The Keeper of Lost Things Book Club Kit
Book Club Kit for The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan includes book club discussion guide and party menu.
I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but who could possibly resist one as pretty as this month’s book pick?
This lovely story goes much deeper than that first impression and is a great introduction to one of my favorite book genres: magical realism.
Peanut Blossom Book Club
This book was our official July 2019 pick for the Peanut Blossom Book Club.
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This book club pick is one of the awesome books from our fifth year of book club.
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What is The Keeper of Lost Things About?
Here’s what Amazon had to say about the book:
“Lime green plastic flower-shaped hair bobbles—Found, on the playing field, Derrywood Park, 2nd September.
Bone china cup and saucer—Found, on a bench in Riveria Public Gardens, 31st October.
Anthony Peardew is the keeper of lost things. Forty years ago, he carelessly lost a keepsake from his beloved fiancée, Therese. That very same day, she died unexpectedly. Brokenhearted, Anthony sought consolation in rescuing lost objects—the things others have dropped, misplaced, or accidently left behind—and writing stories about them.
Now, in the twilight of his life, Anthony worries that he has not fully discharged his duty to reconcile all the lost things with their owners. As the end nears, he bequeaths his secret life’s mission to his unsuspecting assistant, Laura, leaving her his house and and all its lost treasures, including an irritable ghost.
Recovering from a bad divorce, Laura, in some ways, is one of Anthony’s lost things. But when the lonely woman moves into his mansion, her life begins to change. She finds a new friend in the neighbor’s quirky daughter, Sunshine, and a welcome distraction in Freddy, the rugged gardener. As the dark cloud engulfing her lifts, Laura, accompanied by her new companions, sets out to realize Anthony’s last wish: reuniting his cherished lost objects with their owners.
Long ago, Eunice found a trinket on the London pavement and kept it through the years. Now, with her own end drawing near, she has lost something precious—a tragic twist of fate that forces her to break a promise she once made.
As the Keeper of Lost Objects, Laura holds the key to Anthony and Eunice’s redemption. But can she unlock the past and make the connections that will lay their spirits to rest?
A charming, clever, and quietly moving novel of of endless possibilities and joyful discoveries that explores the promises we make and break, losing and finding ourselves, the objects that hold magic and meaning for our lives, and the surprising connections that bind us.”
The Keeper of Lost Things Book Club Questions
I believe the best book club questions to spark a lively discussion in your group help readers make personal connections to the story.
You can read about how to write the best book club questions on your own here, but hopefully these will get you started!
Question 1:
Which of the stories of the lost things was your favorite? Have you ever lost something precious to you and found it or had it returned by someone else?
Question 2:
Why do you think Anthony chose Laura as his assistant? She has been described as “one of his lost things,” would you agree?
Question 3:
Sunshine brings an element of magic to the story, when she holds a lost thing she says “I can feel it. I don’t think it in my head, I just feel it.” How did you feel about this element of the story?
Have you read a magical realism book before this? Would you read another?
Question 4:
What finally soothes the ghost of Therese? Was she attempting to teach a lesson to the living or was it their help she needed to finally find peace?
Question 5:
How did you feel about the romance between Laura and Freddy? What was their big turning point?
Question 6:
If you were going to cast a movie adaptation of this book, who would you place in each of the starring roles?
Question 7:
What do you think happens to each of the characters after the story ends?
Book Club Party Menu
For the book club party menu, you have a little more flexibility for your food since it wasn’t a predominant part of the story.
Instead, why not have a book club tea party with fancy “lost and found” tea cups from a thrifting store? Or have every guest bring their own fancy cup from home.
Then serve tiered trays of finger sandwiches and fresh baked scones.
For a savory addition, my monte cristo pinwheels with strawberry jam are always popular, too.
You May Also Enjoy
If you enjoyed this book, you’d likely enjoy these other fun book club picks from through the years:
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