Angel game book

There is a duality woven throughout the story that I cannot quite reconcile but that I suspect is somewhat existential. View all 3 comments. Christina Dec 30, PM 1 vote. Dear fellow readers. I need help. I feel that David Martin has multiple personalities. I'm saying this because Inspector Grandes says "the brooch you've been talking about?

I've seen you wear it since the first time I met you" also this adds up because he has done all the money transactions and the order for the grave stone for himself because everything has Davids signature on it.

This was based in a time an age where the signature is important for such transactions. I think Corelli is a demon of David himself part of time that he was trying to resist.

All those people who died were either murdered by David himself or all those dead people are a part of his own mind. Also some of you were asking about Isabella's death. Well in the "Prisoner of Heaven" Fermin says that David completely lost his mind and started talking to imaginary people.

The scenes in the beach was probably all in Davids head when he was in prison. He was probably unaware most of the time that he is in fact in prison but in his mind he was in a hut in a beach writing books again. This is the best possible explanation that I can think of if any of you could share your thoughts about my theory I'd be more than glad.

Anitha Reghunathan But in Prisoner of Heaven, it is mentioned that David managed to flee the country for some time which matches the epilogue in Angel's Game , but wand But in Prisoner of Heaven, it is mentioned that David managed to flee the country for some time which matches the epilogue in Angel's Game , but wanders back in after losing his mind which results in him getting arrested.

The chronology is still confusing for me. Sugeiry Jul 14, AM 0 votes. In one Daniel marries by Which is when he is already about 22 or His father attends the wedding. But in the Angel's Game, Daniel's father dies and Daniel is proposing to Isabella and asking her to have babies and live together in the flat above the book shop.

Not jealous or anything. Anyway, contradictions between books. Wouldnt this make it different versions of the cementery of forgoten books in some aspects. Instead of prequels and sequels.

Aanjaneya Indir Nope. Father's name is David. Son's name is Daniel. I just finished reading the book and having read The shadow of the wind before, I have expected this story to be more realistic. I have two theories as of how the story can be viewed: 1st: David suffers from split personality disorder, at the same time living as himself, interacting with 'Corelli' - the character produced by his own imagination as well as Corelli and the whole story is basically him interactiong with himself.

To support my first theory, here are some details from the story: 1. Upbringing and buildup of David's character: experiencing traumatic childhood, his relationship with his father, who basically couldn't deal with him and wanted him dead - or at least David has remembered him like this, additionally his father being murdered in front of him.

Later on Vidal proposing to Cristina. I believe all the interactions with Corelli really began after the trauma of being abandoned by Christina and betrayed by Vidal.

Earlier the Chloe fantasy happening right after him being fired from the newspaper. In this manner his visions of Corelli, Chloe etc. Moments, when everything goes dark and the story stops: His publishers - he tells them: 'you will be dead in a week' and reflects that he does not know what made him say that.

When Isabella is assaulted by two attackers on the street and David comes to rescue, we first see it as them leaving the scene. However, when David returns home he notes he has blood on his face, later on we are told by Isabella's father that the same night two attackers had been beaten up at night on the streets.

Third is when he first discovers there is something behind the closet in the locked room that smells badly Last, when he finds that Cristina has escaped her room and her ties have been CUT Getting a second point of view: Inspector fact-checking David's story: telling him the doctors office has not existed for a long time, David, himself ordering a gravestone, the witch he talked to being mute, David not having an account with all the franks at Banco Hispanico.

Until inspector's side of the story, we do not really have any other point of view on all this events of course, inspector could have made everything up, but I doubt he would have a strong motive, he could have arrested or kill David anyway. Another person who offers us a second point of view is Barcelo telling David that Corelli is dead and the publishing company had burned down Marlasca also had traumatic experience after which he started to suffer from this delusions.

David could have easily adopt and internalise the story and suffering of Diego Marlasca. How did your opinion of Vidal shift throughout the novel? Does he redeem himself in chapter 22 act three? Describe someone whom you idolized early in your career who later proved to be untrustworthy.

How did you react to the revelations about Ricardo Salvador at the end of chapter 14 act three? Who are its winners? I very much enjoyed all the references to great books, and I loved looking for connections between Dickens's Great Expectations and the happenings in this novel.

In fact, the first pages of this book were completely enjoyable, and then came this descent into a pointless mystery with no resolution. Zafon's book will save no one, and he should take his own moral hint.

Three stars for David and Isabella's conversation and relationship, for my love for the bookseller, for the bits of humor sprinkled throughout, and for being a page turner even though I felt that the last page of the book would have been more honest if there had been a big old "Ha Ha!

