The City of Mist: Stories

When a favorite writer dies, you slow down on any of that writer's work you haven't read yet because you know you're reaching a hard and fast end to possible "first moments." You're torn between wanting to absorb everything that's available and wanting to stretch out the pleasure for as long as you can. It's a bit like receiving a box of fine chocolates: gobble them down in one sitting and make yourself sick with ecstasy or just eat one a week and make them last for months? And if you've already read everything that writer has published, their passing leaves you bereft, with a sort of hole torn into your reading heart that no other writer's work will be able to fill. That's how I felt when Carlos Ruiz Zafón died in June 2020.

Ruiz show more Zafón in best know for his four volume "Cemetery of Forgotten Books" series that is set in Barcelona in and around the Franco years. Ruiz Zafón has an elegant, gothic writer's voice that would seem over the top coming from almost anyone else, but he pulls it off. Over those four novels readers become familiar with and genuinely attached to the Barcelona Ruiz Zafón depicts.

Now, more than a year after Ruiz Zafón's death, readers have been granted what seems little less than a miracle: a new collection of Ruiz Zafón stories, most set in Barcelona and many featuring characters from the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series. That collection is The City of Mist. The back story here is that Ruiz Zafón had enough time once he knew he was terminally ill, to assemble this collection and that he specifically wanted it released after his death as a small gift for his readers.

And what a gift it is!

The stories aren't perfection. Ruiz Zafón writes best when he writes at length. When he's producing briefer pieces that gothic voice overwhelms the power of character and narrative, which can lead even readers who love him to do a bit of eye rolling. But it doesn't matter that the stories aren't perfect. They're unexpected moments in Ruiz Zafón's world, in his Barcelona, and any reader familiar with his work is always going to be reading the stories within the larger context of his oeuvre. He's already created more than enough magic to imbue these stories with.

The City of Mist is a gift to readers, but those familiar with his work will be most able to appreciate it. If you haven't read any Ruiz Zafón, don't start with City of the Mist. Start with the first book in the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series: The Shadow of the Wind. After that, if he's captivated you the way he's captivated so many readers, keep going with the series and make your way through The Angel's Game, The Prisoner of Heaven, and The Labyrinth of the Spirits. They each stand on their own, but they also twine around each other in complicated, beautiful ways. Then, reach for The City of Mist. You don't, of course, have to follow my suggestions. but take them to heart. Entering Ruiz Zafón's Barcelona for the first time is something you can do only once—and it's worth entering that world in the way Ruiz Zafón first brought it to readers.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own. show less

The City of Mist collects eleven short stories of Carlos Ruiz Zafon, published posthumously, many of which are set in the same world as The Cemetery of Forgotten Books.

A doomed friendship between a rich girl and a poor boy. A young woman giving birth on a dark wintry night. The diabolical agreement that allows Cervantes to write a classic. A creepy Christmas chess game. These stories and more can be found on Ruiz Zafon's collection. Most of the stories are set in Barcelona at various historical periods and translated by Lucia Graves; two were translated by the author himself, and one was written in English. My personal favorite was "Rose of Fire" which is set up as a story by David Martin of "books, dragons and roses" for his fellow show more prisoners. The stories are in varying lengths from a few pages to about 40 pages long, most set in winter and appropriately Gothic, atmospheric, and with a touch (ore more) of the fantastical. It made me want to reread The Cemetery of Forgotten Books series all over again. show less

There are already plenty of reviews of this, so only a few comments. The stories are set in Barcelona, which in Ruiz Zafón is always a spectral, haunted city. Many deal with books in one way or another. Some I liked, some not as much. "Rose of Fire" and the "Prince of Parnassus" provide the backstory for the Cemetery of Forgotten Books.

Some great lines from The City:

"A glass with no wine is an insult to life."

"The long night of history had only just begun." (what a great story ending!)

"A skyscraper is simply a cathedral for people, who instead of believing in God, believe in money."

"Have you noticed how the smarter phones get, the dumber people become."

"'I want to know the meaning of life, I want to know where I can find the best show more chocolate ice cream ever and I want to fall in love,' I declared. 'The answer to your first two wishes is the same.'" (The fallen angel doesn't tell us, but the correct answer is Graeter's) show less

For those who love the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series this short story collection is a must. As with any collection of its kind there are some stories that are stronger than others, but most of them tie back to the original series, giving us a glimpse into the lives and ancestors of the characters we’ve grown to love. We meet assassins, Gaudí, Miguel de Cervantes, and so many ghosts.

It’s not as good as any of his full length novels, but it’s a pleasure to return to the streets of Barcelona created by Zafón. He passed away far too soon last year, so any additional book from him feels like a gift.

“Faith is found when one isn’t looking for it and the day will come when your heart, and not your mind, will long for the show more purification of the soul.”

“A man can forgive everything except being told the truth.” show less

[CITY OF MIST] opens slowly, with a highlight from "Blanca" with David Martin and The Priest.

Not the usual slew of Happy Endings (!), yet moving into 'The Prince of Parnassus" leads to Cervantes
and the memorable 'A poet is the only being whose eyesight improves with age.'

(When entered the quote online to see if it was Cervantes or Zafon,
a beautiful Hawk poem and photograph came up!)

"Gaudi" is another fine story: "Nonsense," Gaudi cut in.

"A skyscraper is simply a cathedral for people who, instead of believing in God,
believe in money."

and then comes the lovely ending, "TWO-MINUTE APOCALYPSE."

How Carlos Ruiz Zafon is missed!!!

Një djalë i vogël vendos të bëhet shkrimtar, kur zbulon se dhuntia e tij krijuese i bie në sy bukuroshes së pasur, që po i vjedh zemrën. Një arkitekt arratiset nga Kostandinopoja me skicat e projektit të një biblioteke, që duhet t’i qëndrojë kohës përjetësisht. Një zotëri i çuditshëm tundon Cervantesin të shkruajë një libër si askush tjetër, çdo faqe e tij do të zgjaste jetën e gruas që dashuron.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C1m82ILvVip/

Carlos Ruiz Zafón - The City of Mist: Short stories from the master, with surprisingly humorous ones originally in English, and one about Cervantes, believe it or not. #cursorybookreviews #cursoryreviews