You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
This, the second novel Zafon wrote, is very obviously just that...a second novel. The storyline is much more involved than the first novel (Prince of Mist), but the writing was juvenile in areas and the characters were unbelieveable.
However, you can catch periodic glimpses of the brilliance Zafon later attains, with text so beautifully constructed it gives you goosebumps. I think a excerpt will illustrate better than anything I could write...
"This morning, as I sit writing the last words of this memoir in the early light of dawn, the first snow of the year has spread its white mantle before my window and the memory of Ben has come back to me, after all these years, like the echo of a whisper. I imagine him walking in the crowds, through the fevered streets of Calcutta, among a thousand untold stories such as his own, and for the first time I realize that my friend, like me, is now an old man, and that his journey is about to complete its circle. It is so strange to think how life has slipped through our fingers..."
However, you can catch periodic glimpses of the brilliance Zafon later attains, with text so beautifully constructed it gives you goosebumps. I think a excerpt will illustrate better than anything I could write...
"This morning, as I sit writing the last words of this memoir in the early light of dawn, the first snow of the year has spread its white mantle before my window and the memory of Ben has come back to me, after all these years, like the echo of a whisper. I imagine him walking in the crowds, through the fevered streets of Calcutta, among a thousand untold stories such as his own, and for the first time I realize that my friend, like me, is now an old man, and that his journey is about to complete its circle. It is so strange to think how life has slipped through our fingers..."
Week 46 of the 2015 Reading Challenge: A Book in Another Language. Meaning it could be in something other than English or originally written in another language and translated to English. Since my foreign language skills are nill, I chose one translated to English.
This book was one I picked up at one of the ALA conferences I tagged along with my sister to visit. It was surprisingly good! It was an interesting story and a very quick read. I enjoyed it more than most books I've read lately.
This book was one I picked up at one of the ALA conferences I tagged along with my sister to visit. It was surprisingly good! It was an interesting story and a very quick read. I enjoyed it more than most books I've read lately.
Loved the writing and the atmosphere created in this book, but unfortunately I found the story as well as the characters a bit lacking.
Gostei da história, mas o facto do vilão ser óbvio deixou-me triste. Esperava um pouco mais deste livro para dizer a verdade porque o primeiro foi realmente bom, deliciou-me. Gostei imenso das personagens, é fácil uma pessoa gostar delas, não são irritantes que ficam ali a calcar o nervo, são agradáveis. Mas lá está, podia ter havido mais qualquer coisa. O cenário é fantástico, o mistério estava lá, a escrita continua espetacular como sempre e só por estes aspetos merecia 4 estrelas, mas não consigo dá-las uma vez que o impacto da história não foi tão grande como o d'O Príncipe da Neblina. Agora venha o último, espero que seja ainda melhor.
lighthearted
fast-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not his best book, felt more like practice for what would be his most famous saga Shadow of the Wind, and I suppose it is because it has a lot of the same elements he uses in most of his stories just really unpolished. Of course I know it his first book it's not supposed to be perfect I just came into it expecting more.
3* nebo 3,5*
Kniha s dětskými protagonisty, která ale není moc pro děti. Leda pro puberťáky, menší děti by toho nemuseli moc pochopit, protože v knize je velká dávka zahořklosti k životu.
Dobrodružný román se silnou horrorovou linkou a překvapivě i prvky psychologického románu. Právě to poslední dělá z knihy dost zvláštní úkaz.
Zafónův styl mám ráda, ale v této knize používal hodně neobratných metafor. Takové básnické prostředky bych čekala od něčí prvotiny a ejhle, tohle je vskutku jeho teprve druhý román. Nicméně Kníže z mlhy se mi nezdál tak stylově neohrabaný, ale ten byl také akčnější. V paláci se Zafón pokusil o umělečtější přístup, ale nepovedl se.
Kladem jsou opět temné a akční sekvence. Zápletka je ještě temnější a více nervy drásající, než v Knížeti, dáno především tím, kdo je záporák.
Nevím, jestli to mám vnímat jako klad nebo zápor, protože nevím, jestli to (ne)byl autorův záměr, ale čtenář odhalí skutečnost zlouna podstatně rychleji, než postavy. Minimálně ho zarazí jistá podobnost, ale víc neřeknu, to už bych prozradila až moc.
Zajímavý je epilog, tam, kde většina dobrodružných knih pro děti a mládež končí aspoň trochu nadějně. Minimálně s tím, že hrdinové mají pokoj a už se jim nic nestane po dalších pár hodin, tak si spolu třeba zajdou na svačinu. Zafón své postavy postaví před děsivé nebezpečí nadpřirozené, aby je pak konfrontoval s ledovým chladem nemilosrdné reality, která nešetří ani dospívající hrdiny. Literárně-teoreticky je to zajímavé, ale právě epilog je cílen na vyspělého čtenáře.
