Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
Michelle's thoughts (originally posted on Michelle & Leslie's Book Picks book blog):
The Lost is Sarah Beth Durst's first adult novel and, like in her YA novels, she once again takes us on a unique adventure in a strange yet brilliantly crafted world. Seriously, you guys, Ms. Durst can't do no wrong. Every book I've read by her (granted I haven't read everything she had written but I've read quite a few including Ice, Drink Slay Love and Enchanted Ivy) was superbly written and The Lost was no exception.
The premise of The Lost is simple enough: a woman, Lauren, received word that her mother's already deteriorating health had taken a turn for the worse. She needed to clear her mind so instead of turning on to the street she typically takes to go to work, she instead turned the opposite way and just kept driving. Soon, she found herself caught in a dust storm and wound up in a very strange town called Lost. Lauren quickly found out that Lost was unlike any other town. It was literally a place where all the lost things, including people, in the world go. The only way a person can leave the town was if they can figure out and find what they had lost. Lauren must dig deep inside herself to figure out what she had lost or she'll be stuck in Lost forever.
That was the basic premise that I got before I started reading the novel. I didn't quite know how the story was going to go or who the other characters were. I don't like going into a story blind but the writing was so good that I kept going and I'm so glad I did.
Lauren was your every-girl. We've kind of been where she was in life. She had a job she's not quite happy with but it pays the bills and lived an unassuming life until her mother got sick and moved in with her. Lauren felt heavy with responsibility, sadness, worry and she couldn't really talk to anyone because she's drifted off from her friends. When she got stranded in Lost, she reacted how I would react if I were in her shoes: a mix of disbelief, fear, confusion, sadness, panic, hopelessness and needing to get out of there before she missed her mother completely. She was an easy character to like.
Two people took Lauren in after she unintentionally angered the townspeople. One is the beautiful and mysterious Peter who ran around with his long black trench coat, no shirt underneath. He had feather tattoos on his body, spoke in riddles and answered a question with a question. The other is Claire, a young girl who carried a stuffed toy in one hand and a knife in another. Both were very interesting characters.
The story was bleak, with Lauren stuck in this strange, rundown town filled with lost things and its unfriendly inhabitants. Is there even hope for Lauren to get out and get back to her sick mother before it's too late? Or is she stuck in Lost forever?
The Lost was a dark, unusual read and in the wrong hands it would have been a frustrating and confusing one, but Sarah Beth Durst makes it so easy to follow with her lyrical writing and deft storytelling. It drew me in in a way I wasn't expecting and I cannot wait to read book two, which is called The Missing. However, I don't think it's a book for everyone. The pacing is slower and it is a retrospective, contemplative kind of read rather than an action-packed, race-through-the-pages type.
If you love Sarah Beth Durst's novels, you have to pick up The Lost. I guarantee you'll enjoy it. If you're new to Sarah's books, I suggest starting with her YA novels, particularly Ice (Leslie also suggest Vessel) to get a feel for her writing. If you're a YA reader, don't let the adult label deter you from picking up The Lost--it can be enjoyed by both a YA and adult audience.
The Lost is Sarah Beth Durst's first adult novel and, like in her YA novels, she once again takes us on a unique adventure in a strange yet brilliantly crafted world. Seriously, you guys, Ms. Durst can't do no wrong. Every book I've read by her (granted I haven't read everything she had written but I've read quite a few including Ice, Drink Slay Love and Enchanted Ivy) was superbly written and The Lost was no exception.
The premise of The Lost is simple enough: a woman, Lauren, received word that her mother's already deteriorating health had taken a turn for the worse. She needed to clear her mind so instead of turning on to the street she typically takes to go to work, she instead turned the opposite way and just kept driving. Soon, she found herself caught in a dust storm and wound up in a very strange town called Lost. Lauren quickly found out that Lost was unlike any other town. It was literally a place where all the lost things, including people, in the world go. The only way a person can leave the town was if they can figure out and find what they had lost. Lauren must dig deep inside herself to figure out what she had lost or she'll be stuck in Lost forever.
