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The Angel's Game (El cementerio de los libros olvidados #2)

3.76 of 5 stars 3.76 · rating details · 32,731 ratings · 4,353 reviews

In the turbulent and mysterious Barcelona of the 1920s, David Martin, a young novelist obsessed with a forbidden love, receives an offer from an enigmatic publisher to write a book like no other before—a book for which "people will live and die." In return, he is promised a fortune and, perhaps, much more.

Once again, the author of The Shadow of the Wind takes us into the

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Paperback, 522 pages

Published 2009 by Phoenix (first published 2008)

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Mar 07, 2010 JG (The Introverted Reader) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 3_stars, author_spanish, fiction, historical_fiction, read_in_2010, reviewed, setting_spain, paranormal, translations, thriller, gave_away

David Martín is a writer of penny dreadfuls who is offered a huge sum of money to write a book for a French publisher. He can't find any evidence that the publisher actually exists though, and violent things start happening to David's friends and colleagues.

I was rocking through the first half of the book, loving Ruiz Zafón's writing, and then I just stopped caring a little over halfway through. I'm not entirely sure what happened. I think I got sick of having absolutely no freaking idea what wa...more David Martín is a writer of penny dreadfuls who is offered a huge sum of money to write a book for a French publisher. He can't find any evidence that the publisher actually exists though, and violent things start happening to David's friends and colleagues.

I was rocking through the first half of the book, loving Ruiz Zafón's writing, and then I just stopped caring a little over halfway through. I'm not entirely sure what happened. I think I got sick of having absolutely no freaking idea what was going on. Yeah, I knew who the publisher was, but I didn't know how that was going to tie into everything else. I read this using this really cool post-it-flag bookmark my husband gave me, because I knew that I would probably have tons of quotes I loved in here. The last one is at page 324 out of 531 pages. There's no big event that I can find there, I think that's just where I ran out of patience.

I loved Ruiz Zafón's previous book, The Shadow of the Wind , and I have a feeling that a re-read would bump that one up to five stars. I missed having a Fermín. There wasn't really anyone to give any lightness or grace to the story. It was all darkness and despair. The relationship between David and Isabella gave a few lighter moments, but he ended up hurting her feelings more often than not, so those were pretty limited. This is sort of a companion to Shadow, and I had a hard time figuring out how and when they fit together. I was confused about how this Sempere was consistently described as being shy and sort of boring, when that wasn't the guy I knew from Shadow. This young Sempere is the father in Shadow.

I have to say, my hat is off to the translator, Lucia Graves. She did one heckuva job translating this. The story might have lost me a little, but the writing is still lyrical, and that has to be as much to her credit as to the author's.

Maybe I should have put this aside and tried it again later when I realized that I had started to lose interest. I don't think that would have made a difference though. It's still a dark, Gothic novel that fans of that genre will still probably love. I just preferred The Shadow of the Wind much, much more.(less)

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Jan 20, 2010 Lavinia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010, fiction

My, oh my! I had such great expectations from the book - I know, it's not fair - and I was so disappointed about how it ends I actually don't know anymore if I liked it or not.

It starts OK, nothing spectacular at the beginning (well maybe that episode when David, a journalist at this point, visits the brothel - I still haven't figured out its connection with the rest of the story ), but after the first quarter it gets better and better. Now a writer, David is asked by a mysterious editor to writ...more My, oh my! I had such great expectations from the book - I know, it's not fair - and I was so disappointed about how it ends I actually don't know anymore if I liked it or not.

It starts OK, nothing spectacular at the beginning (well maybe that episode when David, a journalist at this point, visits the brothel - I still haven't figured out its connection with the rest of the story ), but after the first quarter it gets better and better. Now a writer, David is asked by a mysterious editor to write THE book, something nobody has ever dared to write before, in exchange for an enormous sum of money. When Isabella shows up, the story gets even better. Besides the gothic atmosphere, mystery and religious/supernatural events - which, I have to admit, made my heart skip a beat a few times - I totally loved David-Isabella relationship. Their dialogues are so sparkling and witty and they act so stormy (have I watched too many romantic comedies?) I almost wanted them to hook up. But well, Zafon had other plans and David remains devoted to his one true love, Cristina, which leads to all kind of complicated events, because this is what love does, it complicates our already complicated lives, right?

