History Literature / Marina1999

In September 1979, cynic OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent Óscar Drai likes to explore the old parts of Barcelona during the little free time given by his depressing boarding school. His life is dull until in one of his walkouts he meets a dreamy, beautiful girl named Marina, who soon involves them both in a mystery that has its roots in the city's glorious past. Through the story, Óscar and Marina will be forced to solve an enigma that will threaten their very lives and whose sinister nature few could imagine, all within a world of nostalgia, decaying love, and blurred memories. After all, as Marina says, sometimes we only remember what never really happened.

* ActionSurvivor: Óscar may be just an [[OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent average highschooler]], but he knows how to save the day when it's needed.

* ArtisticLicenseBiology: Kolvenik uses a serum synthesized from a butterfly species that allows to reanimate clinically dead but otherwise intact (or [[WeCanRebuildHim rebuilt]]) organisms. While this doesn't trascend the AppliedPhlebotinum field, the fact that Kolvenik himself could be resurrected after rotting in his grave during 20 years is quite head-scratching, as his tissues would be too decayed for a serum to work in them in the first place. Of course, the handwave is still there.
* ArcWords: "Sometimes we only remember what never happened", Marina's famous quote.
* BackFromTheDead: Mijail Kolvenik is resurrected [[spoiler:by María Shelley.]]
* BigBad: Mijail Kolvenik.
* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:Kolvenik is killed again and his nightmares burn with him, but [[TearJerker Marina dies]], and Óscar is left to his dark life again to lick his emotional wounds and carry on.]]
* BodyHorror: Kolvenik and his creatures.
* BrokenBird: Marina. [[spoiler:She has the same illness that killed her mother, and knows she has little time to live.]]
* TheCallKnowsWhereYouLive: In this case, Kolvenik knows where you live.

* CoolOldGuy: Germán.
* CyberneticsEatYourSoul: Though, in Kolvenik's case, he was already insane before he turned himself into a cyborg.
* {{Cyborg}}: In a DieselPunk imagery.
* DarkerAndEdgier: Unusually for a young adult novel, although rather usual in Zafón's works.
* DeadpanSnarker: Marina and Óscar are both quite snarking characters, [[BelligerentSexualTension especially at each other]].
* DeathByNewberyMedal: [[spoiler:Marina at the end.]]

* FirstLove: Implied with Óscar, and probably with Marina as well.
* FirstPersonSmartass: A Zafón trademark.
* FriendlessBackground: Marina, as she is homeschooled. Óscar qualifies as well, as he seems to have no friends aside from JF.
* HairOfGoldHeartOfGold: The titular girl has hay-colored hair, in the protagonist's words, and is generally sweet unless provoked.
* HeroicBSOD: [[spoiler:Óscar after Marina's death.]]
* HumanoidAbomination: Kolvenik and his creatures.
* {{Hypochondria}}: JF according to Óscar, although the only time he demonstrates it on-page it comes across as TerrifiedOfGerms instead.
* InnerMonologue: Another trademark of Zafón.
* InvisibleParents: Óscar's parents are mentioned, but we never meet them, as they are away working.

* KavorkaMan: Quim Salvat, Germán's mentor and possible biological father, is described as looking like a bear yet being also great with ladies.
* MacabreMothMotif: The ''teufel'' moths.

* MarionetteMaster: Kolvenik created puppet minions out of dead people.

* POVBoyPosterGirl: The book definitely follows this dynamic, title included.
* SavvyGuyEnergeticGirl: Downplayed. Marina is not very energetic by the standards of this trope, but she is the one who drags the duller Óscar to their adventures (at least until the adventures start dragging them around).

** Kolvenik's room full of toylike artificial beings (among them a weird harlequin) and JF's name are probably nods to ''Film/BladeRunner'', which was released back when Zafón was a teenager like Óscar.
* SoapOperaDisease: Marina's mom Kirsten had one of those, with syntomps like dizziness, weakness and frequent bleeding. [[spoiler:Which Marina also demonstrates.]]
* SpellMyNameWithAnS: Although vaguely Russian-sounding, "Kolvenik" isn't actually a name anywhere; ''Kolenik'', however, is a fairly popular Czech last name.

* WhoWantsToLiveForever

* MultiethnicName: Marina's full name is technically Marina Blau Auermann, with a Spanish Catalonian surname and a German one.

In September 1979, cynic OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent Óscar Drai likes to explore the old parts of Barcelona during the little free time given by his depressing boarding school. His life is boring and anodine until in one of his walkouts he mets a dreamy, beautiful girl named Marina, who soon involves them both in a mystery that has its roots in the city's glorious past. Through the story, Óscar and Marina will be forced to solve an enigma that will threaten their very lives and whose sinister nature few could imagine, all within a world of nostalgia, decaying love and blurred memories. After all, as Marina says, sometimes we only remember what never really happened.