Kniha s dětskými protagonisty, která ale není moc pro děti. Leda pro puberťáky, menší děti by toho nemuseli moc pochopit, protože v knize je velká dávka zahořklosti k životu.
Dobrodružný román se silnou horrorovou linkou a překvapivě i prvky psychologického románu. Právě to poslední dělá z knihy dost zvláštní úkaz.
Zafónův styl mám ráda, ale v této knize používal hodně neobratných metafor. Takové básnické prostředky bych čekala od něčí prvotiny a ejhle, tohle je vskutku jeho teprve druhý román. Nicméně Kníže z mlhy se mi nezdál tak stylově neohrabaný, ale ten byl také akčnější. V paláci se Zafón pokusil o umělečtější přístup, ale nepovedl se.
Kladem jsou opět temné a akční sekvence. Zápletka je ještě temnější a více nervy drásající, než v Knížeti, dáno především tím, kdo je záporák.
Nevím, jestli to mám vnímat jako klad nebo zápor, protože nevím, jestli to (ne)byl autorův záměr, ale čtenář odhalí skutečnost zlouna podstatně rychleji, než postavy. Minimálně ho zarazí jistá podobnost, ale víc neřeknu, to už bych prozradila až moc.
Zajímavý je epilog, tam, kde většina dobrodružných knih pro děti a mládež končí aspoň trochu nadějně. Minimálně s tím, že hrdinové mají pokoj a už se jim nic nestane po dalších pár hodin, tak si spolu třeba zajdou na svačinu. Zafón své postavy postaví před děsivé nebezpečí nadpřirozené, aby je pak konfrontoval s ledovým chladem nemilosrdné reality, která nešetří ani dospívající hrdiny. Literárně-teoreticky je to zajímavé, ale právě epilog je cílen na vyspělého čtenáře.
1/5 ⭐️
Ho letto questo libro per la prima volta quando avevo 14 anni e lo avevo adorato! Quest'anno ho deciso di rileggere alcuni libri che durante la mia adolescenza mi avevano segnato come lettrice e il libro in questione era nella lista.
Sfortunatamente non ha soddisfatto le mie aspettative perché in questo libro ci sono più cose negative che positive.
L'unica cosa positiva è l'ambientazione che trovo molto originale, poiché ambientata a Calcutta durante gli anni '30: non sono mai stata in quel luogo e tutte le descrizioni, suppongo accurate, mi hanno trasportato nel mondo descritto dall'autore.
Le cose negative, invece, sono parecchie.
-- I PERSONAGGI sono decisamente troppi e facilmente confondibili. A parte Ben, Sheere e la nonna, il resto dei membri della Società sono facilmente dimenticabili e loro è associata una caratteristica: l'essere l'unica femmina, saper disegnare, quello che ruba ecc... L'ho trovato abbastanza stupido e per quanti ami libri con un grande cast di personaggi, bisogna anche saperli gestire. L'autore non lo fa molto bene perché spesso non sapevo dire chi era chi o quale fosse la sua caratteristica.
-- LA STORIA è assurda! Non si capisce nulla di molte cose, e tutta la seconda parte del romanzo è decisamente noisa. Il plotwist finale si era capito fin dall'inziio quando viene introdotto il personaggio del padre con il suo nome intero ed è bastato concentrarsi un minimo sulla prima parte per capire tutto. La parte 'fantasy' è spiegata più che male e senza fare alcuno spoiler, il cattivo della situazione e come viene spiegato il perché è ''il cattivo'' è un insulto da moltissimi punti di vista.
-- LE TEMATICHE quali sono esattamente? Non ho trovato tematiche importanti e l'unica che poteva esserlo è stata ignorata e trattata in modo negativo, almeno dal mio punto di vista.
Consiglio questo libro? Decisamente no.
Ho letto questo libro per la prima volta quando avevo 14 anni e lo avevo adorato! Quest'anno ho deciso di rileggere alcuni libri che durante la mia adolescenza mi avevano segnato come lettrice e il libro in questione era nella lista.
Sfortunatamente non ha soddisfatto le mie aspettative perché in questo libro ci sono più cose negative che positive.
L'unica cosa positiva è l'ambientazione che trovo molto originale, poiché ambientata a Calcutta durante gli anni '30: non sono mai stata in quel luogo e tutte le descrizioni, suppongo accurate, mi hanno trasportato nel mondo descritto dall'autore.
Le cose negative, invece, sono parecchie.
-- I PERSONAGGI sono decisamente troppi e facilmente confondibili. A parte Ben, Sheere e la nonna, il resto dei membri della Società sono facilmente dimenticabili e loro è associata una caratteristica: l'essere l'unica femmina, saper disegnare, quello che ruba ecc... L'ho trovato abbastanza stupido e per quanti ami libri con un grande cast di personaggi, bisogna anche saperli gestire. L'autore non lo fa molto bene perché spesso non sapevo dire chi era chi o quale fosse la sua caratteristica.
