The Shadow of the Wind
By Carlos Ruiz Zafón & Lucia Graves
- Release Date: 2004-04-12
- Genre: Literary Fiction
Description
"Anyone who enjoys novels that are scary, erotic, touching, tragic and thrilling should rush right out to the nearest bookstore and pick up The Shadow of the Wind. Really, you should." —Michael Dirda, The Washington Post
“Wondrous...masterful...The Shadow of the Wind is ultimately a love letter to literature, intended for readers as passionate about storytelling as its young hero.” —Entertainment Weekly, Editor's Choice
“This is one gorgeous read.” —Stephen King
"I still remember the day my father took me to the Cemetary of Forgotten Books for the first time..."
Barcelona, 1945: A city slowly heals in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, and Daniel, an antiquarian book dealer’s son who mourns the loss of his mother, finds solace in a mysterious book entitled The Shadow of the Wind, by one Julián Carax. But when he sets out to find the author’s other works, he makes a shocking discovery: someone has been systematically destroying every copy of every book Carax has written. In fact, Daniel may have the last of Carax’s books in existence. Soon Daniel’s seemingly innocent quest opens a door into one of Barcelona’s darkest secrets—an epic story of murder, madness, and doomed love.
Reviews
Mesmerizing
5By sha_buBeautifully written; captures Barcelona perfectly. Thoroughly loved this novel.Where the story ends and life begins.
4By Richard BakareWhen someone recommends me a book I’ve never heard of by an equally unknown author, I approach it with extreme reservation. This one I leapt into because the friend likened it to the wonder you experience reading “100 Years of Solitude.” That friend was spot on in their comparison. Don’t be daunted by the heft of this tome. For every page tightens or loosens this Gordian Knot of mysteries. Every manner of topic is covered by Zafon. From book burnings, to love, regrets, war, politics, loss, and joy. The book examines life and celebrates it with every chapter. Some of the most beautiful and powerful lines I’ve ever read are tucked within these paragraphs and leave you observing an experience outside your own but fully identifying what is universal in all of it. Especially, in how knowledge lives on even when evil tries to snuff it out. Zafron also cleverly weaves in his views on Science vs Religion; particularly as reflected against cultural progress. All of this happens behind the clinical effort of world building and character development that Zafron demonstrates. In the end we explore how history echoes throughout generations.Bravo
5By Archgirl79Gorgeous, funny, dense with plot and characters. This author has the gift of conjuring an immersive world from letters on a page, the wizardry that all books aim for but not often achieve with this level of assurance and craft.Master of Stories
5By Quran listener 10The characters span generations and the changing times within sets a collision coarse between friends and foe that feels eternal. A masterful story indeed!My new favorite author
5By JennyRLRThe Shadow of the Wind has so many stories within stories, so perfectly woven together. It balances poetry and humor, fantasy and reality, violence and romance. It is thrilling and intriguing and I found myself unable to predict what would happen next, which I truly appreciate in a story. Not only does the author bring to life a city full of characters but the city itself is cast as a character in this book. I don’t know which was better, the story or the writing. Both were masterful in my opinion.Beautiful—a literary thriller
5By WhitmbenThis book blew me away. It was beautiful and thoughtful and yet kept me up late at night—I couldn’t put it down.A master of storytelling
4By JerrmanThe first in the related four books is told with Zafon’s elevated imagination and gifts for imagery. Perhaps due to the earlier part of Franco’s repressive regime, it is far more grim and Barcelona’s underbelly is ever present throughout. This is the introduction of the key characters, told within the context of various enduring but tragic loves that can never be reconciled or fulfilled.Stick with it
5By Yael McCueHonestly started to hate it at about 500 pages in, but really glad I stuck with it. You will be too. Question your expectations of it, let the words flow over you, and just enjoy the ride.Incredible
5By Auggie's ManOne of those books that when you’re reading it your annoyed by the life that interrupts you. All I wanted to do was read, and when I realized I was too sleepy, I’d sleep, then start that chapter again. Excellent writing and characters, and wonderful story.Excellent
5By Drvp65This is an excellent book which holds your attention from beginning to end.
