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The Angel's Game |  | Author: Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Creator: Lucia Graves
Publisher: Doubleday
Category: Book
List Price: $26.95
Buy Used: $8.99
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Seller: ethicalchanges
Rating:  185 reviews
Sales Rank: 2813
Media: Hardcover
Edition: First Edition
Pages: 544
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2
Dimensions (in): 9.6 x 6.4 x 1.4
ISBN: 0385528701
Dewey Decimal Number: 863.64
EAN: 9780385528702
ASIN: 0385528701
Publication Date: June 16, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| • | ISBN13: 9780385528702 | | • | Condition: NEW | | • | Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark. |
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Amazon.com Review
Book Description
From master storyteller Carlos Ruiz Zafón, author of the international phenomenon The Shadow of the Wind, comes The Angelâs Game--a dazzling new page-turner about the perilous nature of obsession, in literature and in love.
âThe 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...â In an abandoned mansion at the heart of Barcelona, a young man, David MartÃn, makes his living by writing sensationalist novels under a pseudonym. The survivor of a troubled childhood, he has taken refuge in the world of books and spends his nights spinning baroque tales about the cityâs underworld. But perhaps his dark imaginings are not as strange as they seem, for in a locked room deep within the house lie photographs and letters hinting at the mysterious death of the previous owner. Like a slow poison, the history of the place seeps into his bones as he struggles with an impossible love. Close to despair, David receives a letter from a reclusive French editor, Andreas Corelli, who makes him the offer of a lifetime. He is to write a book unlike anything that has ever existed--a book with the power to change hearts and minds. In return, he will receive a fortune, and perhaps more. But as David begins the work, he realizes that there is a connection between his haunting book and the shadows that surround his home. Once again, Zafón takes us into a dark, gothic universe first seen in The Shadow of the Wind and creates a breathtaking adventure of intrigue, romance, and tragedy. Through a dizzingly constructed labyrinth of secrets, the magic of books, passion, and friendship blend into a masterful story.
Carlos Ruiz Zafón on The Angel's Game
 Years ago, when I began working on my fifth novel, The Shadow of the Wind, I started toying around with the idea of creating a fictional universe that would be articulated through four interconnected stories in which we would meet some of the same characters at different times in their lives, and see them from different perspectives where many plots and subplots would tie around in knots for the reader to untie. It sounds somewhat pretentious, but my idea was to add a twist to the story and provide the reader with what I hoped would be a stimulating and playful reading experience. Since these books were, in part, about the world of literature, books, reading and language, I thought it would be interesting to use the different novels to explore those themes through different angles and to add new layers to the meaning of the stories.
At first I thought this could be done in one book, but soon I realized it would make Shadow of the Wind a monster novel, and in many ways, destroy the structure I was trying to design for it. I realized I would have to write four different novels. They would be stand-alone stories that could be read in any order. I saw them as a Chinese box of stories with four doors of entry, a labyrinth of fictions that could be explored in many directions, entirely or in parts, and that could provide the reader with an additional layer of enjoyment and play. These novels would have a central axis, the idea of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, set against the backdrop of a highly stylized, gothic and mysterious Barcelona. Since each novel was going to be complex and difficult to write, I decided to take one at a time and see how the experiment evolved on its own in an organic way. It all sounds very complicated, but it is not. At the end of the day, these are just stories that share a universe, a tone and some central themes and characters. You donât need to care or know about any of this stuff to enjoy them. One of the fun things about this process was it allowed me to give each book a different personality. Thus, if Shadow of the Wind is the nice, good girl in the family, The Angelâs Game would be the wicked gothic stepsister. Some readers often ask me if The Angelâs Game is a prequel or a sequel. The answer is: none of these things, and all of the above. Essentially The Angelâs Game is a new book, a stand-alone story that you can fully enjoy and understand on its own. But if you have already read The Shadow of the Wind, or you decide to read it afterwards, youâll find new meanings and connections that I hope will enhance your experience with these characters and their adventures. The Angelâs 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... Donât say I didnât warn you, courageous reader. Iâll see you on the other side. --Carlos Ruiz Zafón (Photo © Isolde Ohlbaum)
Product Description
From master storyteller Carlos Ruiz Zafon, author of the international phenomenon The Shadow of the Wind, comes The Angelâs Game â a dazzling new page-turner about the perilous nature of obsession, in literature and in love.
The whole of Barcelona stretched out at my feet and I wanted to believe that when I opened those windows â my new windows â each evening its streets would whisper stories to me, secrets in my ear, that I could catch on paper and narrate to whomever cared to listenâ¦
In an abandoned mansion at the heart of Barcelona, a young man, David Martin, makes his living by writing sensationalist novels under a pseudonym. The survivor of a troubled childhood, he has taken refuge in the world of books and spends his nights spinning baroque tales about the cityâs underworld. But perhaps his dark imaginings are not as strange as they seem, for in a locked room deep within the house lie photographs and letters hinting at the mysterious death of the previous owner.
