From the Bookshelf of Retro Chapter Chicks …

The Angel's Game (The Cemetery of Forgotten Books, #2)

Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Start date: June 1, 2021

Finish date: June 30, 2021

Discussion: Buddy Reads

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of -2 topics — 829 comments total

Buddy Reads

* Buddy Reads 2025
By Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴… , Founding Retro Chick · 128 posts · 22 views

last updated Aug 03, 2025 05:15AM

* Historical Fiction Timeline Tag
By Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴… , Founding Retro Chick · 250 posts · 27 views

last updated Oct 20, 2025 01:03PM

showing 10 of 15 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Jun 30, 2021 Maureen rated it it was amazing

Back to the Cemetery of the Forgotten Books. We are transported back to again Barcelona, the perfect setting for this gothic tale.
This is a captivating story by Carlos Ruiz Zafron. It is filled with mystery and intrigue and paranormal. Just when you think you know how the plot is going, BAM she get a big surprise. It is eloquently written with many twists and turns.
If you like creepy old mansions and hidden secrets and things that are not what they seem to be. You will love this novel.

41 likes · Like · see review

Jun 05, 2016 Book Concierge rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-fiction, spain, audio, books-about-books, concierge, library, suspense, paranormal

Book on CD narrated by Dan Stevens.

Opening lines: 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 the most: his name printed on a miserable piece of paper that surely will Book on CD narrated by Dan Stevens.

Opening lines: 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 the most: his name printed on a miserable piece of paper that surely will outlive him. A writer is condemned to remember that moment, because from then on he is doomed and his soul has a price.

A reader never forgets the first Zafón novel s/he reads.

David Martín is a writer who has agreed to churn out penny dreadful mysteries for a publishing house that pays him little, and controls his creative output. He lives in an old, dilapidated mansion, with secrets of its own. An orphan, he leads a relatively solitary life, but he does have a few friends, including Senor Sempere, owner of Sempere & Sons bookshop, Pedro Vidal a mentor at his former newspaper job, and Isabella, the daughter of the grocery store owners and his new assistant. And then he receives an offer he cannot refuse – a chance to create a masterpiece and achieve immortality.

Wow. The plot is intricate and compelling, the characters complex and interesting, and the writing is simply wonderful. And, of course, we have the marvelous Cemetery of Forgotten Books.

This is a dark, gothic novel full of mystery and intrigue. At heart it is a story of man’s struggle against his baser instincts. It seems only the women are able to achieve any goodness in their lives. Martín is in turns brash, as befits a man in his twenties, passionate, confused, exhausted and fierce. Isabella is a perfect counterpoint – steady, logical, concerned, and practical.

Although there are many twists in the plot, Zafón keeps some major surprises for the ending. It’s a haunting work, and I think it will be a long, long time (or perhaps never) before it is consigned to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books.

Dan Stevens is simply marvelous performing the audio version. He has good pacing and is able to accurately pronounce the Spanish and (I assume) French phrases / names. His gift for voices is well-suited to this work; he is even successful portraying the women. His Andreas Corelli is appropriately “oily” while Martín sounds like the young, self-educated writer he is.
...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Jan 06, 2011 Tasha rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, thriller-mystery, favorites-2014, favorites-2021

The writing is phenomenal...just love it. The story was creepy and the words just glided across the pages. It's been a while since I read The Shadow of the Wind and I was worried that I would miss out on any references to that one but it was not the case. Book love for sure.

7/13/2021: Finished a reread of this wonderful book and it feels like I enjoyed it even more this time around. Loved the writing, the atmosphere, the characters, it has it all. Perfection in my opinion. And I'm sad that we wi ...more

6 likes · Like · see review