So, from one point onward the book totally got me (things disappear, people die, houses are burnt), I basically spent my weekend in bed with it, but the last 50 pages (chasing/escaping/fleeting away - so not my cup of tea) were such a bore and the ending so Spanish opera-meets-supernatural, I couldn't take it! I somehow wanted the-always-cool-never-scared David to end his life (heroically or not), but being a 1st person narrative that was quite impossible. So OK, let him live, but what have we done to deserve such a cheesy ending? (not spoiling anything about that :D)

I might be ranting a lot, but don't get me wrong: Zafon has a real talent for story telling and the book is definitely a page-turner; if you're into mystery and thrillers, this is a good choice. And yes, bookworms or Barcelona admirers, for you too!

(less)

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Jun 25, 2009 Jeanette rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: all-fiction, creepy-spooky-scary, four-star-fiction, europe-and-british-isles, miss-trees

Overall a well-told story with a clever and original plot. David Martin is a struggling author living in poverty in the seedy depths of Barcelona. He receives an irresistible offer of 100,000 francs to write a book for a creepy man he begins referring to as "the boss." After accepting the offer Martin starts research on the designated topic, triggering a series of strange happenings. He knows he is being "played" and used, but he doesn't know why or by whom. Things just get more and more siniste...more

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Apr 24, 2011 Yzobelle rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: to-read-again, for-sharing-at-blink

Once more, Zafon takes his readers to a thrilling ride into a web of stories. And any ride with Zafon is guaranteed to be breathtaking.

In the Angel's Game, Zafon has again exhibited his specialty in leading his readers into a series of intricate stories. He makes sure his readers enter that labyrinth of events so engrossed that they would hardly feel that they have been sucked into it. But great Zafon makes sure that his readers come out of it safe. He really has that talent of giving little une...more

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Dec 23, 2009 Becky rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Gothic mystery lovers

Shelves: 2009, historical-fiction, mystery-and-thrillers, religion-related, library, reviewed

This book was ALMOST a 5 star read for me. I really, really enjoyed it, and wish that I could give it 5 stars, but I feel like the loose ends were kind of rubber-banded together, rather than tied up all nice and pretty.

But first I want to talk about the writing. GOR-GEOUS. Ruiz Zafon captured me with the first paragraph. In fact, while I was reading "What Dreams May Come" right before this, I snuck a peek and then almost didn't put it back down to finish "WDMC". I mean, look at this:

"A writer n

...more This book was ALMOST a 5 star read for me. I really, really enjoyed it, and wish that I could give it 5 stars, but I feel like the loose ends were kind of rubber-banded together, rather than tied up all nice and pretty.

But first I want to talk about the writing. GOR-GEOUS. Ruiz Zafon captured me with the first paragraph. In fact, while I was reading "What Dreams May Come" right before this, I snuck a peek and then almost didn't put it back down to finish "WDMC". I mean, look at this:

"A writer never forgets the first time he accepted a few coins or a word of praise in exchange for a story. He will never forget the sweet poison of vanity in his blood and the belief that, if he succeeds in not letting anyone discover his lack of talent, the dream of literature will provide him with a roof over his head, a hot meal at the end of the day, and what he covets most: his name on a miserable piece of paper that will surely outlive him. A writer is condemned to remember that moment, because from then on he is doomed and his soul has a price."

A price, you say? Hmmm... Must read on! So I did, and found that with every page, I enjoyed the book even more. It was dark and gloomy and despairing and creepy at times, and at others it was laugh out loud funny and light and surprising.