* ArtisticLicenseBiology:
** Kolvenik uses a serum synthesized from a butterfly species that allows to reanimate clinically dead but otherwise intact (or [[WeCanRebuildHim rebuilt]]) organisms. While this doesn't trascend the AppliedPhlebotinum field, the fact that Kolvenik himself could be resurrected after rotting in his grave during 20 years is quite head-scratching, as his tissues would be too decayed for a serum to work in them in the first place. Of course, the handwave is still there.
** It's never explained how exactly does Kolvenik have his zombies {{Brainwash}}ed in order to obey him. In fact, Óscar gets [[spoiler:María]] to [[IKnowYouAreInThereSomewhereFight momentarily snap out of the mind control]] when he finds her turned into an abomination.

''Marina'' is a 1999 novel by Spanish writer Carlos Ruiz Zafón.

In the Spain of TheEighties, cynic OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent Óscar Drai likes to explore the old parts of Barcelona during his boarding school's free time. His life is boring and anodine until in one of his walkouts he mets a dreamy, beautiful girl named Marina, who soon involves them both in a mystery that has its roots in the city's glorious past. Through the story, Óscar and Marina will be forced to solve an enigma that will threaten their very lives and whose sinister nature few could imagine, all within a world of nostalgia, decaying love and blurred memories. After all, as Marina says, sometimes we only remember what never really happened.

* FriendlessBackground: Marina, as she is homeschooled. Óscar qualifies as well, as he seems to have no friends aside JF.
* HairOfGoldHeartOfGold: The titular girl has hay-colored hair, in the protagonist's words.

* MarionetteMaster: Kolvenik created puppet minions ''out of dead people''.

** María Shelley is an obvious one to Creator/MaryShelley, author of ''Literature/{{Frankenstein}}''.
** Both Kolvenik's room full of toylike artificial beings (among them a weird harlequin) and JF's name are probably nods to ''Film/BladeRunner'', which was released back when Zafón was around Óscar's age.

In the Spain of TheEighties, cynic OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent Óscar Drai likes to explore the old parts of Barcelona during his boarding school's free time. His life is boring and anodine until in one of his walkouts he mets a dreamy, beautiful girl named Marina, who soon involves them both in a mystery that has its roots in the city's glorious past. Through the story, Óscar and Marina will be forced to solve an enigma that will threaten their very lives and whose sinister nature few could imagine, all within a world of nostalgia, decaying love and blurred memories. After all, as Marina says, sometimes we only remember what never happened.

* ArcWords: "Sometimes we only remember what never happened", Marina's quote.

* SpellMyNameWithAnS: Although vaguely Russian-sounding, "Kolvenik" isn't actually a name anywhere; '''Kolenik''', however, is a fairly popular Czech last name.

''Marina'' is a 1999 novel by Spanish writer Carlos Ruiz Zafón. It was his last young adult novel.

In the 70's Spain, cynic OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent Óscar Drai likes to explore the old parts of Barcelona during his boarding school's free time. His life is boring and anodine until in one of his walkouts he mets a dreamy girl named Marina, who soon involves them both in a mystery that has its roots in the city's glorious past. Through the story, Óscar and Marina will be forced to solve an enigma that will threaten their lives and whose nature few could imagine...

''Marina'' is a 2001 novel by Spanish writer Carlos Ruiz Zafón. It was his last young adult novel.

In the 70's Spain, cynic OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent Óscar Drai likes to explore the old parts of Barcelona at his boarding school's free time. His life is boring and anodine until in one of his walkouts he mets a dreamy girl named Marina, who soon involves them both in a mystery that has its roots in the city's glorious past. Through the story, Óscar and Marina will be forced to solve an enigma that will threaten their lives and whose nature few could imagine...

** Kolvenik uses a serum synthesized from a butterfly species that allows to reanimate clinically dead but otherwise intact (or [[WeCanRebuildHim rebuilt]]) organisms. While this doesn't trascend the AppliedPhlebotinum field, the fact that Kolvenik himself could be resurrected after rotting in his grave during 20 years is quite head-scratching, as his tissues would be too decayed to work with the serum.

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:Kolvenik is killed again and his nightmares burn with him, but [[TearJerker Marina dies]], and Óscar is left to his dark life again to lick the wounds of his heart and carry on.]]

* BrokenBird: Marina. [[spoiler:She has the same illness that killed her mother and knows she has little time to live.]]