Made you look! Spoiler alert:: having a character run away is just as poor an end to a story as having the character wake up and find everything was a dream. View all 8 comments. Jun 30, 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. View all 14 comments. Feb 28, Vince rated it it was amazing. Okay, I can finally accept that this isn't as perfect as"The Shadow of the Wind" and read it for what it is. Now that I've gotten that out of the way I can firmly say that I enjoyed this novel. Despite putting it aside a couple of times, the main mystery had me hooked and wanting to find out more.

I'm definitely going to check out more by the late author soon. May 15, Jonathan K rated it liked it. Rating 3. A period piece, its filled with surprises, romance and paranormal, while handfuls of mysteries unfold. The author paces the story nicely while deepening intrigue through other worldly references. Of all those mentioned, a benefactor is positioned with a quasi-Lucifer tone, though never completely fleshed out.

What seemed unusual was giving the protagonist a Western name David Martin while all othe Rating 3. What seemed unusual was giving the protagonist a Western name David Martin while all others were Spanish. The Epilogue is a bit of a cliff hanger alluding to the other stories that follow.

Of the many stories I've read that involve writers, this is one of the more unique ones. For those that enjoy mystical journeys in the nineteenth century, this is most definitely worth reading. View 1 comment. Aug 01, Melissa rated it really liked it. It's hard for me to review Zafon's work, because I love it so much. I see the flaws in this novel, it may be a bit too wordy and the plot becomes convoluted in the second half, but I still loved it. David Martin is a poor journalist writing pulp fiction on the side, but he dreams of doing something greater.

His gothic tales are so rich I am willing to forgive much that I would fault another author for. Zafon has a few themes he always returns to in his work: the relationships between fathers and sons, men falling in love women in a higher social class, references to classic novels Great Expectations, The Count of Monte Cristo , etc.

This novel is no exception and it includes all of those things. The most fascinating thing about this book is its ambiguity. For others Martin is clearly a victim of his own delusions, brought on by his brain tumor. This might be supported by the moment when David saves Isabella and then leaves her attackers in the alley.

He hears later that they were beaten with a pipe, just like the one he was carrying. So that indicates he might have done it but then blocked it out, Fight Club-style.

There are so many possibilities! Another indicator that Corelli really is the Devil, regardless of whether or not others can see him; the first author who lived in the Tower House went through the same thing David did.

And we see Christina go crazy and speak to an invisible person, which once again suggests that Corelli is there. He uses the madness as a weapon to get what he wants from people. Zafon is an author that should be savored. His novels are so full of his passion for both Barcelona and reading that I found myself wishing I could wander the city's streets after I put the book down.

I have a feeling my appreciation for it will deepen each time I return to it. View all 10 comments. Sep 21, TL rated it it was amazing Shelves: favorites. 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 will surely outlive him.

I almost thought I had done just that, as I walked back through the tunnels and corridors of the labyrinth, until I became aware of the book in my hands, like a parasite stuck to my skin. For a split second the idea crossed my mind that the book had a greater desire to leave the place than I did.

A wasteland of abandoned hats and dresses, suits and shoes that covered the silent streets. The engine gave off a trail of scarlet smoke that spread across the sky like spilled paint.

I can't say anything new than what I've said before but I will say it again This is the second book but all the events take place before 'Shadow of the Wind' Especially when you know what will happen to certain people and how it shaped their loved ones.

I am a patient reader. I can cope with ambiguity and digression. I enjoy ornate prose and the occasional serving of melodrama. I don't need each and every element of a plot spelled out for me. My overwhe I am a patient reader. My overwhelmingly positive experience of The Shadow of the Wind means that I really looked forward to reading this novel.

Set some twenty years before The Shadow of the Wind , it focuses on a young writer of sensationalist crime novels, David Martin, who is commissioned by a stranger to write a book and finds himself drawn into a nightmarish world where nothing is what it seems to be.

It starts out well. Ruiz Zafon creates a sinister, threatening atmosphere within the architectural splendour of Barcelona. David Martin is an interesting character, as is the main antagonist, who may or may not be view spoiler [Lucifer incarnate hide spoiler ].

There are discussions of religion, the importance of books and reading and the nature of love. However, it all falls apart at about the halfway point.

There's too much ambiguity and digression and too much melodrama. By the end, I had no idea what was going on and what's worse, I didn't much care. I listened to the audiobook edition which is very well narrated by Dan Stevens and it occurred to me that my loss of both focus and interest may not have occurred had I been reading the novel rather than listening to it.