David, our narrator, is a young writer, who's had a hard time of life, and is therefore older than his years. He's bitter, and jaded, and sarcastic, but still idealistic in a way. I loved the way that he looked at things, and the life he brought to the pages. Even when he was writing himself to death, he's still interesting and dynamic and I wanted to know him better.

So, in comes Andreas Correlli, mysterious and perfectly dressed and wanting to put David's talent to use for his own vague purposes. I recognized Correlli for what he was right away, as maybe I was intended to, so I waited anxiously for the inevitable.

There is quite a bit of religious speculation and philosophy (if that's the right word) in this book, which was very interesting to me. The conversations that Correlli and David had regarding religion were maybe a touch over my head, but intriguing to read, because both men had more than reason enough to twist things to their own purposes in their conversations, and I was never quite sure whether what they were saying was really what they were saying.

From David and Correlli's first meeting, things start to get more and more mysterious and strange. Very surreal in a realistic way, and quite intense. There were times when I'd have to force myself to put the book down to go to bed. And the chapters were so short that it was far too easy to justify "just one more". New twists and turns were introduced and I couldn't wait to figure out how they all fit together.

But this is where things went a little bit downhill for me. While things were technically ended, and it wasn't a bad ending, I just wish that we had a bit more explanation as to certain things in the story, and that's why I had to drop a star off. I mean, I guess we could just look at it from a stand-point of "it is because it is because it is", but I'm always looking for the "why" too.

I don't want to ruin this book for anyone who has yet to read it, because it is definitely worth reading, so I will not go into spoilerish stuff here. I will just say that I would have liked a bit more wrap up with certain converging storylines.

Overall, I immensely enjoyed this book. The writing has a way of just making me part of the story, and the descriptions made me wish I could be in Barcelona to see it for myself. I look forward to reading "Shadow of the Wind" soon. (less)

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Sep 10, 2012 Mish rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: thriller, fantasy, fiction, translated-fiction, historical, mystery, own, romance, gothic, autograph

Review & thoughts on re-read in 2012
The Angel’s Game is the prequel to The Shadow of the Wind. This book is set in the gothic city of Barcelona in the 1900’s. It tells the story of David Martin, who one day dreams of becoming a serious writer. He gets his break when he is asked to write a fictional series under a pseudonym. Earning a modest wage, he decides buy an abandoned Tower house, which he has had his eye on for a while, but soon finds out it has a dark history. Over the years David st...more

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Apr 18, 2010 Lee Goldberg rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The book starts out so well, rich in a character, humor, and a powerful sense of place. It captivated me from the first few pages. I couldn't wait to keep reading. I rewarded myself with it each night. I felt I was reading a truly great book, one I was certain would become a beloved favorite of mine.

I was so in love, that I was willing to overlook a nagging flaw -- in a story where language and the craft of writing mean so much, where the writer himself aims a spotlight on authorial laziness ("...more The book starts out so well, rich in a character, humor, and a powerful sense of place. It captivated me from the first few pages. I couldn't wait to keep reading. I rewarded myself with it each night. I felt I was reading a truly great book, one I was certain would become a beloved favorite of mine.

I was so in love, that I was willing to overlook a nagging flaw -- in a story where language and the craft of writing mean so much, where the writer himself aims a spotlight on authorial laziness ("Don Basilo was a forbidden-looking man with a bushy moustache who did not suffer fools and who subscribed to the theory that the liberal use of adverbs and adjectives was the mark of a pervert or someone with a vitamin deficiency"), I was astonished by the repeated reliance on cliche phrase. For example:

"In this neck of the woods, one doesn't have to run very fast."
"The editorial board had opted to take the bull by the horns..."
"technically, it was my father who paid, but don't look a gift horse in the mouth"
"my father came back and found me alive and kicking..."

It was especially bewildering since the author is capable of such amazing, vivid, and fresh prose. How could he possibly let a cliche like "he let the cat out of the bag" get past the rough draft?

