Review: The Lost by Sarah Beth Durst (AMAZEBALLS so much feels)

by - 6:45 AM

The Lost
Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Date of Publication: May 27, 2014
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Synopsis:
It was only meant to be a brief detour. But then Lauren finds herself trapped in a town called Lost on the edge of a desert, filled with things abandoned, broken and thrown away. And when she tries to escape, impassable dust storms and something unexplainable lead her back to Lost again and again. The residents she meets there tell her she's going to have to figure out just what she's missing--and what she's running from--before she can leave. So now Lauren's on a new search for a purpose and a destiny. And maybe, just maybe, she'll be found...

Against the backdrop of this desolate and mystical town, Sarah Beth Durst writes an arresting, fantastical novel of one woman's impossible journey...and her quest to find her fate.
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Isn't this book just maddening? But then again,


HAVE YOU EVER BEEN LOST?

I feel like I am compelled to write something deeper than the usual. I don't know, but this book made me realize a lot of things in life. It resonated me. It struck me with a chord. My mind is still reeling as well as my emotions. This is like a darker version of Alice in Wonderland & Peter Pan with ample of physiological and emotional contort. The world is very unusual, it needs a good writing to depicts the intention of The Lost. My interpretation might differ from others. That's the beauty of books, you can never know what they really are all about. You can only see it the way you are.
"All the world is made of faith, trust, and pixie dust."
This is a story about Lauren's unexpected detour. She only meant to drive and run away for a while from the possible mishap or bad news to come in her life: Her mom dying of Cancer. But she found herself in a dust storm and ended up in the town called Lost. Where all the Lost are Found.

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HARDY HAR HAR THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST BOOK I'VE READ THIS YEAR. SO AMAZING. AMAZEBALLS/ HELLUVA AWESOME. AND ALL SORTS OF WORDS RELATED TO BRILLIANT.

This book is very unique, odd, eccentric yet too enticing and thought-provoking. It tackles about everyone's crisis in life. Being lost. The main character, Lauren, is a very realistic character. She's no fictional, we see the kind of her in our everyday lives. Maybe I even see myself in her. She's smart with a sense of dry humor. She's not the kind of character that everyone will like,but then again she is very realistic and by means of being realistic she can be annoying and insufferable sometimes (i mean we all are in many ways). But in the end, I eventually admired and loved her. She's a strong grown-up woman, she wears her big panties and knows how to be independent. Until she got lost in Lost.......and met a bunch of crazy lost people, a kid with a knife and teddy bear, a mysterious, hauntingly handsome Peter.
“You don’t seem to be an interesting person,” he says. “Lost your way emotionally, psychologically, and physically. Cut-and-dried, really. There must be more to you.”
Three of the most striking characters (ever in my reading history) would be Lauren, Claire and Peter (as in hot and older version of Peter Pan). Their bonding was precious and memorable. It was a spur of the moment kind of friendship that grew stronger and stronger as they struggled to survive. I ached for them. They were a team, not individuals who will betray you any time of the day. Claire is a very endearing character. She's just a kid but she acts like an adult. She's very resourceful and talented, so full of life.

Peter might appear brusque and an asshole potential at first impression, but that's just the impression. He's playful and full of riddles I sometimes can't comprehend. Let's just say, he knows stuff and he experienced stuff. He's the Finder after all. He helped Luaren through and through her adventure in Lost. But he's also lost and that makes him very frail at heart and soul. I loved loved loved Peter. After I finished reading this I am sure he's now included ON my book boyfriend list. He made it to the 5th place! (I only have like 4 book boyfriends before). I am a very picky reader, sometimes I swoon over heroes but never considered them to be a book boyfriend, BUT PETER OH PETER!!!!! He was very different from the usual. I can't understand him, he was so mysterious and I like heroes to be that way. You know they do more than they talk and that was all makes him gushy gush gush kind of character.
DEFINITELY ME
The romance was slow burning with lots lots lots of attraction and sexual tension. It was palpable, I almost got burned because of Lauren and Peter's undeniable bizarre chemistry. I found myself restless on my reading position because of what happened to their relationship. I GRUNTED, SCREAMED AND CLENCHED MY FIST SO HARD. It was so unfair. So so unfair. Everytime they have an intimate moment it will be cut short! Seriously, why are you doing this to me?
"If they come back they're yours. If they don't they never were."

"If you love someone, set them free." That's the start of that quote. I don't meet Peter's eyes. 
But what afflicted the most on me was the mother-daughter relationship in this book. OKAY I AM NOT GOING TO CRY NOT. NOT. NOT. I love my mom so darn much, and this book just made me realize that one day, He (whoever is above) will take her from me without a warning sign (or maybe just a three month warning sign). I can't imagine that. I've always dreamed of a life with my mother in the picture that's why I sobbed like a baby when I got to read the last pages of the book. And throughout Lauren's stay in Lost, she never ever ever forget about her mother. As in never. She was just shaken at the fact that she might be dying soon that's why she ran away for awhile, but she never intended to leave her mother alone for a long long time. The relationship and bonding was gold, it made me really cave for it. I was very vulnerable in this aspect of the book. So thumbs up, this book has very wonderful perspective about mother-daughter relationship.
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All in all, this book was sheer brilliant. I loved that it was written in a way that fuzzed my brain but later did I understand why. The writing matched the overall tone of the book. Sometimes the writing can be very detailed that it feels like it's meant for a five year old to comprehend, but don't fret because beneath the writing is an adventure that is worth reading. So much mystery, romance, family bond, inner conflict, life lessons and all. You just don't get a simple book, you get so much more than you expected.


And to anyone who has read the book, can I ask you a question........... highlight the text...
Is the Missing Man Lauren's father? Because Lauren has the same ability as him and he went to her Mom's funeral.. So I am guessing there's something deeper to this. What you think?

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11 comments

  1. This is actually really really unique, and I definitely have never heard of anything like it before. It's like, kind of contemporary but then also fantasy? I'm DEFINITELY adding it to the TBR list! :D

    Plus I love slow-burn romance, but I can just tell that I'm going to end up in a pile of tears haha.

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    1. There will be tears!!! This is very unique and thought-provoking, I highly recommend it! :D

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  2. How can I not read this after that review? I was drawn in by the cover and then I read the blurb about an abandoned, mystical town and I'm like, "Ohmygod." I have a weird thing for abandoned places and I have to admit, I've never read a book about one. This is most definitely going on my TBR list! Thanks so much for the review!

    Tracy @ Cornerfolds

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    1. YAY!! I hope you add this to your TBR! You won't be disappointed with the mystical town, I swear! :D Ikr, the cover also beckoned me to read this.

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  3. I have not heard of this one, but you have me hooked with Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan! Eek, I need this now!
    Missie @ A Flurry of Ponderings

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    1. YES YES! Go add this to your TBR and read it! :D

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  4. I saw this in the bookstore recently and almost picked it up. Great review, it was quite the entertaining read, and definitely made me want to read the book! :D

    Em @ Books & Cleverness

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    1. GASPS I hope you try to buy this soon! Aww, thanks! :D The book is wonderful!

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  5. This was one that I was curious about this year because it sounded so unique. I guess I will have to read it! It sounds fantastic.

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    1. Yes it is! Can't wait for your thoughts :D

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  6. I haven't heard of this one before but it sounds so amazingly unique! I definitely need to hunt this down and give it a read, seems like I might need to keep tissues with me as well.

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Thank you for your comment! ♡ Happy reading to everyone!