A Viking Princess in Spain
Once upon a time, there was a Norwegian princess who traveled to Spain in the thirteenth century and married Spanish Prince Philip, brother of Alfonso X El Sabio (the wise), by her own choosing. The princess died after four years of living here, from a somewhat mysterious death. I found about this enigmatic story while travelling through Burgos this summer. She is buried in the small historical town of Covarrubias, 40 km South of Burgos. Interestingly, most people in Spain don’t know this story and it’s a case where reality is better than fiction. The book reads slow and dull since there is hardly any action.
El Prisionero del Cielo by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
I just finished reading the third book in the planned tetralogy of The Cemetery of Forgotten Books and I am kind of disappointed. Not only does it need to be read after the previous two standalone volumes (both published in English), but it lacks resolution. It clarifies some things that happened in the previous two books and it sets the stage for the final book, but apart from that, it doesn’t introduce anything new. The book is getting positive reviews by Spanish readers, but I liked the second book, "The Angel’s Game", better for its depiction of a writer sinking into madness. This one left me feeling flat and not really anticipating the finale.
Great premise, disappointing book
El Boligrafo de Gel Verde by Eloy Moreno
After the great word of mouth campaign, (it even has its own Facebook page with almost seven thousand followers), I really wanted to read this book. As I curled up in my sofa this past rainy weekend ready to devour it, I had high expectations for it. So did it deliver? Unfortunately not. It wasn’t what I expected.
Furthermore, the 320 pages could’ve been less since it constantly repeats itself. But it’s not all negative. It has a great premise. The author wants to get rid of the routine in his life, but he doesn’t have the courage to do it. To be able to write an engaging book all based on a pen as the sole trigger of the sequence of events that follow would be a great story. However the author leaves loose ends and we never find out what happened to the pen.
A secret within a secret
El Secreto del Peregrino by Peter Harris
This novel is set in the Middle Ages (my favorite time period). It tells the story of a pilgrim, Nicholas Flamel, that has to travel from Paris to Finisterre in Spain (the end of the world) by St. James’ Way due to a secret. The title is very enticing. Who doesn’t want to know or keep a secret? However the story is very predictable, the Da Vinci Code type. I think a more interesting story would be to find out who this author, Peter Harris, really is. You see, he doesn’t exist. If you read his biography, it says he is an American writer, but he never writes in English. Supposedly, he was born in Florida and studied at UCLA. Now why would a writer use a pseudonym in this day and age where everyone wants to get noticed or use their 15 minutes of fame?
This novel is set in the Middle Ages (my favorite time period). It tells the story of a pilgrim, Nicholas Flamel, that has to travel from Paris to Finisterre in Spain (the end of the world) by St. James’ Way due to a secret. The title is very enticing. Who doesn’t want to know or keep a secret? However the story is very predictable, the Da Vinci Code type. I think a more interesting story would be to find out who this author, Peter Harris, really is. You see, he doesn’t exist. If you read his biography, it says he is an American writer, but he never writes in English. Supposedly, he was born in Florida and studied at UCLA. Now why would a writer use a pseudonym in this day and age where everyone wants to get noticed or use their 15 minutes of fame?