Since the book is a translation, I will give the author the benefit of the doubt and assume it's the translator's fault and not his (one need only look at The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo for an example of that).

But the cliches would be a minor annoyance if the rest of the book matched the brilliance of the first half. Unfortunately, the book quickly devolves into relentlessly dull exposition, delivered by one-note characters with absolutely no motivation or reason to deliver the speeches to our hero besides the author's need to relay the information.

Worse, the plot, such as it was, totally collapses into an unintelligble, incoherent mess that isn't satisfying or entertaining. Nothing that was "planted" in the first half pays off in the second. For me, the book was a crushing disappointment.(less)

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Jul 13, 2009 Khaya rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When I'm reading something good, or even decent, I'll find myself reading just a few more pages when I should be doing housework or some other exciting chore. When I find myself finding all sorts of creative ways to waste time without even thinking of picking up my book, I know it's time to give up on it.

Too bad -- I really liked The Shadow of the Wind. But unfortunately, like the sequel to The Pillars of the Earth, I think the author was trying too hard to recreate his own success at the expens...more

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Dec 28, 2012 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. It's hard for me to review Zafon's work, because I love it so much. I see the flaws in this novel, it may be a bit too wordy and the plot becomes convoluted in the second half, but I still loved it. Set in the Early 20th century in Barcelona, The Angel’s Game precedes the events in Zafon’s novel, The Shadow of the Wind, but shares a few of the same characters. David Martin is a poor journalist writing pulp fiction on the side, but he dreams of doing something greater.

Zafon’s style of writing ju...more It's hard for me to review Zafon's work, because I love it so much. I see the flaws in this novel, it may be a bit too wordy and the plot becomes convoluted in the second half, but I still loved it. Set in the Early 20th century in Barcelona, The Angel’s Game precedes the events in Zafon’s novel, The Shadow of the Wind, but shares a few of the same characters. David Martin is a poor journalist writing pulp fiction on the side, but he dreams of doing something greater.

Zafon’s style of writing just drips with gorgeous descriptions, devious characters and tragic heroes. His gothic tales are so rich I am willing to forgive much that I would fault another author for. Like so many others, I didn't love this book as much as I loved The Shadow of the Wind, but again, I still loved it. Zafon has a few themes he always returns to in his work: the relationships between fathers and sons, men falling in love women in a higher social class, references to classic novels (Great Expectations, The Count of Monte Cristo), etc. This novel is no exception and it includes all of those things.

**SPOILERS: Where I discuss my thoughts on Andreas Corelli**

This year I re-read both Shadow of the Wind and this book and I’ve found that re-reading Zafon’s work is a lot like re-watching The Sixth Sense, once you know the ending you view the whole thing through a different lens. There’s one section where David meets Andreas Corelli and Corelli talks about his strained relationship with his father. He said he was cast out of his home and I couldn’t help thinking this was a clever reference to his father being “God” and Corelli being the Devil.

Also, I forgot quite a bit about the details of David’s brain tumor. The most fascinating thing about this book is its ambiguity. For some it’s clear Corelli is the Devil and Martin makes a Faustian deal for both his health and what his soul desires. For others Martin is clearly a victim of his own delusions, brought on by his brain tumor. It’s possible his hallucinations are caused by schizophrenia or his brain tumor and the entire character of Corelli exists only in his mind. This is possibly enforced by Martin’s mumbling conversations (witnessed by Fermin) with himself while imprisoned in The Prisoner of Heaven. If it is all in David’s mind, then he’s the one who killed his Publisher’s, not Corelli.

Or it’s possible Corelli used David as a puppet and committed the murders through him and then made him forget them. This might be supported by the moment when David saves Isabella and then leaves her attackers in the alley. He hears later that they were beaten with a pipe, just like the one he was carrying. So that indicates he might have done it but then blocked it out, Fight Club-style. There are so many possibilities!

