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I've been having a foreign affair
(evidence to the left), and what a ride.
It goes to show just how important it is
for books to be translated and shared around the world, because these three are
great.
This post is about my favourite one
though, Carlos Ruiz Zafon's, The Angel's Game.
Where do I start with this book? It's one
of the few books I've read that doesn't fit into a given genre. It is
thrilling, sexy, frightening and spooky, in equal measure. It is pacey, has
excellent and very memorable characters; there is love and loss, and all
wrapped up in the atmospheric backdrop of early twentieth century Barcelona.
So, where better to read a book that is
set in the fair city of Barcelona, than Barcelona!
No I didn't arrange my summer holiday
around my reading habits, (I'm not that sad), but I did wait for Barcelona
before I started the book, and it added to the experience.
The novel follows the life the loves, the
ups and downs, of the main character, David Martin, as he fights his way out of
poverty, start to write under a pseudonym, fall desperately ill, only to be
saved by the mysterious Senor Corelli, with a book deal to end all book deals: One
hundred thousand Francs, for a single book to be written over a twelve month
period. (I'm still waiting for my letter, Senor Corelli).
The deal is struck and Martin's illness wanes,
but there is skulduggery abound. His previous employers are killed in an arson
attack, his beloved Cristina, is betrothed to another, (his benefactor) only
to be driven to despair and . . . (no spoilers here I'm afraid). His muse, a
young girl by the name of Isabella, is thrust upon him one night, and I couldn't tell whether she was going to be a distraction, a love interest, or
fill his world with further anguish!!
A shockingly good read then, and all the better
I think for being the middle book in a three book series, that was so good as a
stand-alone novel, that I didn't realise it had a prequel and a sequel, until
after I'd read it.
As near to a five star book as I've got
this year and I feel certain that it will be in my top five books of 2016.
Highly recommended
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