What Was Lost

[callmemadam]

I’ve been very picky with my reading this month, finding it hard to settle to anything. A book had to be very light and amusing or really grab me. Then, bingo! What Was Lost by Catherine O’Flynn hit the spot: it’s brilliant. The narrative is in four sections, alternating between the events of 1987 and those of 2003/4. The action revolves around Green Oaks, a sort of prototype Bluewater shopping centre *shudders* which has replaced an industrial site in an unspecified location, probably somewhere in the Midlands.

In part one we meet Kate Meaney, a child almost alone in the world but bright and obsessed with detection; she practises her skills around the shopping centre. One soon becomes very fond of Kate and fearful for her. The narrative then moves forward to Carl, a security guard at Green Oaks and Lisa, duty manager at Your Music. Carl sees the figure of a child on the security cameras he monitors; the problem is, no one else can see her. He and Lisa get together and several back stories turn out to be connected. I was dreading an ambivalent ending but we do find out what happened to Kate, with some genuine surprises along the way.

I found the book gripping from page one with its spot-on descriptions of a certain sort of life in the modern world and the horrors of the shopping mall, all gloss and welcome on the outside, all sinister service corridors and filth behind the scenes. I felt the ratio was a little too much record store to too little Kate but I’m guessing the author had a lot to get off her chest on the subject. It’s rather reminiscent of Kate Atkinson, which is a recommendation by me and is a remarkable first novel.

Comments

What Was Lost

[(Anonymous)]

I read this, liked it, and did a book report on it, albeit rambling in different directions (as I recall it). I was so interested and went to see the "real" malls online.

Re: What Was Lost

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

It's very good but wouldn't induce me to go to a mall, real or virtual.

[ramblingfancy.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a great recommendation - will try it! Did enjoy Outnumbered very much by the way - must have missed your recommendation - so true to how children really can be - like malls really scary!

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

And in combination: eek!

[hartleyhare.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you enjoyed this! I adored it, for all the gripping and sinister bits and the very evocative descriptions of Green Oaks. I've been recommending it to lots of people and am amazed it hasn't been more widely reviewed.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Oh good, another admirer! I really loved it.

[lethe1]

Your review has convinced me I should really renew my library membership again, after letting it lapse years ago. In spite of having 100+ books still to read (not counting my mum's books in the attic), I can't help being tempted by glowing reviews and I Don't Have Room to buy more books! (Unless I absolutely love them, of course.)

I checked the library's online catalogue, and it appears my branch has a copy! in English! on the shelf! (I'd better make sure it is on the shelf before I do anything rash, as I remember all too well the instances where books that I wanted and that should be in, were in actual fact missing.)

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

I borrowed this from the library. It's like a lucky dip in there; you never know what you'll pick up on any day as stock seems to rotate so fast.

[lurpak.livejournal.com]

I loved this book too. Kate is such a wonderful character, and I loved the way the author evoked life twenty years ago, when it was still possible for children to explore wasteland and derelict buildings.

I went to a talk by Catherine O'Flynn earlier this year; unsurprisingly she used to work in a record store. She was also a secret shopper for a few days and hated it. She said she doesn't know yet if she'll write another book; I really hope she does.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

I hope she'll write another. You can understand that sometimes a writer may feel they've said everything they wanted to but she is so good.