Another indicator that Corelli really is the Devil, regardless of whether or not others can see him; the first author who lived in the Tower House went through the same thing David did. If it’s all in David’s head then the other author’s story wouldn’t make sense. And we see Christina go crazy and speak to an invisible person, which once again suggests that Corelli is there.

So my conclusion in the end is that I think it’s a combination of both things. I think it is madness, but I think it’s caused by Corelli who really is the Devil. He uses the madness as a weapon to get what he wants from people.

**SPOILERS OVER**

I was forewarned by other fans not to rush through The Angel’s Game, as I was tempted to do. Zafon is an author that should be savored. His novels are so full of his passion for both Barcelona and reading that I found myself wishing I could wander the city's streets after I put the book down. I wish so badly that the Cemetery of Forgotten Books was a real place Now that I have re-read this one I feel like I’ve noticed so many more important details and I understand it much better. I have a feeling my appreciation for it will deepen each time I return to it.

BOTTOM LINE: A beautifully twisted and strange novel, The Angel’s Game will leave you reeling and wanting to start it all over again when you finish. The complicated plot isn’t for everyone, but it’s worth it if you loved The Shadow of the Wind. If you read and enjoy that one then I would recommend both The Angel's Game and The Prisoner of Heaven.

“We looked at each other bound by an infinite complicity that needed no words.”(less)

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Sep 26, 2012 Travis rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: carlos-ruiz-zafon

This book is a difficult one for me to review. I loved The Shadow of the Wind and to be honest comparing it to this prequel isn't so easy to do. Zafon's prose in both books are works of art. It seems almost every other paragraph contain words spoken for the first time. I treasured so much of the beautiful writing; the heart of his work is so original I plan to read these books again and again. The copies I have will stay with me to my end.

The Angel's game is mostly slow with too many twists and...more

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Mar 17, 2009 Elton rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

The Angel's Game actually takes place in the same area of Barcelona as SOTW. Set in the period just before the civil war that leads up to SOTW. The main character is David Martin, who at the beginning of book is working at a newspaper & gets his chance to be a writer. Soon with the help of of his friend & mentor, Perdo Vidal, he is able to lift himself out of poverty & start writing for a living.

He soon leaves the newspaper & starts writing pulp fiction under a pseudonym for a le...more

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Aug 15, 2009 Carmen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Do you love a book that has people dying in fetid pools, rotting in chambers, burned alive?
Do you love gothic novels that leave you feeling bleaker than you did when you sat down to read with your bag of microwave popcorn?
Do you love books that attack belief systems by dismissing the supernatural, and then indulge in the supernatural?

I don't.

Don't get me wrong--I don't mind sorrow in a story, or the vestiges of tragedy, or philosophy, or heavy emotional lifting. But Zafon's writing was too good...more

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Mar 29, 2009 Reca rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, read-in-2009

I was able to take advance of an advance copy to read this one before the June release date. This story follows a writer in 1920s Barcelona through his writing for a newspaper, for himself, and a a mysterious man who promises him riches for writing a story that the man wants. That's where things get interesting. There is a complicated mystery that unfolds throughout the book, which kept me reading until it was over.

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Dec 05, 2012 Alexandru rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

David Martin. A boy that becomes a man too soon, due to some tragic events. He starts working for a living at a small age and for a low wage, constantly pressured by his condition and his dark past. What he doesn’t know is that the future is even darker, maybe too dark, if you ask me.
more...

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Aug 22, 2012 Bre Cregor rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the 2nd Zafon novel I have read.
This story sets up the basis for the characters and The Cemetery of Forgotten Books in The SHADOW OF THE WIND.
By comparison, this book had less cursing and "King David moments". ( I have learned Zafon's pattern for beginning intimate escapades, so I just skipped the paragraphs all together.) Having said this, there was one such "moment", towards the beginning, which was ORCHESTRATED, I believe to reduce the virtue of the main character, so as to make his n...more

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Jul 22, 2009 Tori rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

I think this author is SO talented. The translator must be extremely talented, as well. I loved Zafon's first book, Shadow of the Wind, and was very excited to read his newest one. This is going to be a four-part series, and I am already looking forward to the next one. The setting is similar in both books - Barcelona in the early 1900's - and the Cemetery of Forgotten Books appears in both stories. Whereas SOTW had to do with readers, AG has to do with a writer. It's been a few years since I re...more

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Sep 27, 2012 Brice Meerman rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Carlos Ruiz Zafón is an absolute story weaver.

