Scan barcode
xxl233's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
martesplan's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
carlosdragonne's review against another edition
5.0
Chulada de novela corta —tardé tres semanas por andar leyendo múltiples libros— de uno de mis autores favoritos. Al mundo le hacen falta mas como Ruiz Zafon.
sasita's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
kathoulhu's review against another edition
1.0
This book (in translation) drove me crazy. I was on a train, so didn't have much choice but to finish it. I really liked the premise, but several things seemed off to me.
First, the characters. The way the children related to one another didn't seem realistic in the slightest. The words they used and the phrases seemed completely foreign to a 12 year old -- I don't know if this is because children from Zafon's native Spain talk like 40 year olds, but American children never would, so it was jarring for them to be saying things that seemed so out of character.
I also didn't like the villain. Sure, clowns are creepy, but I felt like there wasn't enough buildup... there were spooky parts that I couldn't create a visual for in my head because I didn't have enough information about what I was supposed to be spooked about. In a movie, you can get away with not having as much description, because you have visuals... I felt like several "scary" scenes suffered from a lack of crucial details.
I also really disliked the ending. I'm not going to spoil it, in case anyone else makes it, but it was wholly unsatisfying for me as a reader. So many things left unresolved, so many things lost... it was just brutal to finish. I felt like I'd taking nothing away with me, except a dislike for the narrator.
First, the characters. The way the children related to one another didn't seem realistic in the slightest. The words they used and the phrases seemed completely foreign to a 12 year old -- I don't know if this is because children from Zafon's native Spain talk like 40 year olds, but American children never would, so it was jarring for them to be saying things that seemed so out of character.
I also didn't like the villain. Sure, clowns are creepy, but I felt like there wasn't enough buildup... there were spooky parts that I couldn't create a visual for in my head because I didn't have enough information about what I was supposed to be spooked about. In a movie, you can get away with not having as much description, because you have visuals... I felt like several "scary" scenes suffered from a lack of crucial details.
I also really disliked the ending. I'm not going to spoil it, in case anyone else makes it, but it was wholly unsatisfying for me as a reader. So many things left unresolved, so many things lost... it was just brutal to finish. I felt like I'd taking nothing away with me, except a dislike for the narrator.
toolittletime's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Very tense book that keeps you turning the pages to find out more. The villain is terribly creepy and Zafon creates a perfectly spooky atmosphere in the charming little ocean-side village. I would say the pacing of the story is a little bit off and there were a few info dumps sprinkled in.
aprel_unknown's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-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
4.5
saharzez's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this! Even though it's a fairly thin book, it did an awesome job of telling the story! And the characters were epic.
Like, the villain. There are quite a few books that do a rather paltry attempt at making their villain character evil-ish. This book isn't one of them, I hated that character so so much!
The main hero, Max, isn't the "oh, I can do anything and everything and I can do it easily" kind of hero. Believe it or not, he (spoiler?) actually kind of fails at his attempt to save someone at the end of the book.
I'm waiting for the next book to get translated and released in the US, :).
Like, the villain. There are quite a few books that do a rather paltry attempt at making their villain character evil-ish. This book isn't one of them, I hated that character so so much!
The main hero, Max, isn't the "oh, I can do anything and everything and I can do it easily" kind of hero. Believe it or not, he (spoiler?) actually kind of fails at his attempt to save someone at the end of the book.
I'm waiting for the next book to get translated and released in the US, :).
hannah258's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5