tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post921328629910794851..comments2024-03-27T22:25:42.129-05:00Comments on Reading the Past: On Carlos Ruiz Zafón's The Prisoner of Heaven, and my approach to reading seriesSarah Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-42840496586277366202020-09-30T19:04:57.428-05:002020-09-30T19:04:57.428-05:00Thanks for commenting, Eduardo!
Yes, if the author...Thanks for commenting, Eduardo!<br />Yes, if the author succeeds in getting readers caught up with the characters and story, it should be possible to start in the middle and understand what's going on. I still do this sometimes.Sarah Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-15934256031072931442020-09-30T18:23:50.929-05:002020-09-30T18:23:50.929-05:00Hi Sarah!
I have never even thought about reading ...Hi Sarah!<br />I have never even thought about reading the books in different order, I feel it might be an interesting thing to do. As you say learn better about their "past stories". I might try it, I just hope I understand the book I start with in any series.Eduardo Corlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11899383414152864506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-85793536049477335412018-10-01T17:57:22.018-05:002018-10-01T17:57:22.018-05:00i am not reader but by the description of this boo...i am not reader but by the description of this book i sounds interesting and will get one to read<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12716133547458135151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-8764835130197901942016-10-02T19:03:38.162-05:002016-10-02T19:03:38.162-05:00Thank you for your comment on this book, it really...Thank you for your comment on this book, it really makes me want to pick up the book for myself.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-74804899187867839922012-07-30T21:40:45.298-05:002012-07-30T21:40:45.298-05:00That's part of it. But I think I developed th...That's part of it. But I think I developed this pattern back when I got absorbed in reading a series of 40 novels of which volume #3 was very elusive. I read nearly all of the others first; it was either that or wait for years until I found #3 somewhere. (Abebooks.com didn't exist back then.) Later volumes would only hint at what happened in that book - they didn't give the story away - and it got me intensely curious about what I was missing. When I finally found it and read it, it was like a mystery from the past was slowly becoming clear. And I love reading about mysteries from the past.Sarah Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-79555689303041548922012-07-30T17:36:49.079-05:002012-07-30T17:36:49.079-05:00Wow, that seems really weird to me. Reading the bo...Wow, that seems really weird to me. Reading the books of a series out of order?<br /><br />Then I remembered that what I like best about re-reading classic authors (like Dickens or Austen) is that, knowing what's coming, I can enjoy the authors' set-up even more.<br /><br />What geniuses.Shelleyhttp://dustbowlpoetry.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-82795838942317919122012-07-29T13:20:53.916-05:002012-07-29T13:20:53.916-05:00It reads very fast... and the largish font helps!It reads very fast... and the largish font helps!Sarah Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-61158640496117418232012-07-29T11:38:03.678-05:002012-07-29T11:38:03.678-05:00Thanks for this review Sarah. I have only read &#...Thanks for this review Sarah. I have only read 'Shadow of the Wind' so far so it looks like I've got to expand my TBR list again by adding this to it!Philip Dickinsonhttp://www.aztecelements.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-23332890008536884592012-07-29T10:45:42.443-05:002012-07-29T10:45:42.443-05:00After reading this one, the characters intrigue me...After reading this one, the characters intrigue me more than the Cemetery (although I'm curious about it). I own the other books, but the easiest way to fit anything into my schedule is for me to take it for review!Sarah Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-72669283635677567062012-07-29T02:53:40.459-05:002012-07-29T02:53:40.459-05:00It seems to me that if you're now inspired to ...It seems to me that if you're now inspired to go back and read Zafon's previous books, <i>The Prisoner of Heaven</i> has succeeded in drawing you into the general story of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books. Perhaps it's not <i>ideal</i> to read them "out of order", but it doesn't seem to have repelled you as a reader too much...Meytal Radzinskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15805413335735169073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-20298779325481483602012-07-28T08:43:15.917-05:002012-07-28T08:43:15.917-05:00LOL, sorry to shock you, Marg! I know readers hav...LOL, sorry to shock you, Marg! I know readers have different preferences on this.