The Secret of Lost Things

….by Sheridan Hay

This book is a story of lost things, both literally, and in every sense.
Rosemary Savage finds herself in New York City, working at bookstore. The Secret of Lost Things chronicles her time there. Written in first person, it reads like a memoir, written by the now much wiser main character, Rosemary Savage. With literary prose, she tells her coming-of-age story as it leads up to life-altering events that change the way she views the world. The people she encounters seem to all be lost in their own, often strange, ways. Apart from being lost, Rosemary is their common thread. They are not necessarily likable, but the way she sees them is. They all want to teach her something, as if she is the key to being found. There are many parallels between Rosemary’s own journey and those of the people, places, and things around her.
I really liked this book. For one thing, it takes place (mostly) in a bookstore, even if it is a strange one. I loved the many references to Shakespeare, among others, and mostly Herman Melville, whose works are much entangled into Rosemary’s story. She finds that he, too, was lost, in a way. I’ve never read Melville, and this left me wanting to read Moby Dick. I think Rosemary did discover the secret of lost things, but I won’t give that away…you’ll have to read it to determine that for yourself.
The author did a lot of research for this novel, which gives it validity. She explains her sources in an author’s note at the end, and I appreciate that she points out what is fact and what is fiction, as they are interspersed throughout the novel. Not all authors are as clear on that point…I won’t name names….
I would recommend to anyone who likes books about books, with a little mystery and intrigue thrown in among some very colorful (and one not…) characters.
It gets a 5 out of 5 from me.