The reader of this novel, more so than book #1, is left in the same state of mind as the main character, David Martín,...that is just a little crazy. There's no way I can explain what I'm saying without giving too much away, but this book is an Olympic high dive into one of two mind types, either completely crazy or genius. There is no way to tell. There is no point in knowing the difference. It's basically the same thing. And the swift dive in the...more Carlos Ruiz Zafón is an absolute story weaver.

The reader of this novel, more so than book #1, is left in the same state of mind as the main character, David Martín,...that is just a little crazy. There's no way I can explain what I'm saying without giving too much away, but this book is an Olympic high dive into one of two mind types, either completely crazy or genius. There is no way to tell. There is no point in knowing the difference. It's basically the same thing. And the swift dive in the air is such an enjoyable ride, and the outcome is a perfect ten.

Do you know any extremely creative people? How can they create these stories? Are they a little crazy? Well, if you don't know any completely nutso authors...after reading this great novel, you'll know two very intimately. Zafón and Martín. One the creator and one the created. But which is which?

Trust me when I say that I'm eagerly going to devour the next book in this series. And that ill keep these 3 books forever in my own personal version of the Cemetary For Forgotten Books.********

********After reading "The Prisoner of Heaven" I had to come back and adjust my rating and review of this book. While the third book is the shortest of the three almost by half, it just might hold ALL the answers to the first two novels. I have a much more clear understanding of "Angel's Game", and with a better understanding comes a better appreciation. While at first this book made me think and wonder, now I'm simply amazed at the technique and quality of Zafón. This man is a übergenius and possibly wrote the most simplistic complicated gothic noir mystery novel ever.

I'll advise, that while reading this book you're actually sitting at a Harry fucking Houdini show. You CANNOT trust your eyes. You are not the reader enjoying a mystery novel, you are actual hired to be the Privet Eye Sleuth to solve the mystery. Your job is to decipher the fiction from nonfiction. This is simply a magic trick. Slight of hand. Or in David Martín's case, slight of mind. Tell me what you discover afterwards.

I guarantee you're analysis of this novel will be wrong until you read "Prisoner of Heaven", at which point a light switch will come on and clarity will reign supreme in your mind. Hopefully David Martín eventually enjoys some twist of fate similar to this in the fourth book. (less)

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Jun 17, 2010 Blair rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ghostly-and-magical, historical, translated

In many ways, I really loved this book. To use a hackneyed phrase, it grips from the first page, and stays constantly enthralling from then on - rich and exciting, gothic and often macabre. Just when you think you've got a handle on the plot, it shoots off in a different direction entirely, constantly adding new layers of intrigue. The dialogue absolutely sparkles, full of the kind of quick-fire conversations you would associate with a play rather than a novel, particularly the scenes between Da...more

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Mar 14, 2010 Lance Greenfield Mitchell rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

Dark and sinister

This is the macabre and sinister tale of David Martín, a journalist who turns to writing books. Initially, these are regularly churned out, trashy stories, written purely for income. I won’t tell where he progresses to, or describe any of the weird events that ensue, for fear of spoiling this wonderfully intriguing story for you. Suffice to say that this book is packed with action and mystery.

If you build an affinity with a strongly crafted character, then you are in danger of b...more

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Dec 13, 2009 Joan added it · review of another edition

Anyone who loved Zafón's The Shadow of the Wind will be enthralled by this story of a young journalist who, after having made his name writing pulp fiction, is hired by a mysterious publisher to create the founding scripture of a new religion. Set in Barcelona in the 1920, the novel follows the career of David Martín as he becomes entranced by the beautiful Cristina Sagnier and ensnared by Andreas Corelli of Éditions de la Lumière.

