The Book of Lost and Found: A Novel

Good novel until the ending
The characters and events are interesting, and the slow pace is noticeable, but allows for rich character development and interesting back stories. The ending was disappointing though, not because of what happened, but because it was so abrupt and done in more of a summary format. It felt like the author had gotten tired of writing the story or had a deadline looming, so she just quickly wrapped things up. It was really disconcerting. And it meant that 2 characters who were so important to much of the story don’t even get pulled back into the final pages other than a casual mention. I can’t say too much without it being a spoiler, but there was something I really wanted a character to be told, and it didn’t happen.

nice read
I liked this book but I did not love it. I felt that at times I could not put it down and at others I wished it would end. The ending is very slowI do not want to give the story away but it would have been more interesting if the two characters had met at the endThe writing was ok.I am not sure I would recommend just because I was a little bored reading this.I

such a great read!
What a wonderful story that spans decades! The story turns and surprises you but is such an inspiring and historical read.

Oh lost and sometimes found!
Very intriguing story which encompasses generations while adding much historical significance. Time-lines are crossed and the choices made by the characters for better or worse, determine their intertwined lives. Drama, pathos, art, love are all combined here into a riveting plot. However the story ends abruptly and left me feeling incomplete regarding the fates of the characters with whom one has come to care so much about.I’m wishing for further story development after such a long saga, and feel that the author missed an opportunity to offer a more warmly humane and satisfying denouement. These characters deserved it!

1986, and Kate Darling still grieving the loss of her mother, finds herself handed a family mystery by her adopted grandmother, in the form of a sketched portrait of a beautiful woman by the famous artist Thomas Stafford. Intrigued to discover the truth that led to her mother’s abandonment as a baby, Kate resolves to track down the only person who might hold some answers; the now reclusive artist himself.Hertfordshire, 1928, and at a swinging house party led by the bright young things, the paths of childhood friends Thomas Stafford and Alice Eversley reconvene; the old bond between them as resonant as ever, though new emotions stir between them now too, with the beginnings of a romance that will last in their hearts for a lifetime. For Tom and Alice the path of true love is a rocky one though, tried and tested not only by the world events around them, but the personal barriers that prevent them being together; Alice hails from aristocracy, whilst Tom is a mere aspiring artist. Can there be a happy ending for these two star-crossed lovers?This is an exceptional debut from Foley, who writes with a surety and wonderfully eloquent turn of phrase; seamlessly weaving together a story that spans generations and continents and which is told from several different points of view in turn. Her style is reminiscent of Kate Morton at times, though did also remind me of Judith Kinghorn’s One Last Summer; and I eagerly look forward to her future work.The Book of Lost and Found at its heart tells an age old story of two people who are clearly meant for each other, yet who life seems determined to keep apart. What could have been clichéd and predictable, however, is in Foley’s hands instead portrayed as a beautiful love story that has an aching poignancy. This is in part due to her wonderful characterisation of both Tom and Alice, who leap into life from the pages. Tom comes across as a very solid and anchoring presence throughout the novel; whilst Alice has a remarkable sense of independence and bravery. Like all such love stories, there are twists and turns, and key decisions made that alter the course of the characters’ lives; and whilst at times I felt like screaming at some of the characters for their choices, I could always understand why they acted as they did. I think Foley also deserves praise for her depiction of the characters across the years, which can sometimes be tricky; yet she manages to keep the essence of her characters whilst at the same time believably ageing them.Whilst I preferred the parts of the novel relating to the past more than I did the present, Kate’s own story is well conveyed too; and she comes across as a character in her own right, with her own blossoming romance engaging.I loved the depictions of Corsica with its remote and wild beauty. The parts of the novel set in Paris around World War 2 were also captured well I thought, in terms of the sense of place and time. Perhaps Alice’s story during World War 2 was a little rushed; as given all that she went through during this period, it seemed as if it could have formed the plot for a book in itself.I also liked the fact that Foley doesn’t tie up everything completely neatly at the end; as a reader there are perhaps still a few questions that are entertained, but I was satisfied to ruminate on these for myself. Overall I found this a wonderfully engaging read that I enjoyed savouring; the story and characters taking real shape and lingering in the mind long after the final pages were turned.

Well written. Loved the story – pretty much of things and people lost and found; also, made me reflect on how our life may have been under different circumstances. A romantic drama …