Saturday, January 15, 2011

Review: Shadow of the Wind

The Shadow of the WindThe Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón


I read this book a couple of years ago and never completed a review of it until now (I know, what was I thinking?).



Let me start off by saying that this was the first book by Zafon that I had read. But something about the first few pages I read set the tone...I was absolutely enamored. How can you not be with things like this written.....


"Every book, every volume you see here, has a soul. The soul of the person who wrote it and of those who read it and lived and dreamed with it. Every time a book changes hands, every time someone runs his eyes down its pages, its spirit grows and strengthens."



"Books are mirrors: you only see in them what you already have inside you."



"In the shop we buy and sell them, but in truth books have no owner. Every book you see here has been somebody’s best friend."



"Few things leave a deeper mark on the reader, than the first book that finds its way to his heart."



The story is set in Barcelona 1945. Daniel is taken to the "Cemetary of Forgotten Books" by his father. He is allowed to choose one book to read and care for. Little does Daniel know that the book he has chosen leads to a mystery about the author of that book. All of the author's books are being burned by a mysterious person for reasons only known to the shadowy figure that no one seems to know. Daniel seems to have the last book still in existence and he tries to protect the book that has come to mean so much to him.



The characters in this book were amazing, the subplots, the mysteries, the quotes, the wit..... I could go on and on, but you have to read this book! Beautifully written, suspenseful, and one that is put on the list of my favorite of all times.



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2 comments:

Playing Librarian said...

I love this one too!! Have you read Angel's Game?

A Journey in Reading said...

I have read Angel's Game. Loved it as well, it was a little darker but it was great!