We again find ourselves visiting the Cemetery of Forgotten Books,...more

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Jul 12, 2009 Blodeuedd Finland rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, fiction, awesomebooks

Published: June 2009
Hardcover: 448 pages

The whole of Barcelona stretched out at my feet and I wanted to believe that, when I opened those windows, its streets would whisper stories to me, secrets I could capture on paper and narrate to whoever cared to listen.'

In an abandoned mansion at the heart of Barcelona, a young man, David Martín, makes his living by writing sensationalist novels under a pseudonym. The survivor of a troubled childhood, he has taken refuge in the world of books, and spends...more

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Jun 27, 2009 Michael Roy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

There's a lot of beautiful prose in this book: I just love the 'other worldly' quality that is somehow embued into books translated into English from Spanish. Or perhaps I've just been lucky.

Anyway, the Angel's Game is nowhere near as satisfying as The Shadow of the Wind but is still head and shoulders above most stuff. I felt that, at times, it was slightly humourless, which is an accusation that could never be laid at the door of SOTW, and feels a bit self indulgent at times, the overriding f...more

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Jun 24, 2009 Stefanie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: disappointments, mystery, gothic

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I couldn't agree more with those who felt a bit let down by this book. As most of us did, I loved The Shadow of the Wind, and so had "Great Expectations" for this book and couldn't help feeling Zafon just didn't quite deliver. This let dowen was due, I think, to a number of reasons, starting with the high hopes I had. Any time expectations are as high as mine were upon encountering this book, disappointment to some degree, is almost certain to follow.

Some people were irritated by the return of...more I couldn't agree more with those who felt a bit let down by this book. As most of us did, I loved The Shadow of the Wind, and so had "Great Expectations" for this book and couldn't help feeling Zafon just didn't quite deliver. This let dowen was due, I think, to a number of reasons, starting with the high hopes I had. Any time expectations are as high as mine were upon encountering this book, disappointment to some degree, is almost certain to follow.

Some people were irritated by the return of the Cemetary of Forgotten Books, but I was not. In fact, I was rather excited about it; the scene when David takes Isabella there got my blood rushing, and in seeing Isac again, I felt like I was encountering an old friend. What did bother me, was the bungled way the whole thing was handled. It seemed like it was thrown in there just to be there and its importance to the story was tenuous at best. I was ready to hear the tale of another author found in that endless maze of books and in fact I could devour, with pleasure, as many novels as Zafon wanted to create out of that theme as long as The Cemetary of Forgotten Books retained its mystery, its sanctity, and its importance to the theme of each story. I felt this story was not worthy of it and could easily have been told without involving it.

Some reviewers had the feeling they were reading a story that has already been told. I too felt this way. The tale, in various forms, has been told a million times, and on the heels of reading The Shadow of the Wind, that was so disheartening. Everything from the Devil and Daniel Webster to The Stand has explored this theme and there was not a single thing that added any originality to it. I kept hoping the end would bring some Shadow of the Wind worthy twist, but it was not to
be:(

I am also in agreement with comments that indicated that the plot was "chaotic." Zafon answered most of my questions by the end of the novel, I suppose, but I still felt somehow unsatisfied. There were some loose ends that just never quite got tied up: the early scene with the brothel and the fire for instance. I may be missing something (will have to go back and look), but I could not figure out what that had to do with anything. "Some of the characters never became real," as one reviewer said. There were too many of them, too many weird dreams, and murky scenes of destruction. In the end, though the basic theme of the novel was apparent (dealing with the devil etc) and had been from the start, this particular mystery, the who done it part of the book, remains unsolved. David himself professes to be unsure whether he commited the crimes or not. As a true mystery lover who likes to see things neatly resolved, I found this particularly aggravating.