But I'm not really convinced that's so. It's not as if the novel has nothing going for it. The prose is great, the translation by Lucia Graves is excellent at least, I assume it is, because it reads like a book written in English and the threatening, rather Gothic atmosphere Ruiz Zafon creates jump off the page. Four stars for these aspects of the novel and two for the messy, confusing and overblown plot leaves an average of three.

I'll definitely go on to read the third book in the series, The Prisoner of Heaven , if for no other reason than I'm hoping it will explain what this novel was all about.

Thank you to Jemidar for accompanying me on the journey. The fact that both of us were confused makes me feel better. Imagine a book that is a mystery with the sensibility of a gothic horror but is also a story about loyalty and friendships, and love and betrayal. How can one book be so many things and not feel like a gigantic mess? But it's not a direct sequel. It's a prequel but can very much b Imagine a book that is a mystery with the sensibility of a gothic horror but is also a story about loyalty and friendships, and love and betrayal.

It's a prequel but can very much be read as a standalone. I don't know how to explain the storyline other than to say I was entirely captivated. I never for one second knew where the plot would twist and turn to next. These are truly books for book-lovers. Whereas Shadow explored a love for books more from a reader's vantage this one touches on the love a writer has for the written word.

Normal people bring children into the world; we novelists bring books. We are condemned to put our whole lives into them, even though they hardly ever thank us for it. We are condemned to die in their pages and sometimes even to let our books be the ones who, in the end, will take our lives. The streets of Barcelona truly come alive in the pages of this book as do the colourful, larger than life characters who inhabit them.

My absolute favourite thing about this book was the relationship between David and Isabella. It was so gloriously written. They perfectly complimented each other in their roles as mentor and student and the true friendship that blossomed between them is one of the most beautiful connections between two people that I've ever read.

Admittedly this book doesn't quite reach the perfection of its published precursor as the ending is a little more hurried than I would like but it makes for an absolutely rip-roaring of a read. And reading this has made me incredibly excited to read book three in the series. View all 6 comments. This story took me on a journey and I absolutely sped through it all, wondering what would happen next.

Normally, I'm intimidated by books over pages because I hate committing to such a long story in my eyes , but I fell headfirst into this novel that is so intricate and mind-boggling, I keep questioning why someone hasn't adapted this into a film 4.

Normally, I'm intimidated by books over pages because I hate committing to such a long story in my eyes , but I fell headfirst into this novel that is so intricate and mind-boggling, I keep questioning why someone hasn't adapted this into a film yet.

It's practically made to be a movie with its large cast of characters backdropped in the darkest parts of Spain following an author who gets too deep into an opportunity that threatens his life and the lives of those around him. Carlos Ruiz Zafon leaves me in awe of his ability to paint a scene so vividly, playing with words like an instrument, causing me to highlight passage after passage because the way he structures his sentences is an absolute work of art that I can admire for hours.

While this story wasn't as intriguing, for me, as The Shadow of the Wind, that's not to say it wasn't absolutely amazing in its ability to be a wonderous historical fiction mixed with a psychological thriller. I'm so glad I finally picked this up because it quickly became one of my favorite reads of If only I had the ability and the craft to write a story as beautifully as Zafon did. May he rest in peace. Once more, Zafon takes his readers to a thrilling ride into a web of stories.

And any ride with Zafon is guaranteed to be breathtaking. In the Angel's Game, Zafon has again exhibited his specialty in leading his readers into a series of intricate stories. He makes sure his readers enter that labyrinth of events so engrossed that they would hardly feel that they have been sucked into it. But great Zafon makes sure that his readers come out of it safe.

He really has that talent of giving little une Once more, Zafon takes his readers to a thrilling ride into a web of stories. He really has that talent of giving little unexpected twists here and there while ending the whole story with one big unforeseen twist. The ride through the whole book is something to be cherished. He successfully puts his readers under his spell -- playing with their emotions through his sarcastic humor, manly ego, proud wit, writer's vanity, and pure friendship.

There is so much wisdom in Zafon's words, through Sempere the bookseller: "Every book has a soul, the soul of the person who wrote it, and of those who read it and dream about it. Readers also enjoyed. Videos About This Book.

More videos David hides the manuscript in the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, where he finds shelves of books telling a similar fable to his. Corelli arrives and returns Cristina to him in what he calls both a blessing and a curse, as David will have to watch Cristina grow old and die while he never ages. The guide themes, chapter outlines and character summaries are more detailed than other sites.

The information is chapter specific and so it's easy to target certain things. Access Full Guide Download Save. Featured Collections. Part 1, Chapters Part 2, Chapters Part 3, Chapters Part 3, Chapter Epilogue. Character Analysis. Important Quotes.