Recommended by Aatia

DNF @ p. 132

I so desperately wanted to love this, wanted to sink into a magical story and feel absorbed by a Gothic world. Unfortunately, it's not working for me. Daniel, the main character, does not strike me as particularly sympathetic or interesting- I can't really get a read on his personality at all. As a matter of fact, I don't feel like any of the characters have distinctive personalities beyond certain caricature-like traits.

The writing style is overwrought but somehow also underwhelming??

I loved the idea of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books- but that's abandoned as quickly as it is introduced. Zafon opts to drag out the details of Daniel's humdrum daily life than to focus on the magic, the wonder, the BOOKS! As the author described Julián Carax's novels, I couldn't help but feel that I would rather be reading those stories instead.

And as for atmosphere and setting, I can think of several other books that elevate their city to character status and do it much better (All the Light We Cannot See, Hunchback of Notre Dame).

Another DNF for me and when in the hell will I get out of this reading slump