Marina | 
pickMarina is a gothic tale about young love, as 15-year-old Oscar finds a chosen family with Marina and her father. Set in 1979 Barcelona, the two unravel a 30-year-old mystery of greed and betrayal buried in the depths of the city‘s forgotten past. Zafón‘s books may be rooted in history, but his storytelling style is timeless.
pickA low pick. I had randomly picked this up at the dollar store recently, and then it was suggested for #Booked2021 as a lesser known work. I had no idea that Zafon started out writing YA, and his earlier work is definitely overshadowed (ha ha, unintended pun!). He builds a good Gothic atmosphere, I liked that he managed to keep Marina from falling over the edge into full manic pixie dream girl, and the last 75 pages were gripping. 👇
Cooking dinner, reading Marina to finish off #Booked2021, and drinking Plum Cherry Jelly King from Bellwoods Brewery (soooo good). It's a nice moment.
"Marina once told me that we only remember what never really happened."
#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl
#haunted #hauntedhouse @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
I remembered there is a house thought to be haunted in this book! It‘s a novel which I‘ve truly enjoyed!
so-soThis gothic novel follows Marina and Oscar as they step into downtown Barcelona and become engulfed in mystery and dark secrets buried in the past. Set in post-war Barcelona, May 1980, this book is easy to get lost in.
It is told from Oscar‘s perspective, but we still get an idea of what Marina is feeling through Oscar‘s speculations. Marina comes to a definite and emotional ending where there can be no way for them to ever journey together again.
pickA lonely boy meets some new people and gets caught up in discovering a story from the past.
#3books that made me want to travel.
Marina: Barcelona
Bonjour Tristesse: French Riviera
Slouching Towards Bethlehem: Northern California
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @OriginalCyn620
pickThis was initally a very curious, creepy sort of murder mystery. However, as the story progressed, it dealt with sadness and the passage of time. I can't articulate quite how I felt after reading other than a strange solace and acceptance. I have to say, when the book meant to be tense and creepy, it most certainly was. Not at all the type of book I thought it was going to be. I highly recommend it.
Audible is having a 2-for-1-credit sale on select horror, mystery, and thrillers right now. I got these!
pickWhat a great October read! Dark, twisty, descriptive, scary. I liked 'Shadow of the Wind' so much, so it was fun to read another book by this author. I can't say I fully understand the entire plot line of this book, but I enjoyed it nevertheless.
*this pic is from the internet...used it because it looks spooky and perfect for this month.👻🎃🧙♀️
pickThe Shadow of the Wind is one of my very favorite books, and this little piece of gothic horror is almost as beautifully written and poetic. 🖤
Fantastic characters, gorgeous language, some really scary parts, and truly touching rumination on life and death. Combining mystery, love story, and science fiction seamlessly. I devoured this book in one day, and I‘m certain I will read it again.
A perfect #screamathon read!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
pickWhat a ride! I hated having to put this down and get back to real life. There were some real scary parts that I wouldn't recommend reading at night and perfect, atmospheric writing. Two minor complaints: the ending dragged out for a couple of extra chapters after the main action was over. The narrator — a 15yo boy —was pretty annoying at times, but I guess that was to be expected. Highly recommend, especially if you like Gothic fiction.
Spent my $25 birthday giftcard wisely 🙂📚
...now to practice my patience as I wait for them to arrive.
The coupon code if anyone wants: WEEKIVERSARY
pickThis novel drip-drip-drips with cold, slimy gothic delight.
Teenage Marina and Oscar spy on a woman in a graveyard one Sunday. They follow her...and from that moment on they are hunted by a nightmare from the depths of Barcelona‘s old quarter.
There are eyeless puppets, masked women, severed hands, tunnels, lashing storms, spooky houses, flasks of elixir, creatures from nightmares...
