The Labyrinth of the Spirit

 

The Labyrinth of the Spirit was the fourth installment of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. Carlos, born in Barcelona, was a famous Spanish novelist, gaining fame from his popular works such as The Shadow of the Wind (the first book in the series).  Set in 1945, Barcelona, the book follows Daniel who is still haunted by the mysterious death of his parent, having repeating dreams of the solace separation with his mother. It began when he discovered the Shadow of the Wind, a book by Jullian Carax that would change the course of his life, and began a journey to unravel mysteries, love, and deaths. As he seemingly put behind his determination in reaching new discoveries, Daniel can't put aside the death of his innocent mother. Only when finding Alicia Gris will he find out the truth of his family background. 

Right from the gecko, you will be as enrapture by Carlos's descriptive and beautifully-written illustrative style. I could not be as happy as a sandboy when I discover the fascinating world of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books. How did I come across with such a treasure? Well, I was strolling around the library when the 800-page book caught my attention. Once I opened the book, I was unable to put it back down. It was love at first sight. 

As I mentioned, the book was the last installment of the series created by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. It may be confusing for me to read the book without prior knowledge of the first few books. This greatly concerned me, too. However, at the beginning of the book, it stated that each work follows an independent storyline. You can read the books separately in any order without ruining the plot. This sparked an interest within me as I wonder how such a random sequence can be established in a series, giving me more reason to pick up the book and never let it go. 

Lately, I have had a growing fear of growing up. Two more years and I will set on to face adulthood and make my own history. But, it also means I am away from the safe haven of being a child. People will start to hold accountability for every action you take, and every decision could drastically alter your life. I guess this is a reason why Carlos Ruiz Zafón made the adult fantasy novel, to escape the daily task and responsibilities of being a grown-up, to be completely immersed in a world full of possibilities. Even though I am still in my sophomore year of college, I can't help but feel a sense of burden as each day goes by. Maybe I could enjoy my adolescent life even more by entering the world of the Labyrint of the Spirits.