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Lynne King's Reviews > The Watcher in the Shadows
The Watcher in the Shadows
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I decided to lower the rating.
I always get a great satisfaction out of going into a W.H. Smith’s book shop in any of the English airports and looking to see the latest books on offer. I saw this book the other week and the blurb took my fancy. I rather liked the idea of:
An enigmatic toymaker who lives as a recluse in an old mansion, surrounded by the fantastical beings he has created. An eerie figure that watches from behind the curtains of a locked room. Strange things that flicker through the mist from an abandoned lighthouse. A shadowy creature that hides deep in the woods and has already claimed one life. These are the elements of a mystery that will bind Irene to Ismael during a magical summer in Blue Bay, where her mother becomes housekeeper to the secretive toymaker, Lazarus Jann.
This sounded a marvellous book and I couldn’t wait to leap into it but what a disappointment it turned out to be. Now whether the true essence of the book has been lost in the translation I don’t know but to me it lacked soul and I found the characters Simone, Irene and Lazarus very wooden. There was a childlike element to the book and so I skim read to the end, then returned to the main part of the book and finally abandoned it.
I hate to abandon a book but there are so many exciting books that I’m eager to read and why waste time with one that doesn’t inspire me in the least.
Sorry Mr Zafon. My apologies. I may not like you but there are many who do and that’s the saving grace.
I always get a great satisfaction out of going into a W.H. Smith’s book shop in any of the English airports and looking to see the latest books on offer. I saw this book the other week and the blurb took my fancy. I rather liked the idea of:
An enigmatic toymaker who lives as a recluse in an old mansion, surrounded by the fantastical beings he has created. An eerie figure that watches from behind the curtains of a locked room. Strange things that flicker through the mist from an abandoned lighthouse. A shadowy creature that hides deep in the woods and has already claimed one life. These are the elements of a mystery that will bind Irene to Ismael during a magical summer in Blue Bay, where her mother becomes housekeeper to the secretive toymaker, Lazarus Jann.
This sounded a marvellous book and I couldn’t wait to leap into it but what a disappointment it turned out to be. Now whether the true essence of the book has been lost in the translation I don’t know but to me it lacked soul and I found the characters Simone, Irene and Lazarus very wooden. There was a childlike element to the book and so I skim read to the end, then returned to the main part of the book and finally abandoned it.
I hate to abandon a book but there are so many exciting books that I’m eager to read and why waste time with one that doesn’t inspire me in the least.
Sorry Mr Zafon. My apologies. I may not like you but there are many who do and that’s the saving grace.
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Reading Progress
November 2, 2014
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Started Reading
November 2, 2014
– Shelved as:
to-read
November 2, 2014
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November 2, 2014
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2014-books
November 13, 2014
– Shelved as:
fiction
November 13, 2014
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Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-17 of 17 (17 new)
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Glenn
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Nov 14, 2014 04:11AM
I hate to abandon a book but there are so many exciting books that I’m eager to read and why waste time with one that doesn’t inspire me in the least.------- Ha! Couldn't agree more.
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Thanks for that Glenn!
Your reaction was exactly the same as mine when I read The Shadow of the Wind, Lynne - someone has since pointed out that it is not the translation that let it down and that Zafon's writing sounds equally uninspiring in Spanish. But as you say, there are many readers who do find his brand of factfantasy inspiring and he seems to know his market and certainly gives them plenty of what they seek..
Ah, I have just given up on a book too. As a library enthusiast I think I probably find this easier that people reading books they have purchased, but it still makes me feel a bit guilty!
Fionnuala wrote: "Your reaction was exactly the same as mine when I read The Shadow of the Wind, Lynne - someone has since pointed out that it is not the translation that let it down and that Zafon's wr..."Fionnuala, I realize now that I also abandoned The Shadow of the Wind so what on earth persuaded me to buy this one? I hope my brain is not getting addled!
Caroline wrote: "Ah, I have just given up on a book too. As a library enthusiast I think I probably find this easier that people reading books they have purchased, but it still makes me feel a bit guilty!"Sorry to hear that you've also given up on a book Caroline. If I don't like a book after buying it, I put it down to a bad buy like buying what I thought was a lovely dress and then getting home and not liking it. I've never been able to return something after I've purchased it. The only exception being a defect discovered when I arrived home.
I haven't read this one but the blurb reminded me of The Snow Child, which also disappointed me for not finding the right balance between tragic fable and magic realism.
Dolors, I see that there are really mixed reviews on The Snow Child? Kris really liked it and I'm always influenced by her reviews so perhaps I may read this.
The Nieblung series ARE young adult, not like The Libraries of Forgotten Books. I guess that is why the characters seem childish?
This was written as a children's book so it's a good job it's childish ;)
There's nothing wrong with being childish - at times anyway...
As the author says this collection was written in a younger age. He only made a few alterations. Even tough the the story lacks a bit of development, I think it has the right essence, of that 'Zafonian' narrative. I read all his books in portuguese and I have to say that they were all well translated. Best regards to you all.
My OCD does not allow me to abandon books 😓😓 ... I've tried ... A lot, but i just can't. I hear them calling me from the bookshelf
My OCD does not allow me to abandon books 😓😓 ... I've tried ... A lot, but i just can't. I hear them calling me from the bookshelf
I read the book in Spanish, so I read the original words that the author used. I think maybe the translation is poor, because one of the things that I really enjoyed in the book were the characters. As other people are saying I think this book is for teenagers so the characters are kind of childish (Also this book is in the point of view of a 15 year old girl), but I don't agree with the lack of soul of the characters, I think the opposite, they were very interesting and well developed.
It IS a children's book.... Probably reason you found is childish? Zafon's cemetary of forgotten books series will likely appeal to you more. They're among my favourites.
It’s about Lynne! I found ye a lot too hard a l’egard de Carlos! I believe that you are a type to love story by itself! With Carlos it’s different, he is an emotional person and even if the story doesn’t get ye? Carlos is a writer who you will might fall in love with his phrases and words. I don’t do believe ye are rational person; ye aren’t emotional like when someone is making love with the conversations to another’s person! Carlos is the mostly one the best whiter and perhaps the number one, just take a look around the world and you will see why is so magnificent from 4 * to 5 * . No offence Lynne! Your first name is subtle like Carlos in a different way!