All things considered, though, it is still a good read LOL While not quite as riveting as its predecessor, it still held its own, and there were times (especially from pg 200 on) where I did have a hard time putting the book down. I found the characters engaging and couldn't help being drawn to David's dark humor. His description of the author's plight resonated with me, made him real, and made me like him even in his most unlikable moments; I do not know what this says about me LOL Bottom line: it's a good read but not a great read. Don't have "Great Expectations." If you have read Shadow of the Wind, prepare for some disappointment. If you have not, don't let this book dissuade you from giving Zafon's previous novel a chance; you will most likely be pleasantly surprised.(less)

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Jul 27, 2012 Scott Bagley rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Incredible book, beautifully written and translated. Mysterious, intriguing, and touching with wonderful characters. It is way beyond anything I could describe. If it sounds even a little bit interesting, I very highly recommend it.

7/9/12: I am re-reading this one on audio in anticipation of the upcoming new book "The Prisoner of Heaven." If you have not read this book or "The Shadow of the Wind," I could not recommend them highly enough and I would say that if you have not read either one, you...more

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Mar 06, 2013 Slaviša Perišić rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Easily one of my top 5 favorite books of all time. It has all I need. The unpredictable plot, troubled characters, good/evil paradigm, a little bit of romance to spice up the whole thing.

Carlos has become one of my favorite writers. The way he develops a character throughout a book is impossible to compare with any other writer. This is only his second book I read and I already bought all his other books. And hopefully there will be more.

Someone told me Angel's Game reminds him of Fight Club, a...more

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Mar 29, 2010 Shelli rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2010

I would give this 3 1/2 stars. I didn't like it as much as The Shadow of the Wind. It was a much darker plot set in the same place, but an earlier time. One of the things I liked best was the return of the characters from TSOTW. I really liked the female characters in this one. I felt this story got a bit out of hand and didn't really enjoy all the killing and dark religious ranting. I never felt like the whole "mystery" was fully explained...it was like a huge build up to a big let down for me....more

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Sep 15, 2009 Andrea rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ok, so maybe I was partial to this book because it takes place in Barcelona, and that was one of our honeymoon stops two years ago (TWO YEARS ALREADY!). Regardless, it brought back the gothic streets and the unusual architecture of the city. I really liked his writing style, but I am left to wonder about the story itself. It spun around on itself, and I kept wanting him to reveal who the "boss" really was. And then I think I missed something, or it was lost in the translation regarding the other...more

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Aug 06, 2010 Robin Nicholas rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The author (and translator) are amazing. This book has depth, texture, atmosphere and is quite interesting. Zafon delves into a lot of ideas and concepts that made me want to take a break from the book and really think about them. I liked a lot about this book, but it started to get too dark and obscure for me. I am not even sure if I really understood the last 50 pages. I like logic and reality and this takes a turn away from that. If you like the fantasy genre or deep, dark books I think you w...more

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May 18, 2009 Jill rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I absolutely loved The Shadow of the Wind and expected this book to be my favorite book of the year. Perhaps my expectations were too high to give it a fair chance. I didn't care for the story. I rarely felt like picking the book up after taking a break but continued to think that there would be some redeeming aspect as I read and was closer to the end. I would not recommend this book- it was terrible. I lent it to a friend and she didn't even bother finishing it (she reads a couple hundred book...more

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About Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Carlos Ruiz Zafón is a Spanish novelist. Born in Barcelona in 1964, he has lived in Los Angeles, United States, since 1994, and works as a scriptwriter aside from writing novels.

His first novel, El príncipe de la niebla (The Prince of Mist, 1993), earned the Edebé literary prize for young adult fiction. He is also the author of three more young-adult novels, El palacio de la medianoche (1994), Las...more

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Books by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

The Shadow of the Wind (The Cemetery of Forgotten Books, #1)

The Prisoner of Heaven (The Cemetery of Forgotten Books, #3)

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