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Original Essays | April 18, 2013

Jon Bell: IMG The Trails We've Tread

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They have been on the move for the past half-year or so now, starting from their longtime home in the downstairs closet, on to my desk, then to my... Continue »
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25 Local Warehouse Literature- A to Z
25 Remote Warehouse Popular Fiction- Suspense

The Prisoner of Heaven

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The Prisoner of Heaven Cover

ISBN13: 9780062206282
ISBN10: 0062206281
All Product Details

 

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

The internationally acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Carlos Ruiz Zafon takes us into a dark, gothic Barcelona and creates a rich, labyrinthine tale of love, literature, passion, and revenge in which the heroes of The Shadow of the Wind and The Angel's Game must contend with a nemesis that threatens to destroy them.

Barcelona, 1957. It is Christmas, and Daniel Sempere and his wife, Bea, have much to celebrate. They have a beautiful new baby son named Julian, and their close friend Fermin Romero de Torres is about to be wed. But their joy is eclipsed when a mysterious stranger visits the Sempere bookshop and threatens to divulge a terrible secret that has been buried for two decades in the city's dark past. His appearance plunges Fermin and Daniel into a dangerous adventure that will take them back to the 1940s and the early days of Franco's dictatorship. The terrifying events of that time launch them on a search for the truth that will put into peril everything they love and ultimately transform their lives.

Full of intrigue and emotion, The Prisoner of Heaven is a majestic novel in which the threads of The Shadow of the Wind and The Angel's Game converge under the spell of literature and bring us toward the enigma hidden at the heart of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, a collection of lost treasures known only to its few initiates, and the very core of Carlos Ruiz Zafon's enchanting fictional world.

Review:

"Characters from The Shadow of the Wind and The Angel's Game reconvene in Zafón's newest literary thriller. When a stranger shows up at the struggling Sempere & Sons bookshop in Barcelona in 1957 to buy a rare and expensive volume, Daniel Sempere — the son — sets out to uncover the mysterious man's motives. The resulting mix of history and mystery drives this third installment in Zafón's cycle about the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, a 'sprawling labyrinth...like the trunk of an endless tree.' What Daniel discovers will implicate those he loves, has lost, and loathes — from his soon-to-be-wed friend, Fermín; to Daniel's mother, Isabella, who died under questionable circumstances; his father; his wife, Bea, and infant son, Julian; and a host of schemers, torturers, corrupt governmental officials, writers, and lovers, many of whom have changed identities, hurriedly penned secret missives, and stashed keys to hidden treasures. Zafón's storytelling is deft and well-paced, and his vivid prose brings the cultural riches and political strife of Franco-era Spain to life. Though the book will undoubtedly please readers familiar with his other novels, as the introduction explains, the book is a 'self-contained tale' capable of standing alone — something it does with aplomb. (July)" Publishers Weekly Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Review:

"[A novel] with the blissful narrative drive of a high-class mystery....Ruiz Zafón is a splendidly solicitous craftsman, careful to give the reader at least as much pleasure as he is evidently having." The Guardian

Review:

"The story has heart, menace torture, kindness, cruelty, sacrifice, and a deep devotion to what makes humans tick." New York Journal of Books

Review:

"Perhaps his wittiest [novel] and the darkest to date, a stylistic feat that Ruiz Zafon handles deftly....Savor this book." Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Review:

"Gripping...suspenseful....The magic of the novel is in the wonderfully constructed creepy and otherworldly setting, the likable characters, and the near-perfect dialogue." Booklist

Review:

"Invoking the atmosphere of Dumas, Dickens, Poe and Garcia Marquez, Carlos Ruiz Zafon retains his originality and will hold his rightful place among the storytelling masters of literature." Book Reporter

Synopsis:

Once again, internationally acclaimed, New York Times bestselling author Carlos Ruiz Zafon creates a rich, labyrinthine tale of love, literature, passion, and revenge, set in a dark, gothic Barcelona, in which the heroes of The Shadow of the Wind and The Angel's Game must contend with a nemesis that threatens to destroy them.
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About the Author

Carlos Ruiz Zafon, author of two critically acclaimed and internationally bestselling novels, The Shadow of the Wind and The Angel's Game, is one of the world's most read and best-loved writers. His work, which also includes prizewinning young adult novels, has been translated into more than fifty languages and published around the world, garnering numerous international prizes and reaching millions of readers. He divides his time between Barcelona and Los Angeles.
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 8 comments:
fmenendezh, January 30, 2013 (view all comments by fmenendezh)
Ruiz Zafón's The Prisoner of Heaven is part of the cycle began with The Shadow of the Wind in 2001, which was followed by a prequel, 2008's The Angel's Game, so it follows the lives and destinies of several characters from those previous books.

