There is a hope, too, that the compassionate spirit of these novels will rub off on readers. “I think any book you read changes you,” says Cannon. “I hope people read my novels and feel that sense of community, feel they want to go out there and do what the book has explained is important.”

Hogan has seamlessly plotted two separate stories, each just as entertaining, while weaving the imagined stories of the lost items throughout. She then added more than a few eccentrics, a feisty spirit and a sweet innocent by the name of Sunshine whom you will come to love, and gave us a story brimming with wit, wisdom and charm galore. The story opens with a writer, Anthony, who enjoys collecting lost things (such as a lone puzzle piece in the street, a forgotten umbrella in the park, etc.) When Anthony dies, his assistant, Laura, is tasked with trying to return the hundreds of lost items to their rightful owners. I really sniggered at many of the humorous passages: the WI lady's knowledge of something Italian she'd had in a restaurant, incidents with Portia and Sunshine's honesty. I also found the treatment of old age and Alzheimer's sympathetic.

My absolute favourite book to read so far this year . . . It has love, mystery and true-to-life human hardship * Kokomo Tribune * It is a charming book which I really enjoyed, as did the rest of the Book Group. All the characters are entirely plausible and largely likeable (which always helps!). It is very easy to read and a great story, both from the point of view of the “lost things” and also from the way the lives of the characters in the book develop. I found myself creating opportunities to read because I wanted to find out what happened next. It is “holiday read” material rather than a deep and meaningful work of literature, but I don’t have a problem with that. But the final wishes of the 'Keeper of Lost Things' have unforeseen repercussions which trigger a most serendipitous series of encounters... This is a lovely read, I laughed till I cried all the way through. The characters were great; the writing was beautifully descriptive around a great plot. Whilst all the characters were really well portrayed and the minor characters were given enough scope to support the main characters and add to the narrative - Sunshine was something else - a beautifully written girl whose character developed through the story; every time she appeared I could see her in my mind. Her lovely obsessive, compulsive nature and naivety combined with her sixth sense made her so lovable.

Full of character, wit and wisdom, THE KEEPER OF LOST THINGS is a heartwarming tale that will enchant fans of THE PARTICULAR SADNESS OF LEMON CAKE, GARDEN SPELLS, MRS. QUEEN TAKES THE TRAIN and THE SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK. It was a shame, because Sunshine as a character, was easily one of the most interesting before she was cheapened with these magic abilities, something real people with disabilites don’t typically have, and the author’s need to give her a reason—other than her worth as a compassionate and sincere character—to be valuable to the book. And if that weren’t enough, the beaten-to-death phrase of “lovely cup of tea,” made it extremely clear that the author could’ve used some sensitivity training or, you know, editing—anything that would have prevented her from using disability as a nothing more than a device to move her plot forward. That said, many of my book friends loved this one, and I can see why. I’d still recommend giving this a shot when you’re in the mood for a gentler read, if only to witness its generous amounts of creativity. Hope you enjoy! Ruth Hogan's writing style is both lyrical and captivating, drawing readers into the world she has created. Oh my gosh..... please enjoy your favorite drink tea ‘ properly ‘ when you read this novel .....Ha....

Summary

If you are a lover of wonderfully told stories where people truly love one another, then this book is ever so right for you. It is told with such tenderness of a love story immersed within two love stories. It is a story of requited love and love that was felt but never could be carried through. It was a story of people, a bit broken at times, but with the strength and love we all possess and probably should show more of. The chief criticism was that there were too many issues thrown into the narrative: Down syndrome, Alzheimers, violent husbands, lost partners, hauntings, and many others as well as the principal subject of lost items. Possibly this was due to it being the author’s first novel. The character of Sunshine, though endearing, was maybe a ‘token disabled person’ in the story; and the hauntings of Anthony and Laura by Anthony’s late wife were seen as probably superfluous. All in all it was a very enjoyable read -and I will certainly look out for other titles from Ruth Hogan - who I assume is a fellow dog-lover, judging by the pride of place given to Douglas and Carrott! From the attention-grabbing opening paragraph, to the joyful conclusion, Ruth Hogan has stirred together a charming fairytale in which the people may be more lost than the things; and generosity and compassion may be the key to finding a way home. Also there are dogs. Delightful. Helen Simonson