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**Giselle** · 07-09-2009, 03:50 AM

I just finished the novel and I have to agree with pretty much everything that Bjorn said about it.

It is a consistent thriller, a page turner that always keeps you on suspense about what is going to happen, but nothing more than that.
What I would highlight about the novel is the construction of a gothic novel that Ruiz Zaf?n tries to depict in the whole story, and which personally I think he achieves very well. The environment is always right, surrounded by old huge shadowy mansions, gloomy streets at night and enormous libraries of old used books. I think this is the main aspect of the book and for which I'm going to remember it.

About the narrator, in someway it's true what Bjorn said about feeling the change of narrator in some episodes. The truth is that the main story is told by Daniel Sempere, and when you say it goes to a third person, basically is because Zafon gives voice to other characters who are telling their stories, adding more to the construction to this long and very well detailed story. Is not that complex, I could summarize it in just a few lines, but that another skill by the author, who is giving you in a paused way the information you need to keep on building the story and turning the pages very quickly.

An excelent thriller, and a good book. Same rating that Bjorn gives it.

07-09-2009, 03:50 AM	#17
Giselle Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 402 Senior Member	I just finished the novel and I have to agree with pretty much everything that Bjorn said about it. It is a consistent thriller, a page turner that always keeps you on suspense about what is going to happen, but nothing more than that. What I would highlight about the novel is the construction of a gothic novel that Ruiz Zaf?n tries to depict in the whole story, and which personally I think he achieves very well. The environment is always right, surrounded by old huge shadowy mansions, gloomy streets at night and enormous libraries of old used books. I think this is the main aspect of the book and for which I'm going to remember it. About the narrator, in someway it's true what Bjorn said about feeling the change of narrator in some episodes. The truth is that the main story is told by Daniel Sempere, and when you say it goes to a third person, basically is because Zafon gives voice to other characters who are telling their stories, adding more to the construction to this long and very well detailed story. Is not that complex, I could summarize it in just a few lines, but that another skill by the author, who is giving you in a paused way the information you need to keep on building the story and turning the pages very quickly. An excelent thriller, and a good book. Same rating that Bjorn gives it.
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