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4.45 AVERAGE
4.45 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Laatste deel van de serie. Dit boek is weer zo mooi geschreven, maar ook soms wat ingewikkeld door de lange zinnen. Die moet je dan een paar keer herlezen om ze te begrijpen. Alle verhaallijnen komen hier bij elkaar en worden netjes afgewerkt. Hoewel ik het laatste hoofdstuk best had kunnen missen was het ook wel fijn om te weten wat er na het verhaal met de hoofdpersonen gebeurt. Ik zal over het boek zelf niet veel vertellen. Ik wil geen niets verklappen, maar juist zorgen dat mensen toch bedenken dat ze ook dit laatste deel maar eens moeten lezen.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I put this down, curled up into the fetal position, and cried.
I cannot express the way that this entire series has made me able to understand parts of myself and help shape a view of the world that I already had an amorphous vision of: one where there is shadow and darkness hidden around every corner and life deals impossible blows to people who do not deserve it, but what really binds us and keeps society functioning and people hopeful are the stories we tell ourselves and others. The cemetery of forgotten books is such a beautiful place and serves as a metaphor for all of the stories that the universe tosses to the side to never be remembered... but pull one off the shelf and you can find your purpose in the pages of a story written long ago. Stories are knowledge and knowledge is power. Being able to appreciate literature understand the human condition is what our villains lack: Valls and Fumero.
To start with this entry in the series, The Labyrinth of the Spirits returned to a darker and more grim atmosphere that was in The Angels Game and satiated the gothic fever I currently have. The tale of Alicia was such a beautiful story and contained some of the most haunting imagery in the series, namely the mannequin workshop and the Valls home, but being lit in flames. I love the trope of a femme fatal who's character arc doesn't result in them giving up their brutality. Alicia's self hatred and longing for something better doesn't ever really go away, but she accepts the parts of herself that are broken and tries to move forward. This book focuses on action in a way that the others did not and felt so good within the context of Alicia's story which was one of my favorite of the whole series.
I think that this series really illustrates the lasting impacts of war. Barcelona is forever haunted and the people who lived through the war never forget what has happened to them. War reverberates through time seemingly without end and we see this in the way that JUST at Montjuic Castle, there are many children who were trafficked. The few characters we get from this story arc never feel fully integrated into their life because of this. War breeds opportunists and ignorance and its truly sad.
The overarching story of David Martin and Julian Carax and Victor Maitax and the Semperes was wrapped up so nicely in this final installment, I really couldn't be happier. The Sempere's story really is a story of tragedy and artistry and the way these two concepts intermingle with each other. Isabella was the true star of this series for me despite her limited page time. READING ANGELS GAME FIRST WAS THE BEST ACCIDENT THAT HAS EVER OCCURRED TO ME I RECOMMEND IT 100 PERCENT. Being able to understand who Isabella is before we see how her absence affected her family made it all more fulfilling in the end. I understood how amazing Isabella was even more Daniel did and I was dying for him to truly understand what a strong ass b**** he had for a mother. She acts as a beacon of hope in her life and in her death, driving all of the main characters in their search for answers about the terrible crimes committed throughout Barcelona and the rest of Spain. I love how this book explored the different motivations that fuel us, whether it be loss or hate or spite or love, and how losing the motivation that drove us can be fatal. We all need something to live for and like Fermin says, the only thing that keeps society functioning is the lies we tell ourselves. I will never forget Fermin or Alicia or David, some of the best characters I have ever explored in a book series. They are all so terribly flawed but I can't help but share the doomed romanticism in which they view the world. There is hope left in the world as long as 6 year olds can say five syllable words.
This interpretation of Barcelona will literally haunt my brain forever and I need to be there asap. The way that this city is defined by its doomed artists and the shadows that lurk behind corners is so beautifully tragic. The cobblestone streets and castles built to crumble within a few decades. This time period of change and of crumbling dynasties and of survivors and of all of the rats that snuck in between the decrepit buildings: it is all so beautiful and really painted a historical and cultural moment in a really human way.
