer or have sad stories to share. Walter Lavender Jr. is on a quest to save his mother’s enchanted West Village shop, The Lavenders. A special book that is the heart and magic of the place- bringing delicious desserts to life, has gone missing and now a new landlord is going to close the place down. It is all he and his mother have! Walter is a quiet boy who has extreme difficulty in communicating with others, his only safe haven is among the confections, workers, and loyal customers within the shop but in order to save the day, he is going to have to explore the city. For Walter, it’s as terrifying as a dark forest, it’s not easy for someone who struggles to express himself to navigate a city, particularly the hidden side. Gifted at finding lost things, either because of his disability or because he understands the rupture of losing precious objects (or a person) he helps others find all things MIA. If only he could find his own father, a pilot whose plane crashed long ago when he was still within his mother’s womb. The book, the only solid memory of his father, can’t just vanish, not on his watch. Maybe people are never truly lost to us, and it could be the missing book will force young Walter develop connections to others.
There is a special magic that weaves its way throughout the novel, and the story behind the book Walter is trying to locate is lovely. There is a sweetness in his journey, and each of the people he encounters skirt the edges of society. There were moments my heart sighed… oh…the terrible things that befall so many. As he searches parts of the city most ignore and befriends hidden (forgotten) people what better companion than his Golden Retriever Milton? He is stuck in his safety net at the start of the novel, hiding from the world that taunts those who are different, but no one in a bubble ever truly lives. We have to face the ugly to taste the sweetness on our journey, none of us are exempt. “Lucy wishes for my words so much I can see it on her breath like stardust, and I have learned to look away.” That sentence is bittersweet. His brave moments having ended in cruelty, Walter chose silence over speech. We all have disabilities, challenges in disguise, those little life obstacles. How many of us gather our strength and face it only to be laughed at? It’s no shock that Walter needs to feel safe, but it’s vital he climbs the walls he built.
Walter touches everyone, and they too change his life. He listens to stories that beg release, he is the bent ear that comes to the lonely. Some have been abandoned and others have turned their back on cruel life, but what will Walter choose? Will he save his mother’s shop? Will he be able to put the book’s pages back together in time? With the pages come people, and tender stories about their loved ones. Sweet, sweet as his mother’s magical bakery creations. Mark your calendar, this won’t be available until August.
Publication Date: August 8, 2017
Penguin Group
Putnam
“It’s strange,” he says, swallowing with difficulty, “to miss something you never had.”
There are times you need to read something uplifting, which is not to say that several characters don’t suffer or have sad stories to share. Walter Lavender Jr. is on a quest to save his mother’s enchanted West Village shop, The Lavenders. A special book that is the heart and magic of the place- bringing delicious desserts to life, has gone missing and now a new landlord is going to close the place down. It is all he and his mother have! Walter is a quiet boy who has extreme difficulty in communicating with others, his only safe haven is among the confections, workers, and loyal customers within the shop but in order to save the day, he is going to have to explore the city. For Walter, it’s as terrifying as a dark forest, it’s not easy for someone who struggles to express himself to navigate a city, particularly the hidden side. Gifted at finding lost things, either because of his disability or because he understands the rupture of losing precious objects (or a person) he helps others find all things MIA. If only he could find his own father, a pilot whose plane crashed long ago when he was still within his mother’s womb. The book, the only solid memory of his father, can’t just vanish, not on his watch. Maybe people are never truly lost to us, and it could be the missing book will force young Walter develop connections to others.
There is a special magic that weaves its way throughout the novel, and the story behind the book Walter is trying to locate is lovely. There is a sweetness in his journey, and each of the people he encounters skirt the edges of society. There were moments my heart sighed… oh…the terrible things that befall so many. As he searches parts of the city most ignore and befriends hidden (forgotten) people what better companion than his Golden Retriever Milton? He is stuck in his safety net at the start of the novel, hiding from the world that taunts those who are different, but no one in a bubble ever truly lives. We have to face the ugly to taste the sweetness on our journey, none of us are exempt. “Lucy wishes for my words so much I can see it on her breath like stardust, and I have learned to look away.” That sentence is bittersweet. His brave moments having ended in cruelty, Walter chose silence over speech. We all have disabilities, challenges in disguise, those little life obstacles. How many of us gather our strength and face it only to be laughed at? It’s no shock that Walter needs to feel safe, but it’s vital he climbs the walls he built.
Walter touches everyone, and they too change his life. He listens to stories that beg release, he is the bent ear that comes to the lonely. Some have been abandoned and others have turned their back on cruel life, but what will Walter choose? Will he save his mother’s shop? Will he be able to put the book’s pages back together in time? With the pages come people, and tender stories about their loved ones. Sweet, sweet as his mother’s magical bakery creations. Mark your calendar, this won’t be available until August.