The Prisoner of Heaven in particular plays as a closure for the cycle, but it could be read as a stand-alone book without having read the other two. That's, in my opinion, the richness of the story and the characters and their experiences.

It's an easy reading that I recommend. And don't miss the other two.
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Joan Ivan, January 3, 2013 (view all comments by Joan Ivan)
The never ending story. Is there the possibility of a fourth to the series this year?
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mystary, January 1, 2013 (view all comments by mystary)
The long-awaited third novel was well worth the suspense. I found myself smiling constantly (or at least when I wasn't holding my breath waiting to see what would happen next). Great additional character development, especially for Fermin. And the storyline all around was amazing.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780062206282
Author:
Ruiz Zafon, Carlos
Publisher:
Harper
Author:
Tbd
Subject:
General Fiction
Subject:
Literature-A to Z
Subject:
Suspense
Subject:
Popular Fiction - Adventure
Edition Description:
Hardcover
Publication Date:
20120731
Binding:
HARDCOVER
Language:
English
Pages:
288
Dimensions:
9 x 6 in 22.8 oz
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Related Subjects


Featured Titles » Bestsellers
Featured Titles » General
Featured Titles » Literature
Featured Titles » New Arrivals
Featured Titles » Staff Favorites
Fiction and Poetry » Literature » A to Z
Fiction and Poetry » Literature » New Arrivals
Fiction and Poetry » Popular Fiction » Adventure
Fiction and Poetry » Popular Fiction » Suspense
Fiction and Poetry » Romance » Gothic
The Prisoner of Heaven New Hardcover
0 stars - 0 reviews
$25.99 In Stock
Product details 288 pages Harper - English 9780062206282 Reviews:
"Publishers Weekly Review" by , "Characters from The Shadow of the Wind and The Angel's Game reconvene in Zafón's newest literary thriller. When a stranger shows up at the struggling Sempere & Sons bookshop in Barcelona in 1957 to buy a rare and expensive volume, Daniel Sempere — the son — sets out to uncover the mysterious man's motives. The resulting mix of history and mystery drives this third installment in Zafón's cycle about the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, a 'sprawling labyrinth...like the trunk of an endless tree.' What Daniel discovers will implicate those he loves, has lost, and loathes — from his soon-to-be-wed friend, Fermín; to Daniel's mother, Isabella, who died under questionable circumstances; his father; his wife, Bea, and infant son, Julian; and a host of schemers, torturers, corrupt governmental officials, writers, and lovers, many of whom have changed identities, hurriedly penned secret missives, and stashed keys to hidden treasures. Zafón's storytelling is deft and well-paced, and his vivid prose brings the cultural riches and political strife of Franco-era Spain to life. Though the book will undoubtedly please readers familiar with his other novels, as the introduction explains, the book is a 'self-contained tale' capable of standing alone — something it does with aplomb. (July)" Publishers Weekly Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
"Review" by , "[A novel] with the blissful narrative drive of a high-class mystery....Ruiz Zafón is a splendidly solicitous craftsman, careful to give the reader at least as much pleasure as he is evidently having."
"Review" by , "The story has heart, menace torture, kindness, cruelty, sacrifice, and a deep devotion to what makes humans tick."
"Review" by , "Perhaps his wittiest [novel] and the darkest to date, a stylistic feat that Ruiz Zafon handles deftly....Savor this book."
"Review" by , "Gripping...suspenseful....The magic of the novel is in the wonderfully constructed creepy and otherworldly setting, the likable characters, and the near-perfect dialogue."
"Review" by , "Invoking the atmosphere of Dumas, Dickens, Poe and Garcia Marquez, Carlos Ruiz Zafon retains his originality and will hold his rightful place among the storytelling masters of literature."
"Synopsis" by , Once again, internationally acclaimed, New York Times bestselling author Carlos Ruiz Zafon creates a rich, labyrinthine tale of love, literature, passion, and revenge, set in a dark, gothic Barcelona, in which the heroes of The Shadow of the Wind and The Angel's Game must contend with a nemesis that threatens to destroy them.
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