Started October 29th, finished November 15th.
I was very much looking forward to this book. The first of this author's I read, The Shadow of the Wind, immediately added itself to my list of favourite books. The fact that was was another large volume pleased me.
The book is set in the same universe as TSotW, Barcelona, under Franco's rule. It also contains some of the same characters in smaller roles. It visits the Cemetery of Forgotten Books too. A wonderful invention of the author's that I'm sure we'll see again.
I was sad to find that this book didn't speak to my soul the way the first did. I can't say there was anything wrong with it. It was dark, spooky, filled with well written characters. I think it was just a little too fantastical for me. Maybe the story of a text isn't as gripping as the story of a love affair? It was quite easy to work out what was happening. I don't think the author wanted to hide this from the reader. While I grasped 'the mystery' I guess I couldn't really grasp or care 'why?'
I would love to know how I would have reacted to this book without prior knowledge of the author. Did I feel a little let down because TSotW was so good? Or was it because this one isn't to my tastes as much? I'll never know.
It's still an interesting tale. I wouldn't want to put anyone off reading it as I think it's a taste thing rather than a quality issue I have with it. It's always nice to read things set in cities such as Barcelona. There is a real sense of the city here. He uses it well. I can't see me reading this again in a hurry but I'm not quite ready to consign it to the charity shop yet.
3.5 out of 5 pawprints
Next - Doctor Who and the Twin Dilemma by Eric Saward
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