That was the basic premise that I got before I started reading the novel. I didn't quite know how the story was going to go or who the other characters were. I don't like going into a story blind but the writing was so good that I kept going and I'm so glad I did.
Lauren was your every-girl. We've kind of been where she was in life. She had a job she's not quite happy with but it pays the bills and lived an unassuming life until her mother got sick and moved in with her. Lauren felt heavy with responsibility, sadness, worry and she couldn't really talk to anyone because she's drifted off from her friends. When she got stranded in Lost, she reacted how I would react if I were in her shoes: a mix of disbelief, fear, confusion, sadness, panic, hopelessness and needing to get out of there before she missed her mother completely. She was an easy character to like.
Two people took Lauren in after she unintentionally angered the townspeople. One is the beautiful and mysterious Peter who ran around with his long black trench coat, no shirt underneath. He had feather tattoos on his body, spoke in riddles and answered a question with a question. The other is Claire, a young girl who carried a stuffed toy in one hand and a knife in another. Both were very interesting characters.
The story was bleak, with Lauren stuck in this strange, rundown town filled with lost things and its unfriendly inhabitants. Is there even hope for Lauren to get out and get back to her sick mother before it's too late? Or is she stuck in Lost forever?
The Lost was a dark, unusual read and in the wrong hands it would have been a frustrating and confusing one, but Sarah Beth Durst makes it so easy to follow with her lyrical writing and deft storytelling. It drew me in in a way I wasn't expecting and I cannot wait to read book two, which is called The Missing. However, I don't think it's a book for everyone. The pacing is slower and it is a retrospective, contemplative kind of read rather than an action-packed, race-through-the-pages type.
If you love Sarah Beth Durst's novels, you have to pick up The Lost. I guarantee you'll enjoy it. If you're new to Sarah's books, I suggest starting with her YA novels, particularly Ice (Leslie also suggest Vessel) to get a feel for her writing. If you're a YA reader, don't let the adult label deter you from picking up The Lost--it can be enjoyed by both a YA and adult audience.
I kind of knew right away I wouldn't like it. I don't like creepy stories, ones about loneliness or hopelessness. Those aren't reasons why I read. But this one I had in my to be read list for whatever reason, so I decided to read it.
Spoilers
The story actually got better, until the whole "and it all turned out to be a dream" part. Wtf? after all that? I was disappointed with that ending. with Peter. what a way to make a beautiful man extremely boring. Claire was the most interesting part of the story, and she gets brushed aside so easily.
Spoilers
The story actually got better, until the whole "and it all turned out to be a dream" part. Wtf? after all that? I was disappointed with that ending. with Peter. what a way to make a beautiful man extremely boring. Claire was the most interesting part of the story, and she gets brushed aside so easily.
Also posted on The Once and Future Reader.
THIS IS A SPOILER FREE REVIEW
I feel a certain affection for Sarah Beth Durst because I’ve read so many of her books, and I’m a huge fan of her sense of humor. The tricky bit about reading multiple books from the same author is that you start to build up an expectation, a standard of excellence, and every book of theirs should reach that standard. It’s hard not to compare their books against each other. But I’d have to say that The Lost comes with Sarah Beth Durst’s signature humor, but lacks the certain je ne sais quoi that I’ve come to expect from her other books.
What Worked for Me
Humor • • • You can’t pick up a book by Sarah Beth Durst and not expect to laugh at some point. This is the fourth book of Sarah Beth Durst’s that I’ve read, and The Lost definitely comes with Sarah Beth Durst’s signature humor and snark.
Characters • • • I wouldn’t go so far as to say they were all brilliant, all well-rounded and developed, but I think what Sarah Beth Durst’s humor allows for is a more easily forged connection between the reader and the characters. Lauren’s deadpan and sarcastic humor made me like her more, and made the banter between her and Peter spark off the page.
World building • • • It’s a very clever idea, and I love the details that Sarah Beth Durst packs into it. At its roots, it’s actually a very depressing idea, because we’re talking about people and things getting lost and forgotten and you can only leave if you can figure out (and then find) what you had lost. As a writer, I dig this, because it creates all manners of obstacles for the characters. As a reader, I was so frustrated on behalf of the characters because they have to fight for what they want.