Like a slow poison, the history of the place seeps into his bones as he struggles with an impossible love. Close to despair, David receives a letter from a reclusive French editor, Andreas Corelli, who makes him the offer of a lifetime. He is to write a book unlike anything that has ever existed â a book with the power to change hearts and minds. In return, he will receive a fortune, and perhaps more. But as David begins the work, he realizes that there is a connection between his haunting book and the shadows that surround his home.
Once again, Zafon takes us into a dark, gothic universe first seen in The Shadow of the Wind and creates a breathtaking adventure of intrigue, romance, and tragedy. Through a dizzyingly constructed labyrinth of secrets, the magic of books, passion, and friendship blend into a masterful story.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 185
 The Angel's Game: only okay March 5, 2010
K. Flegal (Herndon, VA USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Zafon's "The Angel's Game" is beautifully written, although I stopped noticing after the first few chapters. Whether the allure of the language is due to Zafon's skill or the translator's (the book was originally written in Spanish)--or more likely, a combination of the two--is unclear. However, the plot--which wasn't cohesive enough to keep me up at night--soon took over. The characters didn't feel especially strong to me, and even the main character seemed one-dimensional. Perhaps the translator lost the essences of the people, but based on the story itself, this seems unlikely.
"The Angel's Game" is the story of...well, I'm not sure. It's about David Martin, a young man living in Barcelona who writes a book at the behest of "the boss" (the eponymous angel). It's never clear why the boss wants the book written. Oh, it's explained, but not to my satisfaction. The reasoning felt manufactured, which, while not unforgivable, made much of the plot implausible. This deus ex machina left me feeling that the story's premise was forced. Anyway, Martin's life begins to parallel that of the boss's previous...er, employee?...and Martin looks for a way out of his commitment to the book he's writing. With no luck, as it turns out; both the book and the boss now have a hold on Martin's soul. Now a suspect in several murders, Martin mus solve the mystery of who the boss is, what he is up to, and how it's taking over his own life. As the book progresses, much blood is spilled, many characters are killed, and those who survive become less and less distinguishable from each other.
Most reviewers have declared this book "a page turner" and the like, but I have to disagree. The only reason I finished reading it is that I wanted to find out if the ending redeemed the rest of the book. Sadly, I found that it didn't. From the beginning, I loved the book. The first part enchanted me. From there, I became less interested in the story, until finally, I was forcing myself to keep going. I wanted to see if the end of the book made up for the middle, and it didn't. After enough of the characters die, it feels like the remaining ones have less motivation for their actions.
Oddly, I think I might try to read Zafon's previous book, "The Shadow of the Wind". From reading reviews, it sounds like this might be a more enjoyable read, and it might clear up some of my confusion/displeasure with "The Angel's Game".
See more of my reviews at thebookjunkie.org.
 A Haunting Tale February 8, 2010
Aidan Moher (British Columbia, Canada)
"Certainly the best novel I've read this year, The Shadow of the Wind may very well be my favourite novel I've ever read. Zafon's haunting tale of love, lust, revenge and friendship has everything I could want from a novel and more. It's not often that a novel can actually live up to the hype surrounding it; it's even less often when a novel can surpass that hype, but that is exactly what The Shadow of the Wind accomplished. I eagerly await the English translation of El Juego del Angel."
So ended my review of The Shadow of the Wind by Spanish author Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Strong words, but sounding no less true from where I sit now, months removed from writing them. In fact, my opinion of the novel has only grown, as I look back on it and reminisce - there's no quibbling about it anymore, The Shadow of the Wind is my favourite novel, by a fair margin.
So where does that put me now, having finished that novel I was so eagerly referring to in the first review? I've read The Angel's Game (the English title of El Juego del Angel), and have had to sit for weeks, letting my thoughts coalesce into something that I can define coherently enough to call it a review.
Where The Shadow of the Wind drew on Zafon's background as a writer of Young Adult fiction - full of wonder and adventure; brimming with caricatures and humour; full of that undefinable feeling of growing up - The Angel's Game is a very adult novel. Where The Shadow of the Wind watched a young boy grow up, The Angel's Game is all about a grown man and his gut-wrenching spiral into the darkest parts of human emotion. There's humour to be found, and light moments in the narrative (especially between David Martin, the narrator, and a young girl named Isabella, who fans of The Shadow of the Wind might recognize), but its achingly obvious, like two friends trying to cover up a painful memory with awkward small talk. Zafon's ability to capture the subtleties of human emotion is startling.
"Lucia Graves (daughter of Robert Graves, poet) deserves all the accolades in the world. The rambling prose is buttery smooth, and simply a joy to read. Zafon's control over language, description and character is preserved by Graves and I can't imagine how the novel could be any better even in its native language."
Another quote from my review of The Shadow of the Wind, and one that remains perfectly valid. Once again, Lucia Graves has provided a beautiful rendition of Zafon's original text, and I can think of few novels that are more readable than The Angel's Game. The pages melt away, and, even in this age of distraction, I found myself forgetting completely about the outside world.
