The Angel's Game (The Cemetery of Forgotten Books, #2) in Around the World in 80 Books

Apr 04, 2013 Laura (booksnob) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013, literature

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon is one of my top ten favorite reads of all time. So when I realized there was a sequel and then a trilogy, I couldn't wait to read them. I have fond memories of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books hidden underneath Barcelona and I long to visit the place in my mind again and again.

"Welcome to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, Isabella.
Isabella looked up toward the glass dome and became lost in that impossible vision of white rays of light that crisscrossed The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon is one of my top ten favorite reads of all time. So when I realized there was a sequel and then a trilogy, I couldn't wait to read them. I have fond memories of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books hidden underneath Barcelona and I long to visit the place in my mind again and again.

"Welcome to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, Isabella.
Isabella looked up toward the glass dome and became lost in that impossible vision of white rays of light that crisscrossed a babel of tunnels, footbridges, and bridges, all leading into a cathedral made of books."

"This place is a mystery. A sanctuary. Every book, every volume you see, has a soul. The soul of the person who wrote it and the soul of those who read it and lived and dreamed with it. Every time a book changes hands, every time someone runs his eyes down its pages, its spirit grows and strengthens. In this place, books no longer remembered by anyone, books that are lost in time, live forever, waiting for the day when they will reach a new reader's hands, a new spirit..." Pg. 519

The Angel's Game is similar to The Shadow of the Wind in writing style, genre, and storyline. The Shadow of the Wind is the better book if only because it came first. The Angel's game is a book for literature lovers, it is a multi-genred, mysterious, gothic romantic thriller that will keep you flipping the pages. The Angel's Game is full of plot twists that will leave a pile of dead bodies at the end of a dark, shadowy lane.

The main character is a writer named David Martin. He writes serial noir, pulp fiction. He has always wanted to write a novel but his contract is for 20 years and his publishers are money hungry men who refuse to give up their money ticket. A mysterious publisher shows up offering David a book deal that is too good to be true and too good to pass up.

I can't even begin to explain the twists and turns of the plot that takes the reader for a wild roller coaster ride with the main character, sitting right next to you. You both will need to scream and look over your shoulder and wonder who and what is happening.

The more I think about this book, the more I like it and the more I like it, it makes me realize that Carlos Ruiz Zafon is a writer in disguise. Because he is really a genius!

Heading off to devour book number three, The Prisoner of Heaven.

...more

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Oct 23, 2009 Sera rated it it was ok

Shelves: library, own, literary-fiction

Oy - what a disappointment. I would have given this book one star, but I really enjoyed the first 250 pages, and then things started to go downhill after there. Too many twists, too many angles, and too many storylines made this book end up to be a real mess. What a shame - I absolutely loved Zafon's first book, Shadow of the Wind, but I almost wouldn't be able to tell that he wrote this book, too, if it wasn't for the writing style and the inclusion of the Cemetary of Forgotten Books in the plo ...more

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Jul 22, 2009 Rachel N. rated it liked it

I'm not sure what I think of this book. I love the Shadow of the Wind by the same author. This is the story of David Martin a writer in Barcelona who ends up accepting a very dangerous deal with a publisher no one has ever heard of. the story started out normal but then it got odd and I really don't know about the ending. The book leaves you hanging about what is and isn't real in it. Interesting but not as good as his previous book in my opinion. ...more

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Sep 03, 2015 Amy rated it really liked it

really enjoyed this book, and its vivid descriptions of a goth Barcelona. A couple of aspects of the mystery were a little predictable, but the lovely writing style kept me hooked.

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Dec 25, 2009 Sunflower rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction-read-2010

This book will never end up in the Cemetary of Forgotten Books. Similar in tone to his earlier Shadow of the Wind, this is an intriguing and entertaining read.

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Feb 22, 2010 Heidi Siefkas rated it really liked it

Read over 150 pages in one day over the wknd...great character development taking place in Barcelona with a struggling writer.

I am now done after having many visitors and busy schedule over the past weeks (otherwise it would have been read much more quickly).

Great writer and interesting plot!

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