* {{Cyborg}}

* InnerMonologue
* InvisibleParents: Óscar's parents are mentioned, but we never meet them, as they are away.

* ManicPixieDreamGirl: Deconstructed and played for drama. Marina definitely lights up Óscar's life, and even he [[ConversationalTroping acknowledges]] to himself how WishFulfillment-ish is the case of a [[LoserArchetype lonely daydreamer like him]] befriending a [[GirlOfMyDreams sweet beautiful girl]] who makes his joyless life dangerously interesting. However, [[spoiler:this only causes him to completely break down when she dies, as he loses the girl he loved and the only light there was in his life.]]

* SavvyGuyEnergeticGirl: Downplayed. Marina is not very energetic by the standards of this trope, but she is the one who drags around the duller Óscar to their adventures (at least until the adventures start dragging them around).

** Both Kolvenik's room full of toylike artificial beings (among them a weird harlequin) and JF's name are probably nods to ''Film/BladeRunner''.

''Marina'' is a 2001 novel by Spanish writer Carlos Ruiz Zafón. It was his last young adult novel, and is considered by Zafón as his greatest work in said genre.

In the 70's Spain, cynic highschooler Óscar Drai likes to explore the old parts of Barcelona at his boarding school's free time. His life is boring and anodine until in one of his walkouts he mets a dreamy girl named Marina, who soon involves them both in a mystery which has its roots in the city's glorious past. Through the story, Óscar and Marina will be forced to solve an enigma which will threaten their lives and whose nature few could immagine...

* ActionSurvivor: Óscar.
* ArtisticLicenseBiology: Kolvenik uses a serum synthesized from a butterfly species which allows to reanimate clinically dead but otherwise intact (or [[WeCanRebuildHim rebuilt]]) organisms. While this doesn't trascend the AppliedPhlebotinum field, the fact that Kolvenik himself could be resurrected after rotting in his grave during 20 years is quite head-scratching, as his tissues would be too decayed to work with the serum.
** It's never explained how Kolvenik has his zombies {{Brainwash}}ed in order to obey him. In fact, Óscar gets [[spoiler:María]] to [[IKnowYouAreInThereSomewhereFight momentarily snap out of the mind control]] when he finds her turned into an abomination.

* BadassNormal: Óscar may be just an [[OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent average highschooler]], but he knows how to save the day when it's needed.

* BrokenBird: Marina. [[spoiler:She has the same illness which killed her mother and knows she has little time to live.]]

* ClassicalAntiHero: Óscar describes himself as talented in nothing and little more than an average highschool boy.

* CyberneticsEatYourSoul: Kolvenik says yeah.

* DeadpanSnarker: Marina and Óscar are both quite snarking characters, [[BelligerentSexualTension specially at each other]].
* [[spoiler:DeathByNewberyMedal: Marina at the end.]]
* EatingTheEyeCandy: Happens at the beach, with surprisingly discrete results, when Óscar eyes Marina's wet underwear after swimming until she covers herself upon realizing this.

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Again, both Óscar and Marina. They can be somewhat jerky and/or displicent, especially when their buttons are touched, but deep down they are warm people who care very much for each's other.

* ManicPixieDreamGirl: Deconstructed and played for drama. Marina definitely lights up Óscar's life, and even he [[ConversationalTroping acknowledges]] to himself how WishFulfillment-ish looks the case of a [[LoserArchetype sad, lonely daydreamer like him]] befriending a [[GirlOfMyDreams sweet beautiful girl]] who makes his joyless life dangerously interesting. However, [[spoiler:this only causes him to completely break down when she dies, as he loses the girl he loved and the only light there was in his life.]]

* NonActionGuy: Óscar.
** NonActionSnarker.
* POVBoyPosterGirl: The book definitely follows this dynamic.
* SavvyGuyEnergeticGirl: Downplayed. Marina is not that energetic, but she has way more energy than the easy-going Óscar.

* SugarAndIcePersonality: Marina's personality often fluctuates between sweet and cynic.

* MarionetteMaster: Kolvenik created puppet minions ''out from dead people''.

* ShoutOut: Kolvenik's room full of toylike artificial beings and JF's name might perfectly be nods to ''Film/BladeRunner''.
* SpellMyNameWithAnS: "Kolvenik" isn't actually a name anywhere; '''Kolenik''', however, is a fairly popular Czech last name.

