Marina by Carlos Ruiz Zafón Review

“Marina said to me, we remembered only that which never happened” (p 9) – as the narrator begins the novel. Near the end he repeats this phrase – now in the indicative: “We remember only that which has never happened” (p 319) – he now knows that Marina was right …

15-year-old Oscar attended a boarding school in Barcelona. In the late afternoon, in his spare time, he is drawn out into the environment. On one of his forays, he is suddenly in front of a wrought iron gate.

In an enchanted garden with fountains and statues, which act in the dark as stone angel on him, he discovered a ramshackle house, must have seen better days. Through the porch and it penetrates into the interior – and hears a beautiful voice that attracts him hypnotic. The inflamed candelabra bathe the room in diffused light and strengthen its eerie feelings. On an old gramophone, a record is spinning. Front of a fireplace is a huge chair, also flaunts an oil painting with the portrait of a very pretty woman.

This ambience captures Óscar. When suddenly a figure from the chair rises, he falls in horror from the house. Only in his boarding room he comes to rest – and notes that he still holds the gold watch in his hands, he had taken off the table

Of course, he brings back the clock and learns Germán, of disease. drawn, and his daughter Marina know that is as old as Óscar. While Germán graciously receives it, the girl is angry and dismissive about this “amateur watches Thief” (p 33).

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But it develops a friendship; gradually the two Óscar a second family and Marina are his best confidant. With her he becomes involved in the mysterious, enigmatic story of the famous lovers Michael and Ewa Kolwenik Irinowa. Kolwenik was one of the richest men in Barcelona, ​​before he went almost bankrupt at the height of his career. He was doomed – but why? Soon stuck Marina and Óscar inevitable in a harrowing adventure. Kolweniks mystery far exceeds its (and the reader) Imagination

You walk through the old streets of Barcelona, ​​follow Inspector Florián who has long mysterious in this case worked in the underground sewer system. exposed to the unbearable stench of the sewer crawl them indefinable essence, varieties of nature, emerged from the catalog of hell contrary. all wear a brand on her forehead: a black butterfly. Marina and Óscar be in danger, they are the secret Kolweniks that and exceed their reader’s imagination by far, got too close

This is one of the darkest, scariest horror stories I have ever read. – while the most fascinating love story. Very soft and gentle arises from a close friendship small plant love between Oscar and Marina. Sensitive and vulnerable, Marina is outward in willful hardness; it hides something that Óskar will be revealed only at the end.

Carlos Ruis Zafon is a language juggler who can inspire with richest vocabulary the reader. Gray precious characters he can be just as good at drawing as lovable; With his art he breathes them a palpable life. His extraordinary imagination creates scenes of action and scenarios that are described as overwhelming and enthralling that you can not put down the book. It is enchanted magical of all the impressions.

Carlos Ruis Zafon for me is based on the novel “Marina” the most impressive storytellers of our time.