The Angel's Game
By
Carlos Ruiz ZafonDoubledayPublication Date: June 16, 2009
ISBN: 978-0385528702
“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 whomever cared to listen . . .”It's no secret that Carlos Ruiz Zafon's novel, T
he Shadow of the Wind, is by far one of
my favorite books of all time. The imagery, the language, the story - it was all beyond phenomenal. It's because of my adoration for the book, and the author, that I promptly went out to buy
The Angel's Game the week it came out. I was just that excited.
The Angel's Game, according to Zafon, isn't a prequel or a sequel, it's a stand-alone book that shares some of the same themes and characters from its predecessor. It can be read alone, however pairing it with Shadow.. gives the characters and places an added depth that's almost delicious at times.
The book is about David Martin, a writer in Barcelona during the early 1920's, who makes a living by penning thrillers under a pseudonym. Living alone in a dark manor that had been uninhabited for around 20 years, he realizes that the stories he writes might not be that fictional after all. In one of the rooms he finds photographs and remnants of the previous owner that haunt him, yet he doesn't know why. And all while struggling with an unobtainable love, Cristina, a girl he's known for years, he's approached by a mysterious editor from Paris who wishes to make a Faustian deal with David. With the editor, Andreas Corelli, David is to write a truly remarkable piece - one that will change the hearts and minds of all who read it. But as David writes the book, he finds that the secrets hidden within his house and his reclusive editor may have something in common.
In a truly dark and gothic tale of intrigue, adventure, murder and love, The Angel's Game is a book that shows the mystery of secrets, the magic of books, the power of passion and the necessity of friendship.
(To further visualize the book, listen to the
soundtrack)
Zafon compares his previous novel to a good girl, whereas this story is the wicked gothic stepsister. And he's right. Where Shadow... took us to a haunted part of Barcelona, it also gave us hope and love. Angel's Game brings us to to the same ancient Barcelona, only many years earlier, and brings the reader mystery, desperation, and power. It's not to say that there isn't hope and love; they're just not the main themes. And it's because of this that the book is a bit macabre.
I liked the book, a lot, however I didn't love it. I suppose my expectations were set too high. It's not to say this book isn't great, though. Zafon is one of the most brilliant writers of our time. His words are poetry, and descriptions phenomenal. Pre-war Barcelona felt like a place i've been at times. I know the characters, have seen the shops. If there's one thing Zafon can do, it's tell a good story. Each subplot has a reason, each character has a purpose. Like a spider, he lays down each line, creating a dazzling web of a story.
I loved the overall idea - how books can be part of you so much that they contain a little piece of your soul. I really enjoyed how the plot with him writing the grotesque story for his "boss," Andreas, matched with the story of the haunted house's previous owner. It was all quite chilling, much like the dark alleys and abandoned houses described on the pages.
I loved the Sempre men - a reference to the previous book. As owners of a book store David frequents, they set a friendly background to the tale. I also enjoyed the character of Isabella, David's assistant and protégé. Her energy, enthusiasm, and love were adorable and, like the Sempre men, greatly needed in such a dark book. I had a bit of a problem with Andreas. He's a phenomenal character, however his many diatribes were long and not entirely interesting. Related, David, although brilliantly crafted, wasn't entirely likable. And for me, that was a problem.
As was the ending. Much like the spoiled milk I accidentally drank while reading (true story), the ending of the book left a bad taste in my mouth. It wasn't as nicely wrapped up - questions were still out there, mysteries left unsolved.
I think my biggest problem, however, was the fantasy element. Angel's Game held a bit of a magical theme, one that flowed evenly though out the book. It worked well to give the book that eerie, mysterious feel, however it didn't feel right. I suppose I like the horror of the known more than the horror of the unreal. Although the element was well crafted, it wasn't my favorite part of the book. And, like the ending, it wasn't entirely explained.
Overall, aside from my complaints, I did enjoy it. As mentioned, Zafon has the masterful ability to tell a dazzling tale that sticks with you, flowing through your bloodstream to the point that you have to escape the book at times so it doesn't take over. I'll never be able to get over the brilliance of his wording and phrasing. He knows how to create a story, a mood, a theme exceptionally well. I definitely look forward to the next book Zafon writes and will still hold Shadow... in my heart as one of the best books of my time.
...from
a note by Zafron regarding the book:
The Angel's Game has many games inside, one of them with the reader. It is a book designed to make you step into the storytelling process and become a part of it. In other words, the wicked, gothic chick wants your blood. Beware. Maybe, without realizing, I ended up writing a monster book after all...Don't say I didn't warn you, courageous reader...
Now don't you want to read it?
Click
here for an excerpt of the first chapter
Click
here for the book's official site where you can find its trailer, soundtrack, Q&A, some additional writings by the author and more.