What Didn’t
Plot • • • Despite all the good things, even after 100 pages, I was a bit bored. There was just something…missing. I continued reading because I didn’t see a reason not to, but I didn’t feel that special spark, that tug that pulls me headfirst into a story. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy the story, but I finished it with a sense of having fulfilled an obligation. Also, with the lingering question of how Sarah Beth Durst is going to turn this into a series because it had a sense of finality at the end…
Takeaway
It’s not a book I would throw at you from across the room, but it’s a quick, fun read with an intriguing idea and interesting characters.
THIS IS A SPOILER FREE REVIEW
I feel a certain affection for Sarah Beth Durst because I’ve read so many of her books, and I’m a huge fan of her sense of humor. The tricky bit about reading multiple books from the same author is that you start to build up an expectation, a standard of excellence, and every book of theirs should reach that standard. It’s hard not to compare their books against each other. But I’d have to say that The Lost comes with Sarah Beth Durst’s signature humor, but lacks the certain je ne sais quoi that I’ve come to expect from her other books.
What Worked for Me
Humor • • • You can’t pick up a book by Sarah Beth Durst and not expect to laugh at some point. This is the fourth book of Sarah Beth Durst’s that I’ve read, and The Lost definitely comes with Sarah Beth Durst’s signature humor and snark.
Characters • • • I wouldn’t go so far as to say they were all brilliant, all well-rounded and developed, but I think what Sarah Beth Durst’s humor allows for is a more easily forged connection between the reader and the characters. Lauren’s deadpan and sarcastic humor made me like her more, and made the banter between her and Peter spark off the page.
World building • • • It’s a very clever idea, and I love the details that Sarah Beth Durst packs into it. At its roots, it’s actually a very depressing idea, because we’re talking about people and things getting lost and forgotten and you can only leave if you can figure out (and then find) what you had lost. As a writer, I dig this, because it creates all manners of obstacles for the characters. As a reader, I was so frustrated on behalf of the characters because they have to fight for what they want.
What Didn’t
Plot • • • Despite all the good things, even after 100 pages, I was a bit bored. There was just something…missing. I continued reading because I didn’t see a reason not to, but I didn’t feel that special spark, that tug that pulls me headfirst into a story. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy the story, but I finished it with a sense of having fulfilled an obligation. Also, with the lingering question of how Sarah Beth Durst is going to turn this into a series because it had a sense of finality at the end…
Takeaway
It’s not a book I would throw at you from across the room, but it’s a quick, fun read with an intriguing idea and interesting characters.
Romance was underwhelming. Main character acts more like a teenager than someone coming up on 30. Concept is interesting though.
First 1/3: "this is just like every YA book I've ever read"
Second 1/3: "ok, this has all the YA tropes (despite supposedly being adult) but it's engaging and I want to read the next one!
Last 1/3: "dear god, how cheesy and unbelievable can you get?"
It's bad news about an author when the fantasy parts are more believable than the non-fantasy parts.
It was fine.
Second 1/3: "ok, this has all the YA tropes (despite supposedly being adult) but it's engaging and I want to read the next one!
Last 1/3: "dear god, how cheesy and unbelievable can you get?"
It's bad news about an author when the fantasy parts are more believable than the non-fantasy parts.
It was fine.
After a bit of a slow start, The Lost grabbed hold of me and wouldn’t let go. I tried to read this more slowly to savor every bit. It has a bit of a Stephen King-ish story featuring a woman who is lost in a town with said name, and has to find what she is missing to return home.
While I didn’t initially like Lauren, I did warm up to her after a bit. But I absolutely loved Peter and Claire from the start. The fantastical elements of the town of Lost were also so imaginative! The book’s follow-up was supposed to come several years ago, but I’ll read it, if it’s ever released.
While I didn’t initially like Lauren, I did warm up to her after a bit. But I absolutely loved Peter and Claire from the start. The fantastical elements of the town of Lost were also so imaginative! The book’s follow-up was supposed to come several years ago, but I’ll read it, if it’s ever released.
