The Angel's Game

Reason for Reading: I had heard great things about Zafon's first book and the mysterious plot of this one intrigued me. It has taken me a long time to get around to reading it though as the book was so heavily reviewed at the time of its publication I kind of got tired of hearing about it and lost my desire to read it, however the time was now right for me.

Not having read "The Shadow of the Wind", I cannot compare the two books. Many others say that the first is much better. This is a very intriguing story; dark, mysterious and Gothic in all the perfect ways: an old creepy house with a tower, a gruesome death from the past, an unrequited love story, a mysterious man in dark, expensive suits and a perpetual atmosphere of gloom. I really enjoyed the story, though I found it slow-going. The pace meandered along and while things became strange and spooky, they never reached intensity for me. It was not a page turner. The magical realism elements added quite an entirely new perspective to a story which could have been written straight without the supernatural involvement for a tale of mystery and madness. I did enjoy the book but I'm afraid I never did really "get" the meaning of the plot, the overall theme. I thought I had it all figured out quite early, that this was the story of a man who had sold his soul to the devil, and part of me still believes that but by the ending I felt that had been disproved and it left me unsatisfied. It could also be the story of a man's descent into madness but again the ending can disprove that theory too. The ending blew my general grasp of the story out of the water and I finished up with a big "huh?" and a question mark hanging over my head as to what it all meant. But then the whole story is told by an unreliable narrator and the ending leaves one wondering what, if anything, was the reality. A very strange story but I can say I'm glad I read it. I will read the author again; I just won't expect the ending to answer any questions.

A wonderful story, written from a male perspective. Includes the necessary amounts of intrigue, brutality, suspense, love and hate.

As per most novels it takes a few chapters to familiarize oneself with the characters and the flow but thereafter it's tough to put the book down. An added benefit is the story based in a part of the world I don't know anything about...Barcelona, Spain. The writers description of the various areas and buildings intrigued me. I will, as a result of this read, visit before I die.

The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. I confess, I was drawn to this book because of its cover. What reader could resist a cover that looks like this? It actually took me quite a while to read this book (well, a while in my world which is less than a week). It was a complex story which, at times, I struggled to understand. Even by the end of the book, I think I missed things. In fact, I think I may have been unfair to the book by taking a break from it and reading other books. If I didn't have so many books on my To Be Read list, I would actually sit down and read it again. But, with so many new books to explore, I know that I won't revisit it. So, while I only enjoyed the book, I think it was well written and a very interesting story. In one part of the book, the main character visits a place where all the forgotten books of the world are kept. Just imagine that for a moment. How a reader would love to get lost in there!

I didn't think Zafon would be able to come close to topping the Shadow of the Wind, but I was completley wrong- he came close. . Though I still love the first book, this book blew me away. It took a few chapters to really get into this book, but pretty soon I couldn't put it down. Every page I was anticipating and nervous, and dreading the fact that with every turn I was getting closer to the end.

I definitely recommend it to anyone and everyone looking for a good, thrilling read.

another great story by zafon!

I loved this book as much as I loved Zafon’s “The Shadow of the Wind”. Reading “The Angel’s Game” is like stepping into a gothic fantasy of mystery...where you never know what’s going to peek out from the dark. Zafon manages to make anything possible and all things believable. Following David Martin through the streets of Barcelona never grows old. Zafon has the ability to weave a fairytale that never disappoints. And just when you think you might have it figured out...you don’t. I loved the fantasy world this book took me into...the dark side of angels...and the redeeming importance what is good and right. No wonder this book is accused of being the fastest selling book in the history of Spanish publishing.

I really enjoyed this book. It's been a while since I've read a book with this kind of story line --- I couldn't put the book down. The story was really good and the writer is amazing. I haven't yet read The Shadow of the Wind, but after getting half way through this book, I decided I liked this writer and must get his 1st book. So I did. I am really looking forward to reading that book next! This book is definately worth reading! Very well written --- it would make a great movie!

Translated from Spanish by Lucia Graves.

I loved Zafon's breakaway bestseller novel The Shadow of the Wind and have eagerly awaited the release of The Angel's Game from Random House Canada.

David Martin is raised in poverty in Barcelona in the early 1900's. Orphaned, his love of words is what saves him. The owner of a bookstore - Sempere and Sons - also plays a significant role in his life. David lands a position at a newspaper and over the years works his way up to being a writer. He is befriended by a wealthy, older writer - Don Pedro Vidal - and begins writing successful, sensationalistic fiction under a pseudonym. When a mysterious French publisher, Corelli, offers him a small fortune to write a book that Corelli thinks will change the course of a belief system, he leaps at the chance. David moves into a small mansion that has been shuttered for years and begins to write. But Corelli is not what he seems and David's new home has secrets that threaten to consume him and those he loves.

The Angel's Game is intriguing, combining subtle supernatural elements with an actual mystery. It has a very gothic feel to it. There are many twists and turns, that change the story and keep you glued to the edge of your seat. Obsession is a theme running throughout the book - with love and language. David's love of Cristina - Vidal's wife and the written word are captured by Zafon's prose. His language is beautiful, seizing settings and bringing them to life. I could taste the dust in the bookstore.

The Cemetery of Lost Books plays a part in The Angel's Game as well. For those who haven't read The Shadow of the Wind, here's a passage that absolutely captivated me:

" 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 it's pages, it's 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 readers hands, a new spirit..."

The ending is another one that I think will gender discussion. It is definitive, but may not necessarily be the one you saw coming.

Although Angel's Game and Shadow have connections, it is not necessary to have read Shadow to enjoy this new book. There are four books planned around The Cemetary of Lost Books - each able to be read as a 'stand alone.'

I really enjoyed The Angel's Game. Zafon's way of setting up and describing a scene is like no other. You feel like you're actually in Barcelona and, perhaps, even know the characters personally. His way of storytelling is quite captivating. The various techniques he uses to build characters and plot are facinating and enticing. As with 'Shadow of the Wind', Zafon makes you care about the characters - good or evil - and interested to find out their fate. The twists and turns of the story made the book a page-turner for me. Just as I did with 'Shadow', I'll be recommending 'The Angel's Game' to all the readers I know.

I fell in love with Mr. Zafons first book "The Shadow of the wind". After I finished, I actually mourned the characters, not having them in my life. I have re read it numerous times.
The Angels Game was beautifully written, I didn't attach myself so much with this books characters, but I would highly recomend this book as well as his first (which I do ). His use of words can only be described as "Magical" Anyone who has a love of words will enjoy this book. Fantastic!!

I was underwhelmed by The Angel's Game, as in many ways it was a rewrite of The Shadow of the Wind. His characters tend to be caricatural and his techniques in creating suspense are heavy-handed.