The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
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Web ID: 15625282A lyric
I have not read a book this good in a very long time. It’s a lyric, a fairy tale, one I couldn’t put down. Really restores my faith in literature. And I can’t believe it took me so long to find this 2001 Spanish novel translated into English in 2004. I mean, really, where have I been? Daniel Sempere is the ten-year-old son of a modest bookseller in 1945 Barcelona. His mother died when he was a child, and he helps his father in the shop. One day, his father takes him to a building and swears Daniel to secrecy before allowing him to enter the Cemetery of Forgotten Books. Now, no, this isn’t going to turn into some YA Lost Prince story with magical tomes that whisk the young Daniel to Narnia or something. This is a place where various booksellers around the country deposit books they are afraid will be forgotten. And, really, some of them should be, like The Complete Book of Composting, things like that. As is customary when entering the Cemetery for the first time, Daniel gets to adopt one book for his very own to ensure that it will never die, a la Fahrenheit 451. After wandering the labyrinth of shelves, Daniel is drawn to a volume tucked away in a corner: The Shadow of the Wind, by Julian Carax. He takes the book home and is engulfed by its story of a man searching for his real father. Daniel asks his own father, who is a walking compendium of published works, about the book but Dad has never heard of it nor of the author. They both go see another bookseller, Gustavo Barcelo, a wealthy dealer of rarities who immediately offers to buy the book and Daniel is tempted but it’s been entrusted to him and he refuses. It turns out that Carax was found dead of a gunshot wound on a street shortly after the Spanish Civil War began, and that someone has been going around Europe locating Carax’s other novels and burning them. A badly disfigured man calling himself Lain Coubert, which is the name Carax gave to the Devil in his novel, confronts Daniel and demands the book and threatens him when Daniel refuses. Then, the real story begins. Daniel and the street bum Fermin, who Daniel got his father to hire as a shop assistant, begin a decades long pursuit of Carax and his other novels. With each person they talk to the story grows more complex and tragic and fascinating and their efforts attract the attention of the feared Inspector Fumero of the Guardia, a murderous and cruel secret policeman who does not want Daniel to succeed in his research. Why? Well, that’s what Danel is trying to find out as he unravels the Gordian Knot of Carax’s life. And what he discovers is a heart-breaking tale of lost love and broken families, the damage still reverberating decades later. This read like a long lyrical poem, The Song of Roland, The Faerie Queen, if you will, and Daniel’s and Fermin’s search takes them from some of the worst slums of Barcelona to the richest mansions, each step revealing another layer of Carax’s broken and sad life, one that eerily begins to echo Daniel’s own. The novel flashes back and forth between Daniel’s time and Carax’s, ending in 1966, and there are numerous characters who take up the narrative at several different points, but it is skillfully done. Just a fantastic read. My favorite character is Fermin, an oversexed epicure who is far more resourceful and connected than Daniel knows and who has a golden tongue that gets the two of them into, and out of, trouble. He has the best lines in the whole book. You will find yourself getting annoyed at Zafon’s reluctance to wrap things up. I get that. He loved his characters and simply didn’t want to let them go. Which, actually, he didn’t because this is the first of The Cemetery of Forgotten Books novels, which I am definitely going to read. You should, too.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Hate to see this book end!
With over 70 years of books behind me, to say this ranks in the top 10 is an understatement. Be prepared for mixed feelings about after reading: the desire to immediately share and recommend it to others...and yet, the feeling of wanting to keep this book in one's personal library! So well written, it should be a must read for any serious lover of literature.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
4.5 stars
THE SHADOW OF THE WIND by Carlos Ruiz Zafón This is the first book in a quartet. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I knew the reviews were mostly positive. Upon reading the first few pages I was instantly hooked. I have spent the last few days wandering the streets of (1954-1966) Barcelona, Spain with Daniel Sempere. At eleven years old Daniel discovers a rare book called ‘The Shadow of the Wind’ by Julían Carax in a labyrinth of a library called Cemetery of Forgotten Books. (A library filled with forgotten books? When can I move in?!) Daniel becomes intrigued by the mysterious author’s tragic life story and rumors that all the other known copies of Julían’s books have been stolen and burned. Daniel as grows up, makes friends and as a young adult begins to work alongside his father in their bookstore. All the while, Daniel hasn’t forgotten about the mysterious Julían Carax so he enlists the help of his friend and coworker Fermín. The characters (there were many!) are interesting and memorable. I especially loved Fermín’s witticisms, questionable advice and endearing bravado throughout the story. I do feel the women, Penèlope, Nuria and Bea, suffered the most due to the arcane societal pressures and circumstances. If you love books and reading books about books, you’ll enjoy this story within a story. The writing is wonderful and has all the dark, historical gothic suspense and drama you’d expect. Highly recommend! Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
FAVORITE
Absolutely one of my favorite series! Honestly I don't know why this isn't hyped up more. I will recommend this series until my deathbed! It has mystery, romance, friendships, crime and I guess suspense. A girlfriend/classmate in college recommended it to me back in 2007-2008 I don't remember and I have loved it. The last book " The labyrinth of spirits" just came out recently in 2020 I think or 2021. so if you are reading, give it a shot.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Page turner
I finished this book in a weekend. What great writing...especially as a translation. The original spanish version must be even better. It's not a NY best seller for nothing! A must read.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Amazing book!!
This is the best book I have ever read and by far my favorite. I couldn't put it down. I didn't want the book to end!!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Not for me.
I put Shadow of the Wind aside for the third time in the pile to go to the library. The story just goes on and on with out going anywhere. Many characters make it confusing and slow pace of development make it tiresome. Well written but not for me.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
I don't get the good reviews
First the writing is good. But I gave it 100 pages and I just found it dull dull dull. I must have picked this up 4 different times to try to find out what people were seeing but I think if it hasn't grabbed me by 50 pages and I gave it 100, it isn't worth carrying on.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com