Cover Image: The Library of Lost and Found

The Library of Lost and Found

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

The story features librarian Martha Storm who prefers books to people.. Martha receives a book of fairy stories written by her granny Zelda and decides to investigate what happened to her granny, who she hadn't seen for years following a family feud, and she had been told by her parents that granny Zelda had died. Martha goes on to investigate what happened to her granny and finds that she had not died after all,

An excellent story by Phaedra Patrick, I can't wait to read more of her books.

Was this review helpful?

What a beautifully written book. Old and new join together. Cannot wait to read more from this author

Was this review helpful?

Librarian Martha Storm is obsessed with helping others and doing favours for the people in her life , despite the fact she but not really gets nothing in return, often not even a thank you. She even volunteers at the local library despite the fact the area manager refuses to employ her anytime a position becomes available. One evening ,whilst hefting her super market trolley up the steep cobblestones street, full of items for the evening book reading by a famous author, she sees someone lurking in the dark outside the library. Too upset that no one had told her the event was cancelled, she picks up the package that’s been left and marches her way home. When she opens the package is a very battered book with no cover, a book of fairy tales with a dedication written inside by her grandmother, Zelda. Martha was told years ago Zelda had died a number of years before the date of the dedication. Martha’s world suddenly tilts on its axis. Little by little Martha starts to investigate the little battered book and where it came from.

Phaedra Patrick has written a wonderful novel that grips you from the start. The beautiful fairy tales littered throughout the book add such a lovely touch, bringing you closer to Martha and her Nana. A wonderful heartwarming tale of secrets and lies that unravel piece by piece,

Was this review helpful?

It's great to be in a position to recommend much more diverse books to our young people at school. Building the senior school library as a place where students actually come and find books that they want to read as opposed to books that teachers think they ought to read is an important responsibility and one we take really seriously.
Books like this are such a positive move as they will appeal to a broader set of readers than we are usually attracting. Dealing with modern issues in a clear and captivating way with a strong narrative voice and characters that the students can relate to is critical as we move forwards. This book is both an intelligent and compelling read that will hold even the most reluctant reader's attention and keep them turning the pages long into the night. It keeps the reader on their toes and ensures that you give it your full attention too. I found myself thinking about its characters and events even when I wasn't reading it and looking forward to snatching kore time with it and I hope that my students feel the same. An accessible, gripping and engrossing read that I can't recommend highly enough. Will absolutely be buying a copy for the library and heartily recommending it to both staff and students.

Was this review helpful?

Unfortunately, I have not been able to read and review this book.

After losing and replacing my broken Kindle and getting a new phone I was unable to download the title again for review as it was no longer available on Netgalley.

I’m really sorry about this and hope that it won’t affect you allowing me to read and review your titles in the future.

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.
Natalie.

Was this review helpful?

I read this a few months back. i remember itwas a-charming read. an original plot and some excellent characterisatiom

Was this review helpful?

Beautifully written!
Quirky and kind, this is the story of old lies and new forgiveness.
Beautiful

Was this review helpful?

Phaedra Patrick is fast becoming one of my favourite authors, or at least one that I know I need to read all of her books of!

There is something rather special about this lovely plot, and seeing Martha grow as a person.

In fact the character development is terrific all around, as family secrets are uncovered, and we get to know multiple generations of Martha's family.

There are small sections in the past from Betty, Martha's mum, so we can see just closely the sort of parents Martha had, and how they have affected her life.

Initially I though Martha was a bit of a doormat, she seemed to be saying yes to everything anyone asked of her, no matter how many other hundreds of things she hadn't quite completed yet. I was though delighted to see her grow in confidence as the book progressed.

And the book that triggers all of this growth in Martha is a rather unique one, and she is determined to uncover just why the book even exists.

Dotted throughout are stories that a young Martha wrote, which are really imaginative and show the children perceive adult situations at a lot more than most give them credit for.

Such a quick book to read and incredibly enjoyable at that, I loved every moment of it.

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Was this review helpful?

This is such a lovely book to read and i recommend it to anyone who likes a family story. It leaves you with a warm feel good feeling after you have finished it because all of the ends are tied up nicely. The main character is such a lovely person to like as she has flaws that the reader could possibly see in themselves (I certainly did) and as you go through the book you can see her changing into her real self. I would definitely read this again.

Was this review helpful?

Martha is a people pleaser. She spends most of her life putting others before herself and trying to please everyone, to the point that she is taken completely for granted. However, when she unexpectedly discovers a book of fairy tales which directly relates to her childhood, she is pulled back onto a journey into her past and starts to unveil her family secrets. Another sparkly, uplifting and quirky book with some wonderful characters.

Many thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this ARC for which I have given my voluntary and unbiased review.

Was this review helpful?

What a charming sweet book
I enjoyed the mystery at its heart and I just adored Martha.
Overall this is a lovely book to read. It’s a book that you can fall into with characters that you will love.
It left me with a smile on my face.

Was this review helpful?

