The Prisoner of Heaven (TPOH) is the third (and I believe final) installment in the story that started with The Shadow of the Wind (TSOTW), by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, which I reviewed earlier this year. TSOTW was followed by The Angel's Game (TAG), reviewed here.
TPOH is much shorter than the first two books. It mainly focuses on revealing the history of one of the main characters of TSOTW, Fermin Romero de Torres. Fermin's sordid history is only hinted at in TSOTW, so it was really nice to finally know more about what made him such an intriguing character. Fermin is also intertwined with Isabella, a main character from TAG, so this installment helps round out what we know about her, as well. And of course, The Cemetery of Forgotten Books makes an appearance, although it is not until the very end.
This book was a pleasant and engaging read. I'd put it probably close to the level of TAG, and give it a good 3.5 stars. TSOTW set the bar so high that pretty much nothing else Zafon writes is going to compare, but I'm glad he went ahead and added the two subsequent books. Reading this one reminded me how much I want to go back and re-read TSOTW.
I wasn't particularly ecstatic about how Zafon chose to end this story in the epilogue. The end of the book itself seemed to hint that all was well with everyone, a nice resolution. It wasn't sugar-coated or unrealistic, it had just wrapped things up pretty darn well. But then the epilogue came along and strongly hinted that more adventures in violence and revenge were ahead. I don't necessarily think that Zafon is going to write more to the story; I just think for some reason he wanted to leave it on that note. Which I could have done without.
Anyway, I stand by my recommendation last time-- if you read any of the books, read The Shadow of the Wind. If you love it as much as I did, you'll probably seek out and read the next two. That is all.
What are all of you reading? Anything? Anyone?
Showing posts with label Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Book 29: The Angel's Game
I have fallen behind on my reading, mostly due to falling asleep every five minutes. With a slight increase in energy this past week, I dove into The Angel's Game and finished it fairly quickly. It is nice to have another book done, though if I were on schedule I'd be in the middle of my 31st book right now.
TAG is a sort of prequel to The Shadow of the Wind, which was my tenth read of 2012 and which I reviewed here. I say it's a sort of prequel because, while you go into it knowing that it is connected to the first book, you don't exactly understand the full connection until the end, and even then the connection isn't as deep as in most prequels. I'll just say that some of the characters are the same, and The Cemetery of Forgotten Books, which was introduced in TSOTW, plays a role in TAG, as well.
TAG uses the same setting as TSOTW, a dark and sometimes mystical Barcelona. The way Zafon describes the city is at times breathtaking and/or frightening. (And it must be said again, the woman who translates his work really does a phenomenal job.)
At the center of the book is a man named David Martin, a writer of penny dreadfuls who longs to write something truly meaningful. When an opportunity comes along to do just that, David takes it, unknowingly entering into way more than he bargained for. Soon drawn into a decades old mystery, David can't rest until he knows the truth. Zafon unfolds a mystery within a mystery again in this book, taking the reader on quite the ride. There are many surprises along the way-- I definitely didn't see the end coming.
I gave TSOTW five stars and I wouldn't change that rating now. TAG, however, didn't leave quite the same impression on me. It's definitely enjoyable, but it's a much darker book, which I wasn't expecting. Towards the end of it, it seems like every chapter ends with a death-- and these aren't gruesome, gory detailed deaths, which I appreciated, but man, the body count is high.
Additionally, Zafon introduces a few little things into the story that never fully get resolved, in my opinion. They aren't major plot elements that leave the reader feeling confused, but there are a few questions I would have liked answered.
My rating for this book has to fall somewhere around a 3.8. I can't give it a full four stars-- I just don't think it quite makes it. But it's not a three star read either. Can you tell I am conflicted?
There is a third installment to this sort of series called Prisoner of Heaven that I am very excited to read. I have heard great things about it.
One recommendation-- even though this book is sort of a prequel, if you are at all interested in reading anything by Zafon, please start with The Shadow of the Wind. It is a fabulous introduction to Zafon, his beautiful, gothic Barcelona, and The Cemetery of Forgotten Books. If you enjoy that one, definitely read this one next. If not, you won't be missing out by skipping this one altogether.
TAG is a sort of prequel to The Shadow of the Wind, which was my tenth read of 2012 and which I reviewed here. I say it's a sort of prequel because, while you go into it knowing that it is connected to the first book, you don't exactly understand the full connection until the end, and even then the connection isn't as deep as in most prequels. I'll just say that some of the characters are the same, and The Cemetery of Forgotten Books, which was introduced in TSOTW, plays a role in TAG, as well.
TAG uses the same setting as TSOTW, a dark and sometimes mystical Barcelona. The way Zafon describes the city is at times breathtaking and/or frightening. (And it must be said again, the woman who translates his work really does a phenomenal job.)
At the center of the book is a man named David Martin, a writer of penny dreadfuls who longs to write something truly meaningful. When an opportunity comes along to do just that, David takes it, unknowingly entering into way more than he bargained for. Soon drawn into a decades old mystery, David can't rest until he knows the truth. Zafon unfolds a mystery within a mystery again in this book, taking the reader on quite the ride. There are many surprises along the way-- I definitely didn't see the end coming.
I gave TSOTW five stars and I wouldn't change that rating now. TAG, however, didn't leave quite the same impression on me. It's definitely enjoyable, but it's a much darker book, which I wasn't expecting. Towards the end of it, it seems like every chapter ends with a death-- and these aren't gruesome, gory detailed deaths, which I appreciated, but man, the body count is high.
Additionally, Zafon introduces a few little things into the story that never fully get resolved, in my opinion. They aren't major plot elements that leave the reader feeling confused, but there are a few questions I would have liked answered.
My rating for this book has to fall somewhere around a 3.8. I can't give it a full four stars-- I just don't think it quite makes it. But it's not a three star read either. Can you tell I am conflicted?
There is a third installment to this sort of series called Prisoner of Heaven that I am very excited to read. I have heard great things about it.
One recommendation-- even though this book is sort of a prequel, if you are at all interested in reading anything by Zafon, please start with The Shadow of the Wind. It is a fabulous introduction to Zafon, his beautiful, gothic Barcelona, and The Cemetery of Forgotten Books. If you enjoy that one, definitely read this one next. If not, you won't be missing out by skipping this one altogether.
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