Publication Date: August 8, 2017
Penguin Group
Putnam
January 14, 2020
Eine zauberhafte Geschichte, die mich an Magie a la Alice im Wunderland oder Tassilo und Lumiere denken lässt. Herausragend in Sprache und Gefühl für kleine Details!
Ein unheimlich niedliches Gespann aus Golden Retriever und intelligentem Walter Junior, 12 Jahre, der sich auf die Suche nach verlorenen Dingen begibt um anderen Menschen zu helfen. Dabei weiß er selbst sehr genau, wie es sich anfühlt etwas schmerzlich zu vermissen. Walter muss ohne seinen Papa aufwachsen, der als verschollen gilt. Eines Tages ist die Magie der kleinen Patisserie seiner Mutter in Gefahr und sein wohl größtes Abenteuer beginnt. Begleitet wird er von seinem treuen vierbeinigen Freund Milton. Wen er auf dieser Reise kennenlernt und ob er evtl. Sogar eine Spur seines Vaters entdecken kann müsst ihr selbst lesen. Mit einer kleinen Länge im Mittelteil hat dieses Buch 4,5 ⭐️ verdient!
Ein unheimlich niedliches Gespann aus Golden Retriever und intelligentem Walter Junior, 12 Jahre, der sich auf die Suche nach verlorenen Dingen begibt um anderen Menschen zu helfen. Dabei weiß er selbst sehr genau, wie es sich anfühlt etwas schmerzlich zu vermissen. Walter muss ohne seinen Papa aufwachsen, der als verschollen gilt. Eines Tages ist die Magie der kleinen Patisserie seiner Mutter in Gefahr und sein wohl größtes Abenteuer beginnt. Begleitet wird er von seinem treuen vierbeinigen Freund Milton. Wen er auf dieser Reise kennenlernt und ob er evtl. Sogar eine Spur seines Vaters entdecken kann müsst ihr selbst lesen. Mit einer kleinen Länge im Mittelteil hat dieses Buch 4,5 ⭐️ verdient!
August 9, 2017
The Luster of Lost Things by Sophie Chen Keller is a beautifully written, magical tale that should not be missed. Charming, sweet, and filled with wonder, this book is an absolute delight and highly recommended.
(Advance Reading Copy obtained by request from First To Read.)
(Advance Reading Copy obtained by request from First To Read.)
September 27, 2017
The beginning was fantastic. I personally found the ending a bit flat and did not live up to my expectations with how wonderful it started. Very anticlimactic.
July 27, 2018
A wonderful tale about Walter Lavender Jr. and his search for a lost book. Walter was born with a condition that makes speaking difficult (but not impossible). His father was a pilot who disappeared and Walter puts a lantern in his mother’s bakery shop window everyday so his father will find his way home. The bakery shop is a magical place where the pastries are alive (jump roping mice anyone?). What brings the magic? A hand-drawn book that lives in a display case until one day the book disappears and so does the magic along with the customers. So Walter heads out to find the book because his special skill is helping people find something they have lost. Walter’s hunt takes a day and in the meantime he meets the people who are usually overlooked but live in wondrous places. Little bit of magic realism but then again maybe it’s realism that we just overlook.
Get The Luster of Lost Things from the Denver Public Library
- LisaB
Get The Luster of Lost Things from the Denver Public Library
- LisaB
March 12, 2021
So sweet in so many ways but never sugary. I’m not sure this book has unlocked any secrets to the universe for me, but I found myself enjoying the journey of Walter Lavender Jr, meandering at times though it was. This was a pleasant, refreshingly positive read that I found to be a mix of Chocolat, with Le Petit Prince, and bit of Concrete Genie, too.
3.5/5
3.5/5
July 12, 2017
Five magical stars for Sophie Chen Keller's The Luster For Lost Things !
This is a review of a NetGalley ARC
Twelve year old Walter Lavender Jr.'s world revolves around lost things. His father is lost after the plane he was flying went down at sea, his voice is lost due to a motor expressive aphasia and he is incredibly talented at finding others' lost things. Following her dream, his mom, Lucy, opened a bakery when he was a baby. The two struggled to get by until one night Lucy lets in a vagrant woman shivering in the doorway. In return for her kindness, warmth and goodies the woman gives Lucy a hand sketched book- a book of dreams- and the bakery becomes enchanted. Walter grows up in the thriving, magical bake shop and his life is a happy one, as long as he doesn't try to speak much and keeps away from bullies at school. He folds croissants, goes to school and back to the shelter of the store and his mom and dog, Milton. He does not venture outside of himself much, unless he is delivering goodies for the store or finding.
Then one day the unimaginable happens: the book is lost
With the shop dormant Lucy and Walter face financial crisis and destruction of their happy lives. Walter knows he has to find what is lost, but he ends up finding so much more.