I am so genuinely in awe of Zafon and of this series. These books made me understand myself and my relationship with art and language in a very special way. I loved how Julian said that books only reflect what we already see within ourselves. We can only understand what we are open to understanding and I connect with the macabre but hopeful romanticism of tragedy that is presented in this book, and of lights at the ends of tunnels and embers within out heart that we pray will be lit one day. These stories contain enough love, friendship, horror, gore, thrill, mystery, action, reflection, meditation, and genuine heart to sustain me for the rest of my life. I could not recommend this series more. It is truly an ode to literature and hope and the shadows that haunt us.
I cannot express the way that this entire series has made me able to understand parts of myself and help shape a view of the world that I already had an amorphous vision of: one where there is shadow and darkness hidden around every corner and life deals impossible blows to people who do not deserve it, but what really binds us and keeps society functioning and people hopeful are the stories we tell ourselves and others. The cemetery of forgotten books is such a beautiful place and serves as a metaphor for all of the stories that the universe tosses to the side to never be remembered... but pull one off the shelf and you can find your purpose in the pages of a story written long ago. Stories are knowledge and knowledge is power. Being able to appreciate literature understand the human condition is what our villains lack: Valls and Fumero.
To start with this entry in the series, The Labyrinth of the Spirits returned to a darker and more grim atmosphere that was in The Angels Game and satiated the gothic fever I currently have. The tale of Alicia was such a beautiful story and contained some of the most haunting imagery in the series, namely the mannequin workshop and the Valls home, but being lit in flames. I love the trope of a femme fatal who's character arc doesn't result in them giving up their brutality. Alicia's self hatred and longing for something better doesn't ever really go away, but she accepts the parts of herself that are broken and tries to move forward. This book focuses on action in a way that the others did not and felt so good within the context of Alicia's story which was one of my favorite of the whole series.
I think that this series really illustrates the lasting impacts of war. Barcelona is forever haunted and the people who lived through the war never forget what has happened to them. War reverberates through time seemingly without end and we see this in the way that JUST at Montjuic Castle, there are many children who were trafficked. The few characters we get from this story arc never feel fully integrated into their life because of this. War breeds opportunists and ignorance and its truly sad.
The overarching story of David Martin and Julian Carax and Victor Maitax and the Semperes was wrapped up so nicely in this final installment, I really couldn't be happier. The Sempere's story really is a story of tragedy and artistry and the way these two concepts intermingle with each other. Isabella was the true star of this series for me despite her limited page time. READING ANGELS GAME FIRST WAS THE BEST ACCIDENT THAT HAS EVER OCCURRED TO ME I RECOMMEND IT 100 PERCENT. Being able to understand who Isabella is before we see how her absence affected her family made it all more fulfilling in the end. I understood how amazing Isabella was even more Daniel did and I was dying for him to truly understand what a strong ass b**** he had for a mother. She acts as a beacon of hope in her life and in her death, driving all of the main characters in their search for answers about the terrible crimes committed throughout Barcelona and the rest of Spain. I love how this book explored the different motivations that fuel us, whether it be loss or hate or spite or love, and how losing the motivation that drove us can be fatal. We all need something to live for and like Fermin says, the only thing that keeps society functioning is the lies we tell ourselves. I will never forget Fermin or Alicia or David, some of the best characters I have ever explored in a book series. They are all so terribly flawed but I can't help but share the doomed romanticism in which they view the world. There is hope left in the world as long as 6 year olds can say five syllable words.
This interpretation of Barcelona will literally haunt my brain forever and I need to be there asap. The way that this city is defined by its doomed artists and the shadows that lurk behind corners is so beautifully tragic. The cobblestone streets and castles built to crumble within a few decades. This time period of change and of crumbling dynasties and of survivors and of all of the rats that snuck in between the decrepit buildings: it is all so beautiful and really painted a historical and cultural moment in a really human way.
I am so genuinely in awe of Zafon and of this series. These books made me understand myself and my relationship with art and language in a very special way. I loved how Julian said that books only reflect what we already see within ourselves. We can only understand what we are open to understanding and I connect with the macabre but hopeful romanticism of tragedy that is presented in this book, and of lights at the ends of tunnels and embers within out heart that we pray will be lit one day. These stories contain enough love, friendship, horror, gore, thrill, mystery, action, reflection, meditation, and genuine heart to sustain me for the rest of my life. I could not recommend this series more. It is truly an ode to literature and hope and the shadows that haunt us.
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes