Keys to the Lighthouse

In my first year at university, instead of reading my course text for that week, I read The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, which was absolutely brilliant, such an interesting plot, and very different to anything I'd read before. The protagonist is a young boy, and his character is fascinating. I felt he was really honestly written and y'know how sometimes you read a book and you're like 'yeah..I feel like I've read you a thousand times before'?  Well, Zafon's protagonist seemed to me to entirely different to the norm. 

However, maybe it's because he writes in Spanish, and his novels are translated so something is lost, or maybe it's just a difference from British characters, and I know I said I felt this protagonist is honestly written, but there's something about the protagonists that make you kind of dislike them. They're sometimes cowardly, or they're pervy, or they're self-deprecating, or they smoke like...a thousand cigarettes a minute and then complain about it, but I never read his books and warm to the characters. Having said that, the male role model is always great, whether it's the dad, the friendly shopkeeper, or the lighthouse keeper. 


So after The Shadow of the Wind, I thought 'wow yeah, I'm totes going to read more of this guy', so read The Angel's Game. It was one of the weirdest books I have EVER. READ. I got to the end and was like "say what!?"  There are like...3 storylines, but they don't overlap, they just come one after the other, and seem to be vaguely linked...sometimes...but then sometimes not...and you're not sure if the guy's died at one point coz he seems to die but then the book carries on as if he's alive...it is SO weird haha. Super enjoyable at the time, but maybe not the most fulfilling reading experience. 

SOOO, then I saw this really thin book, only 200 pages, written by the same guy, called The Prince of Mist - equally vague title, equally gothic feel. It's one of the first books he ever wrote, initially intended for a young adult audience.
Ominous.
I finished it today and it was actually much better than I was expecting. I kept having to take little breaks though coz I was getting so freaked out. It is SUPER gothic, but the terror is definitely worse than the horror; the build up is mental, but the perpetrator is a bit wet. 
There's this bit with a locked wardrobe...and then the key turns by itself....and then... a cat comes out haha. But behind it there are some creepy lit up eyes....and whispering voices...she turns to run but the front door has locked itself ...she feels an "icy wind"....the voices say her name... EEEE I'm getting freaked out just writing about it haha. I went to the cafe where I used to work and bought some cake to comfort me. 

So to sum up my ramblings about an author who wrote a book I read today, Carlos Ruiz Zafon's books are mentally gothic, highly compelling and also include very good descriptions of food and atmosphere. Just don't read The Angel's Game first. 


2. In other entertainment news, I watched The Killing last night - is anyone watching it? I saw the adverts on tv and thought it looked good - oh my days, it is soooo great. I love a good crime thriller haha. It follows a murder investigation of a teenage girl, but it's just so well made, the acting is flawless and the atmosphere is almost tangible in nearly every scene. PLUS, it's not too scary, and I get scared so easily, so it's grand to know I can watch terror-free. Super excited for the rest of the series. 

3. Also, I'm going on holiday tomorrow. EEP!