#CarlosRuizZafon #Marina #gothic #Barcelona #ya #flatlay
Yay! I've completed my first audiobook and I might even try another one! I really enjoyed the gothic tone of this book and the narrator did a great job having different voices for the characters without sounding ridiculous or jarring. It didn't all come together the way I expected, but I'm glad for it. Dragged a little in the final quarter of the book, but overall an interesting story with great imagery and some food for thought. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I picked up Marina on audio a few weeks ago at a used book sale. I've failed to get into audiobooks because my mind wanders, but I bought it anyway. It is slow going because I listen on my commute to & from work and I sometimes have to restart a section to make sure I know what's going on, but I'm really enjoying it so far, even feeling the tension in some chapters.
pickA stunningly beautiful gothic tale! Such a gorgeous read that was so hard to put down! And the language was so beautiful and flowed! The characters were so rich and came to life perfectly for me! Made me tear up a few times and I will definitely be rereading this! Only my second book by Carlos Ruiz Zafón but I absolutely need to read his other works!
pickWow! I think this book is going to sit with me for awhile. I loved it! @Maike I can't wait to get into my next from your list! #freakyfriday
@monalyisha @Clwojick
#Flowers on the spines 🌸 🌺 🌹
(Haven‘t read a single one of these yet 😳😂)
#readingresolutions
#ThisRemindsMeOf... 🌹 I have to read Zafon again soonest. A kindred just told me that the last book in The Cemetery of Forgotten Books series is coming out this year. This means I will have to re-read The Shadow of The Wind and finally read Books 2 and 3. Anyone who has been reading/following this series closely?
Just started this.... oh the prose 🤘🏽
pickFinished Z for the #litsyAtoZchallenge with my favorite author! Great language and imagery! I have completed the challenge!
pickThis book is a great mixture of gothic and adventure. LOVED reading it. Had tears without realisation at the end.
Oh my goodness, Kari! You spoiled me. 😍
I absolutely love everything in this package. Thank you so much!!!
#LitsyGoesPostalOG
pickI really enjoyed this book, and the audio was fabulous. It‘s my first Zafón, but I own The Shadow of the Wind and am now moving it up on my TBR.
This was also my 8th and final #screamathon read. What a fun way to celebrate this month! ???
Started a new gothic #audiobook today for #screamathon. I‘m trying to gear up for a Halloween party tonight 🎃 👻 🦇
Germán estaba acurrucado en una de las butacas, inmóvil como una estatua, tan sólo las lágrimas persistían en su movimiento. Nunca había visto a un hombre de su edad llorar así. Me heló la sangre. La vista perdida en los retratos. Estaba pálido. Demacrado. Había envejecido desde que le había visto por última vez. Vestía uno de los trajes de gala que yo recordaba, pero arrugado y sucio. Me pregunté cuántos días llevaría así.
so-soA little formulaic for my tastes, with lots of exposition and every other chapter devoted to a minor character who has appeared just in time to relay information crucial to an upcoming plot twist. I love this writer and he creates atmosphere like no one else but I found I didn't really care about these characters, particularly the narrator. I also felt it wasn't so much one cohesive tale as a patchwork of different stories.
pick⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Uma imaginação prodigiosa que converteram 260 páginas numa história fantástica!
pickI just finished reading Marina by #CarlosRuizZafon and let me tell you, the feeling of nostalgia I have is overpowering. I already miss the characters, I miss a city I've never even been to, but mainly I miss a childhood that I've barely just begun to leave. The writing is so descriptive that I can vividly imagine myself in the room alongside Oscar and Marina! The plot seems so ordinary but the further along you read, the more intricate it becomes
"Sometimes, the things that are the most real only happen in one's imagination, Oscar," she said. "We only remember what never really happened."
pickI am in my childhood bedroom for a few days and have access to more of my books which means things I have acquired more than 2 years ago for #recommendsday. Today this precursor to Shadow of the Wind that was finally translated to English a couple of years ago. Gotta love that modern gothic atmosphere.
