Welcome to the Curiosity Coven Book Club! We're a community of witches and environmentalists who share a commitment to living more consciously—making choices that honor our bodies, our health, and the planet we all share. Follow along for monthly book recommendations and reading discussions.
September Book Club Pick: The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
High in his attic bedroom, twelve-year-old David mourns the death of his mother. He is angry and alone, with only the books on his shelf for company. But those books have begun to whisper to him in the darkness, and as he takes refuge in his imagination, he finds that reality and fantasy have begun to meld. While his family falls apart around him, David is violently propelled into a land that is a strange reflection of his own world, populated by heroes and monsters, and ruled over by a faded king who keeps his secrets in a mysterious book...The Book of Lost Things.
Your Reading Companion: Hermitage Candle
Much like the proverbial hermitage, this sweet and grounding scent evokes a secluded hideaway deep in the woods where foxes frolic and heather grows thick. Perfect for the oncoming fall and winter, we crafted this one with introverts and bookworms in mind. Sink into an inviting blend of earthy patchouli, frisky citrus, and soothing lavender essential oils when you light the Hermitage candle. Let it be your lantern into the darkness as you traipse across the pages of the Book of Lost Things.
Book Club Discussion Questions: The Book of Lost Things
- At the beginning of the book, David develops compulsive routines (like counting or touching things) in order to try and keep his mother alive. How does this demonstrate a child's attempt to control the uncontrollable?
- Do you think the world David enters into is real or is it a psychological coping mechanism for dealing with his trauma?
- The Crooked Man keeps the "essence of children" in jars. What do you think it means to lose one's childhood essence?
- Which one of the rewritten fairytales stood out to you the most, and why do you think the author chose to make them so dark?
- Books are David's solace, but also whisper to him and tempt him into danger. Do you think that books ultimately save David or scar him?
- The book explores the concept of a "grey area" in contrast to David's simplistic "good or bad" view of the world. How do characters like the Woodsman serve to challenge this ideology?
- Did you find the Crooked Man to be a compelling villain? If so, why?
Join the Conversation
Please support your local library or independent bookstore! If they don’t have a copy available, they can place an order for you. Find us in the comments below to discuss the book when you've finished!
Love this read? Find the next book in the series, The Land of Lost Things to continue exploring John Connolly's realm of folklore-infused dark fantasy.
Happy reading!
—The Sea Witches
