Marina

By: Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Narrated by: Daniel Weyman

Length: 7 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's Summary

Carlos Ruiz Zafon's haunting gothic mystery, which has long been a cult classic in Spain and is now an international best seller.

"We all have a secret buried under lock and key in the attic of our soul. This is mine."

Fifteen-year-old Oscar Drai meets the strange Marina while he's exploring an old quarter of Barcelona. She leads Oscar to a cemetery, where they watch a macabre ritual that occurs on the last Sunday of each month. At exactly 10 o'clock in the morning, a woman shrouded in a black velvet cloak descends from her carriage to place a single rose on an unmarked grave.

When Oscar and Marina decide to follow her, they begin a journey that transports them to a forgotten postwar Barcelona - a world of aristocrats and actresses, inventors and tycoons - and reveals a dark secret that lies waiting in the mysterious labyrinth beneath the city streets. 

©2014 Carlos Ruiz Zafon (P)2014 Hachette Audio

Excellent narration

This impressed me as a mash-up of Frankenstein and the Phantom of the Opera, set in Barcelona. Dark, gothic setting, lots of stormy nights and spectral sightings. A little over-the-top for my taste, although I loved the narration.

A Gothic Mystery for the Modern Era

When I was a bookseller, "Shadow of the Wind," by Carlos Ruiz Zafon was a go-to recommendation. It is easily one of my all time favorites.

Zafon's "Marina," does not stir quite the same passion in me, but evenso, I highly recommend it.

With Zafon, it's not about plot or characters, it's all in the melodious language (in translation, no less!) and in the powerful sense of place - by that I do not just mean Barcelona, the "setting" for his books. Zafon's Spain has a mystical other-worldliness, a sense of being out-of-time, despite being very specifically placed in a particular era. I can't truly explain what he does with words!

"Shadow" and the other books in the Cemetary of Forgotten Books series are strange and mysterious. "Marina," a stand alone book, is equally magical, but also macabre and melancholy. Marvelous!

Painfully Beautiful

If you are looking for a bizarre and convoluted gothic mystery, look no further. This is a beautifully written book, but be prepared to feel like your heart has been kicked when you get to the end.

Wonderfully written with excellent narration

This was a fantastic discovery that I stumbled across. It’s a dark, hauntingly beautiful, “gothic horror” tale. The writing is stunning and atmospheric. I’m thinking it may be a YA novel but I could be wrong. While I don’t consider it “horror” I guess it could be scarier to a younger audience if that was the intention. I had the audio version and the narrator,Daniel Weyman did a superb job. I have now noticed lots of praise about another book of Carlos Ruiz Zafón, The Shadow of the Wind. I must read that one very soon!

Ruiz-Zafon's Favourite Child's

As usual, I was so sad when this story was over. I love the world as it exists in Ruiz-Zafon's mind, knowing that I am safe here in my world. His books are SO realistically scary, in beautiful prose that reads almost like poetry!

Adventure, Love, Mystery & SciFi!!

I have read each of the Author's books as they are released in English. Each has its own appeal. I love all of his books! The plot is a bit macaab.... but kept me on the edge of me seat, wanting to listen to more..... Beware it is a tear jerker!

Beautiful

This is such a beautiful novel that is also beautifully read! Will listen to again!

Spectacular storytelling. Horrific and heartbreaking.

There wasn’t a single thing I didn’t like about this book. The narration is SPOT ON. Not intrusive or annoying at any point, just perfect. The gothic tone wrapped me up from the first chapter and carried me through the entire story. And what a GREAT story! SUPER SCARY. LOVED IT.

YA or Adult, Ruiz Zafon Writes with the Same Splendid Voice

As an English speaker I fell in love with Ruiz Zafon’s Shadow of the Wind immediately upon its English release and then had to wait quite a time before his previous works were available in translated form. I’m happy to be able to dig back into his young adult work now and, despite being a YA novel, the writing and tone of Marina instantly feel like they flow from the same world as his adult novels (which isn’t always the case, even with his YA novels having been written first). The only issue I had with the story was the lengthy explanatory monologue from a newly introduced character that occurred in the final third of the story. A bit too ‘ex machina’ for my personal taste. Nevertheless, the book was a delight to listen to and I will be actively exploring his other YA books in the future.

Amazing

this is no doubt one of the best Gothic reads i have ever encountered. what a beautiful, haunting story. the horror is epic and daunting. the characters are intriguing and interesting. the setting of Barcelona and other places are captured with such vivid detail. the weaving of the story is masterful. I will certainly be reading more work by Carlos in the near future. bravo, bravo!