<br /><br />Most authors I know who write series would like them to be read in any order, and work hard so the books can stand alone. I take advantage of that! Otherwise it would be hard for them to find new readers, and make new sales, and often the first books in extended series are out of print. Fortunately not the case here. <br /><br />From what I've been reading, it would be ideal to have read at least Shadow of the Wind before this one.Sarah Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-73979155728869873592012-07-28T03:59:45.721-05:002012-07-28T03:59:45.721-05:00The Shadow of the Wind is one of my absolute favou...The Shadow of the Wind is one of my absolute favourite books and yet i haven't read The Angels Game or this book yet. Must get around to it.<br /><br />I must say, I am just a little mortified a tthe thought of reading a series out of order knowingly. Not something I can do myself.Marghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13508430635744720721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-79932941098549260822012-07-27T14:09:32.075-05:002012-07-27T14:09:32.075-05:00Glad to see I'm not alone either. I've of...Glad to see I'm not alone either. I've often started historical mystery series out of order, because after a point it would take me too long to catch up. Some series extend for over 20 books!<br /><br />The author makes a nice contrast between the two eras, 1939 and 1957... the former dark and menacing, the latter more relaxed, but still shaped by the Civil War and its aftereffects.Sarah Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-1295812399381575372012-07-27T13:35:56.195-05:002012-07-27T13:35:56.195-05:00I also enjoy reading historical novels out of orde...I also enjoy reading historical novels out of order and thought I was the only one. Nice to know I'm not. :)<br /><br />The novel sounds fascinating. The Spanish Civil War is a period well worth reading and writing about, rather neglected in current fiction. I'll take a close look at this one. Thanks for reviewing it.J. R. Tomlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01109874615059334200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-81230205102670357802012-07-27T12:09:26.233-05:002012-07-27T12:09:26.233-05:00That's exactly why I took it for review - beca...That's exactly why I took it for review - because doing so would oblige me to read one of his books at long last!Sarah Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-69830866330292590592012-07-27T12:09:03.017-05:002012-07-27T12:09:03.017-05:00Oh good - happy to spread the news! I just finish...Oh good - happy to spread the news! I just finished the story... it provides some background on the origins of the Cemetery.Sarah Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-35330446072063447392012-07-27T11:47:32.295-05:002012-07-27T11:47:32.295-05:00So excited to read this...LOVED the two previous b...So excited to read this...LOVED the two previous books and didn't realize a new one was coming out! Thanks for making my day, Sarah! Off to find that short story....Julianne Douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10190332417986785920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-56895402387877304122012-07-27T11:45:44.683-05:002012-07-27T11:45:44.683-05:00I have never read this author before. One day I re...I have never read this author before. One day I really must!!Kailanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11136262232046813471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-74318231406603074832012-07-27T10:44:15.705-05:002012-07-27T10:44:15.705-05:00Yes - it is a gorgeous book!Yes - it is a gorgeous book!Sarah Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-8886183585215095452012-07-27T09:23:08.499-05:002012-07-27T09:23:08.499-05:00I'm reading it now and am transfixed. It's...I'm reading it now and am transfixed. It's beautifully bound, isn't it?brokenteepeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06907414560986208401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-10258494306990829862012-07-27T09:00:46.561-05:002012-07-27T09:00:46.561-05:00Thanks - and oops - I knew that but completely for...Thanks - and oops - I knew that but completely forgot to mention it! It's sitting on my Kindle waiting for the wireless to be turned on... will go read it now.Sarah Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-82236867813053605672012-07-27T08:50:43.870-05:002012-07-27T08:50:43.870-05:00If anyone's interested, there is a short story...If anyone's interested, there is a short story "Rose of Fire" that sets up the whole series available for free for e-reader from Barnes and Noble and Amazon.Wendelenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00390173211882355104noreply@blogger.com