A review by marilynsaul
The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

2.0

A sadly disturbing book. The protagonist makes a deal with the boss (who, I guess, we are to take for the devil), and his life falls into the same pattern as the lives of writers who came before him - same house, same troubling relationships, same book theme as they, too, were forced to write. Although Zafon's writing continues to be brilliant, the book bogs down in the middle during a dissertation of the origin of religion being based on man's primal distrust of "other", the unknown, losing one's way of life, losing control - all too poignant considering the mess we have today with the religions conservative movement. I found the voices of Isabella and David to be too similar; and Christina was an unformed character who played a major role in David's obsessive life. There seems to be a male "coming of age" theme in the three Cemetery of Forgotten Books that I find difficult to grasp (and believe). The ending was a rush to tie up loose ends, but there were many left untied: Why did Vidal's father get involved and what was the motive? Why did the boss turn benevolent? What was the point of all the killing? Perhaps Zafon's message was that there are some books that SHOULD be forgotten. I was very disappointed. I may re-read the third in the series ("The Prisoner of Heaven") just because I now have the background of Sempere and Son, but I think I'll actually take a break. This book was just too disturbing.