-- LA STORIA è assurda! Non si capisce nulla di molte cose, e tutta la seconda parte del romanzo è decisamente noisa. Il plotwist finale si era capito fin dall'inziio quando viene introdotto il personaggio del padre con il suo nome intero ed è bastato concentrarsi un minimo sulla prima parte per capire tutto. La parte 'fantasy' è spiegata più che male e senza fare alcuno spoiler, il cattivo della situazione e come viene spiegato il perché è ''il cattivo'' è un insulto da moltissimi punti di vista.
-- LE TEMATICHE quali sono esattamente? Non ho trovato tematiche importanti e l'unica che poteva esserlo è stata ignorata e trattata in modo negativo, almeno dal mio punto di vista.
Consiglio questo libro? Decisamente no.
Boy does this guy know horror! He is the Stephen King for young adults. Set in India in the 1930s, this is the story of orphan twins who are pursed by a family curse. With the help of a group of friends Ben and Sheere must solve the mystery of their father's past and face the horrible creature that wants them dead.
Carlos Ruiz Zafon’s author note in The Midnight Palace states that the novel is the second in a series, but nowhere does it say what it is a sequel to, or which series it makes up. (NB: I am still clueless about this). Judging from its blurb, the story looked relatively well contained, and so I decided to go ahead and read it anyway. The book is billed as a ghost story – to be more precise, as ‘a haunting story for the young, and the young at heart’ – and I suppose it is one of sorts, but as it is aimed within the young adult market, any suspense or creepiness which Zafon is quite capable of building up feels lost in the slightly cushioned choice of genre.
The Midnight Palace begins in 1916 and takes Calcutta as its setting. The Midnight Palace of the book’s title is an abandoned mansion, where seven boys from an orphanage meet. The sense of place is well drawn throughout, and the first few pages – and, indeed, the blurb – definitely hold intrigue: '1916, Calcutta. A man pauses for breath outside the ruins of Jheeter’s Gate station knowing he has only hours to live. Pursued by assassins, he must ensure the safety of two newborn twins, before disappearing into the night to meet his fate. 1932. Ben and his friends are due to leave the orphanage which has been their home for sixteen years. Tonight will be the final meeting of their secret club, in the old ruin they christened The Midnight Palace. Then Ben discovers he has a sister – and together they learn the tragic story of their past, as a shadowy figures lures them to a terrifying showdown in the ruins of Jheeter’s Gate station.'
Sadly, I found that the intrigue which was well built up at first was not consistent in the novel, and I soon found myself drifting away from the story and unable to get really ‘into’ it, as I have been able to do with the rest of Zafon’s tales. The pace was well realised, and I enjoyed the plot, but the distancing – made particularly apparent by the choice of a third person narrator – really held me back with my reading of the book.
The mysteries throughout are introduced at intervals, so I occasionally found that my interest in the book was piqued, but the entirety did not hook me as I expected it to. I had no problems with the execution of the book or its storyline, as such, but I found its characters so flat and distinctly lacking in substance. Even though The Midnight Palace was quite a quick read, I personally found it quite a slog to get through. Those who already enjoy his books for younger readers, however, are sure to very much enjoy it.
The Midnight Palace begins in 1916 and takes Calcutta as its setting. The Midnight Palace of the book’s title is an abandoned mansion, where seven boys from an orphanage meet. The sense of place is well drawn throughout, and the first few pages – and, indeed, the blurb – definitely hold intrigue: '1916, Calcutta. A man pauses for breath outside the ruins of Jheeter’s Gate station knowing he has only hours to live. Pursued by assassins, he must ensure the safety of two newborn twins, before disappearing into the night to meet his fate. 1932. Ben and his friends are due to leave the orphanage which has been their home for sixteen years. Tonight will be the final meeting of their secret club, in the old ruin they christened The Midnight Palace. Then Ben discovers he has a sister – and together they learn the tragic story of their past, as a shadowy figures lures them to a terrifying showdown in the ruins of Jheeter’s Gate station.'
Sadly, I found that the intrigue which was well built up at first was not consistent in the novel, and I soon found myself drifting away from the story and unable to get really ‘into’ it, as I have been able to do with the rest of Zafon’s tales. The pace was well realised, and I enjoyed the plot, but the distancing – made particularly apparent by the choice of a third person narrator – really held me back with my reading of the book.
The mysteries throughout are introduced at intervals, so I occasionally found that my interest in the book was piqued, but the entirety did not hook me as I expected it to. I had no problems with the execution of the book or its storyline, as such, but I found its characters so flat and distinctly lacking in substance. Even though The Midnight Palace was quite a quick read, I personally found it quite a slog to get through. Those who already enjoy his books for younger readers, however, are sure to very much enjoy it.