Thanks very much to Netgalley and HQ for my copy. This was such a lovely book, I adored it. It is perfect for fans of Ruth Hogan. The characters are so well drawn and the story was both funny and extremely moving. I will definitely be recommending this book.

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to NetGalley for an early copy in return for an honest review
A very good read and one I can highly recommend to others.
I could not put this down.
Thoroughly enjoyable with an amazing cast of characters that you cannot help but engage with.

Was this review helpful?

This ARC was courtesy of netgalley - all thoughts and opinions are mine and unbiased

This was a lovely read.

I work in a library so was particularly pleased to be offered the chance to read an advanced copy

There was so much to love here - The character of Martha was extremely well written - the threads of the stories was fabulously well done

This is very much feel-good fiction and I think much needed in today's society. A wonderful summer read

. Fabulous !!

Was this review helpful?

This book isn’t so much about the library as it is about a love of stories, storytelling and reading. I got sufficiently annoyed with Martha – as I’m sure you’re supposed to be – bending over backwards to please everyone. I felt truly sorry for the way her life had gone, everything she had given up, including the love for stories fostered by her grandmother. A chance encounter with a book starts a change in her life and takes it in a whole new direction. Through finally thinking of herself – and not necessarily becoming selfish – it comes, I think, to a fairly satisfying ending. It is very reminiscent of The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, so lovers of that book would likely enjoy this one as well!

Was this review helpful?

Martha feels like a lot of us do, invisible to those around her, despite all her well-meaning efforts to be helpful, always putting others first. She is comfortable in the library, feels safe there. Books are easier to understand than people. The library setting is one that will appeal to most book lovers, it offers endless possibilities, just by opening the cover of one of the books.

Receiving a mysterious gift from her much loved, deceased grandmother Zelda, Martha is confused, but intrigued. Is there perhaps some mistake about Zelda’s death? She puts her fears aside and sets out to solve the mystery of the book, whose stories trigger memories of the past.

The story moves from present to past, illuminating Zelda’s life and Martha’s childhood. Martha journey to find the truth is emotional and empowering, she discovers a devastating family secret, but also learns that she is can do anything, as long as she believes in herself.

With vivid characters and a female lead who is easy to care about, this story enthrals and shows that there is a little magic, even in the ordinary. A lovely read for those who love to dream.

I received a copy of this book from HQ in return for an honest review

Was this review helpful?

While I think I'm probably not the intended demographic for this book, I did find it quite charming. I found it a little slow to get going - it felt like a lot of exposition at the start - but once the characters were firmly established and the plot got going I did enjoy it. Obviously the emphasis on libraries and books appealed to me, as did the central plot element of family strife (I'm a sucker for repressed British family drama). As a light read, this is ideal.

Was this review helpful?

Oh, this is a lovely, absolutely charming story of a woman who was lost and is now found. Or maybe more than one woman and in more ways than one.

The Library of Lost and Found centres around Martha Storm. She works in a library but is also an unpaid skivvy for everyone, it seems. She takes in washing for someone from her reading group, she hems her nephew's trousers, she offers to help mend a Chinese dragon for the local school and so much more, and these jobs are cluttering up her house and her life. She thrives on being helpful and making lists, and yet underneath it all she knows that her life is severely lacking love, fun, friendship, family and cake!

A book of fairy tales is what starts to change everything for Martha. It turns up unexpectedly, left for her on the library doorstep, and the message handwritten inside is for her from her beloved grandmother, Zelda. The message gives Martha food for thought and questions what she thought she knew: that Zelda had died more than thirty years ago. It also makes her look back over her childhood with her controlling father and a mother who let herself be controlled by him.

I loved so much about this book. I thought Martha was a wonderful character and I really wanted her to stop people from walking all over her. I loved the detective work she carried out regarding Zelda (another fantastic character) and how it led to a transformation in not only the way Martha behaved towards others, but in how she felt about herself.

The title is so apt. So much is lost and found in this book, not particularly physical items, but people, emotions, self-worth, friendship. In amongst the narrative are stories that Martha, her mother Betty, and Zelda, used to make up when Martha was younger. Martha had lost the ability to do this along with her confidence and her spark, but we are treated to some of the stories and I thought that was a lovely touch.

Phaedra Patrick is a talented writer. I loved The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper and I loved The Library of Lost and Found. I suppose they might be termed feel-good fiction and I certainly closed this book with a satisfied sigh. The quirky and likeable characters and the unusual storyline with a mystery element really made this a winner for me.

Was this review helpful?

What an interesting story.
I love when I found new to me authors and their books. This one in particular was a story that I really enjoyed as it treats about old family secrets and how different are people within said family.
I liked the short stories and the images they create.
The characters felt real with good and bad intentions, thoughts and emotions.
I would recommend this book to my friends for an emotional story overall.

Was this review helpful?

A good novel, it is escapism at its best, perfect for a lazy summer afternoon.
I liked the plot, the well written cast of characters and the setting.
It's an engrossing and entertaining read, a heartwarming book that makes you feel good.
It's the first work I read by this author and it won't surely be the last.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Was this review helpful?