Unlike its predecessor, The Angel's Game expects a bit of work on the part of the reader. Zafon weaves a tale full of characters with shadowy intentions and plays with the idea of what it means to be narrator of one's own story. This all ends in a poignantly frustrating ending, that is sure to leave book clubs arguing for many years to come. Some people may be put off by an ending that throws the whole narrative into question, but I've found myself still pondering the novel, weeks after having finished it, constantly examining all the little clues hidden in the narrative.
Then there is the narrator and protagonist himself, David Martin; a lesson in frustration and dishonesty, a man struggling to discover his place in the world and trying to maintain a grasp on keeping afloat amongst the chaos. Though not as empathetic and likable as Daniel Sempere (protagonist and narrator of The Shadow of the Wind), Martin's skewed view of of the events in the novel lend a more literary tone to the narrative and overall arc of the story. Zafon plays wonderfully with the idea of a reader inherently trusting the narrator, and manages to keep Martin enigmatic to the very end, despite the story being told in his own words.
I think the most accurate and honest thing I can say about Zafon's novels is that despite the fact that they sell millions of copies worldwide, and hit every bestseller list imaginable, when I'm reading them they still feel like my little secret - just me and the novel, a world that exists only in my hands.
It's hard not to use superlatives when talking about Carlos Ruiz Zafon and his novels. The Angel's Game had lofty expectations thrust upon it, but somehow, despite not quite reaching the heights of its predecessor, managed to reach up and grasp its potential. Does it supplant The Shadow of the Wind as my favourite novel? No. Does it fall into my top 10? Probably not. Is it the best book I've read this year? Without a doubt.
Angel's Game - Hard cover February 8, 2010
Brian Nadata (Long Island, NY)
Loved it and bought it for my son. One of the great lyrical novelists.The Angel's GameCame within the predicted time.
Shadowy Barcelona Again January 28, 2010
F. J. Masterman
In this book, the author returns us again to Barcelona, as he did in Shadow of the Wind, and again the world of books is the context in which the characters live and the plot moves forward. The return of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books is a most intriguing facet, and perhaps Zafon will return to it in future works. There is so much mystery in the strange place that it would seem to afford an endless supply of unusual, disturbing themes for any number of novels. The Angel's Game is a story far more shadowy than Shadow of the Wind, with a sinister character hovering on the sidelines and manipulating the action, pulling the protagonist ever deeper into his coils. Dark themes of the supernatural waft through the pages, as reality merges with unreality, at times confusing the reader, but in a way that displays the author's literary skills. The relentless series of misfortunes which befall the protagonist are mesmerizing in the way the author presents them, even though at times it feels like the reader is reading/watching the details of a train wreck unfold before her or his eyes. Though the overall effect of the book was disturbing to me, it was a delight to read the work of such a skilled author, and I recommend it without hesitation. My wife read it also and did not have quite the unsettling reaction I did, and also thoroughly enjoyed it. All in all, an excellent read!
A new one on my list of favorite authors... January 23, 2010
CoffeeGurl (MA)
The first half of twentieth century Barcelona comes alive as the mystery around David Martin unfolds. Martin has always loved books. His father, an illiterate, disapproves of his son's passion for reading, so much so that he beats his child if he so much as brings a book home. That hadn't stopped Martin from becoming not only a reader, but a writer. Great Expectations is his favorite book. If only an unknown benefactor would come along and change his life forever...
He begins his career writing pulp fiction for a newspaper. Then, with the help of Vidal, his mentor, he moves on to write a series of gothic mysteries called The City of the Damned. Unsatisfied with writing penny dreadfuls under a pseudonym, he begins to work on a literary novel at the same time as he ghostwrites Vidal's effort. Things take an unexpected turn after Martin buys an abandoned house and agrees to write a prophetic type of religious book for the mysterious Corellis. Has he finally been offered his Great Expectations? Well, not exactly, to say the least. A shattered romance, a broken friendship, and a teenage runaway invading his home are the least of his problems as he becomes entangled in a whirlwind of bizarre occurrences worse than anything he ever wrote in his serialized novels.
The Angel's Game takes place in the same world as The Shadow of the Wind. The Sempere and Sons bookshop is in this story, as well as The Cemetery of Forgotten Books. This is a prequel of sorts, but the story itself is a standalone. You don't have to read The Shadow of the Wind before this one if you don't want to. This novel, like its predecessor, is a total page-turner. The narrative carries the story beautifully, and I absolutely love the dialogue. Early twentieth century Barcelona comes alive with the rich descriptions and gothic atmosphere. Martin is a dark and brooding character -- the typical eccentric writer whose work is unappreciated to the point of being obsolete. The secondary characters are great and they all play an important role in the story. However, the story kind of falls part during the second half of the book. There are too many deaths, unexpected twists, scenes with magic realism, and bits and pieces of information that made the story seem somewhat fragmented. I don't know if something was lost in the translation, but I was confused during a large portion of the second half of the book. There are no in-between segments that allow the reader to catch their breath. In short, there's too much going on. Other than that, I loved this book. I couldn't put it down. I actually like it more than The Shadow of the Wind. And like its predecessor, it is a book about books, my favorite sort of novel. Ruiz Zafon is on my list of favorite new authors and I look forward to his next installment.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 185
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