Twenty-seven-year-old Lauren Chase has lost a lot of things over the years: one turquoise earring, several friends and their respective contact information, her favorite stuffed animal Mr. Rabbit. More recently Lauren has lost her way.
It wasn't supposed to be a permanent thing.
All Lauren did was go straight, avoiding the left turn that would have taken her down the road to work and a whole world of bad news.
Instead of a short drive away from her troubles, Lauren drives into Lost. All lost things end up in the town of Lost. Luggage. Pennies. Socks. People.
Theoretically, Lauren can leave. All she has to do is find what she lost. In reality, no one in town wants to help her except for a mysterious, gorgeous man called the Finder and a six-year-old with a knife and a princess dress. Together the three of them might be able to survive Lost. But Lauren still has a mother to get back to, a life to reclaim while she decided if being lost can really lead to finding something more important in The Lost (2014) by Sarah Beth Durst.
The Lost is the first book in Durst's first trilogy written for an adult audience. The story will continue in The Missing and The Found.
Durst once again delivers an amazingly evocative world in this fantasy story. Lost is a horrible, desert town filled with junk and danger. Readers will feel Lauren's growing claustrophobic panic as she tries repeatedly to get back to her real life.
The story unfolds nicely, with only a few slow spots, as Lauren comes into her own in Lost and makes a tentative place for herself with a couple of fellow misfits. The bulk of the book focuses on Lauren but secondary characters like the girl with the knife and the Finder are welcome additions to this motley cast. Although readers do not need to be told quite so many times that the Finder is very attractive, his other charms do come through.
The Lost happily also includes a thread with Lauren's mother. Although not always the happiest sub-plot, it was nice to see a parental relationship feature in this book when, so often, protagonists exist in a strange familial vacuum.
Plot twists and surprises abound in the final hundred pages as The Lost builds to a surprising finish. Readers may be surprised by the non-ending at the conclusion of this book, but it will only make them all the more eager for the next installment in this clever trilogy.
Possible Pairings: The Blue Girl by Charles De Lint, Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith, Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma, The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
It wasn't supposed to be a permanent thing.
All Lauren did was go straight, avoiding the left turn that would have taken her down the road to work and a whole world of bad news.
Instead of a short drive away from her troubles, Lauren drives into Lost. All lost things end up in the town of Lost. Luggage. Pennies. Socks. People.
Theoretically, Lauren can leave. All she has to do is find what she lost. In reality, no one in town wants to help her except for a mysterious, gorgeous man called the Finder and a six-year-old with a knife and a princess dress. Together the three of them might be able to survive Lost. But Lauren still has a mother to get back to, a life to reclaim while she decided if being lost can really lead to finding something more important in The Lost (2014) by Sarah Beth Durst.
The Lost is the first book in Durst's first trilogy written for an adult audience. The story will continue in The Missing and The Found.
Durst once again delivers an amazingly evocative world in this fantasy story. Lost is a horrible, desert town filled with junk and danger. Readers will feel Lauren's growing claustrophobic panic as she tries repeatedly to get back to her real life.
The story unfolds nicely, with only a few slow spots, as Lauren comes into her own in Lost and makes a tentative place for herself with a couple of fellow misfits. The bulk of the book focuses on Lauren but secondary characters like the girl with the knife and the Finder are welcome additions to this motley cast. Although readers do not need to be told quite so many times that the Finder is very attractive, his other charms do come through.
The Lost happily also includes a thread with Lauren's mother. Although not always the happiest sub-plot, it was nice to see a parental relationship feature in this book when, so often, protagonists exist in a strange familial vacuum.
Plot twists and surprises abound in the final hundred pages as The Lost builds to a surprising finish. Readers may be surprised by the non-ending at the conclusion of this book, but it will only make them all the more eager for the next installment in this clever trilogy.
Possible Pairings: The Blue Girl by Charles De Lint, Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith, Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma, The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
The book fucked me up and I'm so disappointed that the publisher just isn't releasing the last two books.