Little Lovely Things is a book that demands discussion. When the last of Author Connolly’s beautiful words had faded, the gripping story continued to echo within me. Readers, I need to discuss this book with you. (So spell-bound was I- I sent the author amateurish questions and she kindly answered them. Let’s spare her. You can all talk to me instead. Or discuss it with your book club.)
Why did this book affect me? The book blurb, and many reviewers, tell the beginning of the story. Claire is driving with her children when she is overwhelmed by sickness. She pulls into a gas station, leaves her kids in the running car, and the car is taken while she’s in the bathroom.
Moms, how many sleep-ending 3 am panic attacks begin with, “What if someone took my kids?” But this is just the start of the story. The point of view shifts throughout the rest of the book so that we see the aftermath through the eyes and hearts of the other characters. The kidnappers, the interested witness, and a young girl are vivid, colorful and deep characters.
There are many “little, lovely things” in this book. The kidnapped children, a dress with special charms, a stone from Lake Michigan, the legends of the Lakota and Irish, a child’s drawings, a memory of bubble bath, isn’t this what fills a life? Author Connolly is a masterful storyteller, who blends lyrical metaphors and similes with grim passions and uplifting sweetness to create a story you can’t put down, and can’t forget.
In some ways, this book reminds me of What was Mine by Helen Klein Roth, which also focuses on the kidnapper and the years after. Like this book, the point isn’t so much on who is good or who is bad, but rather on how we all manage to keep going day after day. And how, once the dust settles, we still have our little lovely things.
I’m glad I overcame my mommy anxieties and bought and read this book. Highly recommend.
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Reviews with images
A moving story that stays with you for a long time.
For a debut novel this book is a finely crafted beautifully detailed read. Life is just plain hard sometimes and the decisions we make on a daily basis, whether we know it or not, do change the direction of our journey. Unbearable heartache, guilt, and hope are interwoven through the lives of these lovable characters. The author's love of nature shines through in her descriptive prose. I actually read it twice just to be sure not to miss a thing! Loved it. Highly recommended..
Top reviews from other countries
Mrs Christine Bell
Excellent story.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 6, 2023Amazon Customer
Well written and crafted
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 25, 2023W. A. Burt
Started strongly but soon faded.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 29, 2020