I loved this book! Sweet, cozy, touching and meaningful. I loved the lyrical writing and wonderful description of the pastries (yum) and the relationship between Walter, Lucy and the employees of the bakery. The message of the book can transfer to all of us- we need to look outside of ourselves to find what we are missing, that which can fulfill our lives beyond our dreams. Despite his verbal challenges, Walter is wise beyond his twelve years. His vigil for his lost father has kept him isolated in his little world- and there is so much beyond the front door of the shop. He lives in New York City! But, like many of us, it takes an external event to push Walter out of his nest and force him to learn about himself as he embarks on his mission to find the book and save the pastry shop.
I loved joining Walter and Milton on their journey and really enjoyed the magic infused in this book. It wasn't overt as in some other fantasy novels but beautifully blended within the context of the plot. I found the whole thing charming and was sad when it ended!
This is a review of a NetGalley ARC
Twelve year old Walter Lavender Jr.'s world revolves around lost things. His father is lost after the plane he was flying went down at sea, his voice is lost due to a motor expressive aphasia and he is incredibly talented at finding others' lost things. Following her dream, his mom, Lucy, opened a bakery when he was a baby. The two struggled to get by until one night Lucy lets in a vagrant woman shivering in the doorway. In return for her kindness, warmth and goodies the woman gives Lucy a hand sketched book- a book of dreams- and the bakery becomes enchanted. Walter grows up in the thriving, magical bake shop and his life is a happy one, as long as he doesn't try to speak much and keeps away from bullies at school. He folds croissants, goes to school and back to the shelter of the store and his mom and dog, Milton. He does not venture outside of himself much, unless he is delivering goodies for the store or finding.
Then one day the unimaginable happens: the book is lost
With the shop dormant Lucy and Walter face financial crisis and destruction of their happy lives. Walter knows he has to find what is lost, but he ends up finding so much more.
I loved this book! Sweet, cozy, touching and meaningful. I loved the lyrical writing and wonderful description of the pastries (yum) and the relationship between Walter, Lucy and the employees of the bakery. The message of the book can transfer to all of us- we need to look outside of ourselves to find what we are missing, that which can fulfill our lives beyond our dreams. Despite his verbal challenges, Walter is wise beyond his twelve years. His vigil for his lost father has kept him isolated in his little world- and there is so much beyond the front door of the shop. He lives in New York City! But, like many of us, it takes an external event to push Walter out of his nest and force him to learn about himself as he embarks on his mission to find the book and save the pastry shop.
I loved joining Walter and Milton on their journey and really enjoyed the magic infused in this book. It wasn't overt as in some other fantasy novels but beautifully blended within the context of the plot. I found the whole thing charming and was sad when it ended!
November 23, 2023
Walter Lavendar Jr., is a 13-year-old boy with a penchant for finding lost things. The son of Lucy Lavendar, shop owner of Lavendar's, a bakery that specializes in magical sweet creations; a shop which has at its heart a magical book that one day goes missing. It is then up to Walter and his trusty sidekick, golden retriever Milton, to search for the book, beginning from the West Village shop in Lower Manhattan all the way up to Central Park. All in a day's work, literally, for Walter.
This is a wonderfully cozy read with more than a dose of magical realism that gives the reader the feeling of a modern day fable. And, like any fable, it comes with a wonderful moral at the end. I don't often read young adult fiction, but I am glad I decided to give this a try. It truly warmed my heart and the writing was absolutely beautiful. Definitely a good choice for the holiday season.
This is a wonderfully cozy read with more than a dose of magical realism that gives the reader the feeling of a modern day fable. And, like any fable, it comes with a wonderful moral at the end. I don't often read young adult fiction, but I am glad I decided to give this a try. It truly warmed my heart and the writing was absolutely beautiful. Definitely a good choice for the holiday season.
March 18, 2022
My mother had read this book & thought I might like it but I didn't enjoy it as much as she did.
This book is fine, I just wasn't that invested in the characters for whatever reason & although it was well written the writing style just didn't grab me either.
I did like the concept of Walter Jr helping people finding lost items, and the book was really about the people he meets doing that and in his own quest to get back the pages of the magical book that brings the bakery to life.
This book is fine, I just wasn't that invested in the characters for whatever reason & although it was well written the writing style just didn't grab me either.
I did like the concept of Walter Jr helping people finding lost items, and the book was really about the people he meets doing that and in his own quest to get back the pages of the magical book that brings the bakery to life.
print-in-book-too-small-for-my-eyes
July 10, 2017I received this via Goodreads Giveaways in exchange for an honest review. All my opinions are my own.
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Was enjoying but the print in the book is hurting my eyes:(
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Was enjoying but the print in the book is hurting my eyes:(
February 18, 2018
A magical novel that keeps you enthralled till the last page.
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