* ArtisticLicenseBiology: In the story, Kolvenik uses a serum synthesized from a butterfly species which allows reanimate clinically dead but otherwise intact (or [[WeCanRebuildHim rebuilt]]) organisms. While this doesn't trascend the AppliedPhlebotinum field, the fact that Kolvenik himself could be resurrected after rotting in his grave during 20 years is quite head-scratching, as his tissues would be too decayed to work with the serum.
** It's never explained how Kolvenik has his zombies {{Brainwash}}ed in order to obey him. In fact, Óscar gets [[spoiler:María]] to [[IKnowYouAreInThereSomewhereFight momentarily snap out of the control]] when he finds her turned into an abomination.

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:Kolvenik is killed again and his nightmares burn with him, but [[TearJerker Marina dies]]. Óscar is left to his dark life again, with the only hope to lick the wounds of his heart and carry on.]]
* BodyHorror
* BrokenBird: Marina.

* CharacterDevelopment: Marina, although very subtle.
** DefrostingIceQueen.
* ClassicalAntiHero: Óscar.
* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: In an internal light, both Óscar and Marina belong to a quiet variety of daydreamers.

* DarkerAndEdgier: Inusually for a young adult novel, although rather habitual in Zafón's works.

* FriendlessBackground: Marina, as she was homeschooled. Óscar qualifies as well, as he seems to have no friends aside JF.

* InvisibleParents: Óscar's parents are mentioned, but we never meet them.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Though Marina can be somewhat jerky.

* ManicPixieDreamGirl: Marina is not precisely a manic pixie, but definitely she is able to light up Óscar's life.
* MaleGaze: Marina and Óscar play this trope at the beach, with surprisingly discrete results.

* SavvyGuyEnergeticGirl: Downplayed, as Marina is not very energetic, but she has way more energy than the easy-going Óscar.

* BittersweetEnding

* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: Both Óscar and Marina belong to a quiet variety of dreamers.

* FirstLove: Implied with Óscar, and probably with Marina.

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Marina.
* ManicPixieDreamGirl: Marina is not precisely a manic, but definitely she is able to light up Óscar's life.

* SavvyGuyEnergeticGirl: Downplayed. Marina is not very energetic, but has ''way'' more energy than the easy-going Óscar.

* StrangeGirl: Marina.

* BelligerentSexualTension: Between Óscar and Marina.

* BittersweeterEnding

* ComingOfAgeStory

* SugarAndIcePersonality: Marina's personality often fluctuates between sweet and cynic. Inside, she is both.

* FauxlosophicNarration

* SavvyGuyEnergeticGirl: Marina and Óscar, with sharp resemblances to [[HaruhiSuzumiya Haruhi and Kyon]].

* SugarAndIcePersonality: Marina's personality often fluctuates between sweet and cynic.

** It's never explained how Kolvenik has his zombies {{Brainwash}}ed in order to obey him. Óscar gets [[spoiler:by María]] to [[IKnowYouAreInThereSomewhereFight momentarily snap out of the control]] when he finds her turned into an abomination.

* NonActionGuy: Óscar and slighly Marina.

* ArtisticLicenseBiology: In the story, Kolvenik uses a serum synthesized from a butterfly species which allows reanimate clinically dead but otherwise intact (or [[WeCanRebuildHim rebuilt]]) organisms. While this doesn't trascend the AppliedPhlebotinum field, the fact that Kolvenik himself was resurrected after 20 years rotting in his grave is quite head-scratching, as his tissues would be too decayed to work with the serum.
** It's never explained how Kolvenik has his zombies {{Brainwash}}ed in order to obey him. Óscar gets [[spoiler:by María]] to momentarily snap when he finds her turned into a abomination.

* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: Both Óscar and Marina are a quiet variety.

* DarkerAndEdgier: Inusually for a young adult novel, although somehow habitual in Zafón's works.

* ManicPixieDreamGirl: Marina is not precisely a manic, but definitely she is this to Óscar.

* SugarAndIcePersonality: Marina's personality fluctuates between sweet and cynic.

* ArtisticLicenseBiology: In the story, Kolvenik uses a serum synthesized from a butterfly species which allows reanimate clinically dead but otherwise intact (or [[WeCanRebuiltHim rebuilt]]) organisms. While this doesn't trascend the AppliedPhlebotinum field, the fact that Kolvenik himself was resurrected after 20 years rotting in his grave is quite head-scratching, as his tissues would be too decayed to work with the serum.
** It's never explained how Kolvenik has his zombies {{Brainwash}}es in order to obey him. Óscar gets [[Spoiler:by María]] to momentarily snap when he finds her turned into a abomination.
* BackFromTheDead: Mijail Kolvenik is resurrected [[Spoiler:by María Shelley.]]

* [[Spoiler:DeathByNewberyMedal: Marina at the end.]]

* HeroicBSOD: [[Spoiler:Óscar after Marina's death.]]