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runekeon's review against another edition
3.0
This book had interesting parts and parts that I found hard to keep focused on. I would get to one of the interesting parts and find I had no clue how the story got there. I would have to rewind and try to pay attention to the tedious parts again. Its written in the story in a story in a story kind of style and has lots of characters. The narrator did a good job but with all the characters might have been easier if they had more that one reader.
jamuckley's review against another edition
5.0
Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s first book, The Shadow of the Wind, in the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series is the story of Daniel Sempere discovering a forgotten book written by the enigma, Julián Carax, a young novelist, who was mysteriously murdered, and then his published novels start disappearing when a shady character, scarred by burns acquire them so that he can incinerate them and completely destroy the memory of Carax forever.
The story is about Sempere’s investigation into Carax, what became of him, and the twists and turns surrounding his life and those related to it. It was a beautifully written novel, full of poetic prose that ties up every loose end. It was a thrilling page-turner full of romance, betrayal, and danger. Evil lurks around every turn, mirroring both the life of Carax and his own novel, also called “The Shadow of the Wind.” It is a story of loss and grief and redemption.
There are lots of wonderful quotes throughout the novel of the power of books and story. There are many nuggets of wisdom strewn throughout book about life. I thoroughly enjoyed this first book in the series and hope to read the others. It was a fascinating story that I relished the entire read.
The story is about Sempere’s investigation into Carax, what became of him, and the twists and turns surrounding his life and those related to it. It was a beautifully written novel, full of poetic prose that ties up every loose end. It was a thrilling page-turner full of romance, betrayal, and danger. Evil lurks around every turn, mirroring both the life of Carax and his own novel, also called “The Shadow of the Wind.” It is a story of loss and grief and redemption.
There are lots of wonderful quotes throughout the novel of the power of books and story. There are many nuggets of wisdom strewn throughout book about life. I thoroughly enjoyed this first book in the series and hope to read the others. It was a fascinating story that I relished the entire read.
gabriela8423's review against another edition
3.0
3,5⭐️ bardzo ciężko mi szło pierwsze 200 stron, akcja zaczyna się tak naprawde dopiero w polowie ksiazki
bgemme's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. I was gripped by the story in the very few pages, though this is the kind of book I can't read at bedtime because I felt tense! I loved the characters - flaws and all - and thought it was all great... until I got to the supposedly handwritten letter from Nuria Monfort. I can live with a devil-looking man with burning red eyes, but not with a 100-page "letter" that unpacks all the plot that feels more like narration from an omniscient narrator that retells even events where she clearly wasn't with a great level of detail... in what would have been a very short amount of time, and that would fit, folded, in someone's inner jacket pocket. C'm'on.
Overall, there are probably 100 too many pages in the book, and that letter should have been no more than 10 pages.
Still, I really enjoyed the story and spent a good time in Barcelona with Daniel and Fermin, so I am rounding up rather than down.
Overall, there are probably 100 too many pages in the book, and that letter should have been no more than 10 pages.
Still, I really enjoyed the story and spent a good time in Barcelona with Daniel and Fermin, so I am rounding up rather than down.
forcenerie's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
llesky's review against another edition
3.0
It must get better. Right?
It did, and I liked it! It was one of those books where I wished I had been paying closer attention at the beginning!
It did, and I liked it! It was one of those books where I wished I had been paying closer attention at the beginning!
azket1965's review against another edition
3.0
This is overly dramatic, gothic, wordy book. I LOVE IT!
jstillwell's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
sgonk's review against another edition
3.0
An engrossing story but too romantic and too much explaining of the (ultimately banal) mysteries.
nweem218's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful words. Interesting characters. (A little hard to read because there were SO MANY names)
As I was finishing this book, I ALMOST hated it lol... but then I didn't.
As I was finishing this book, I ALMOST hated it lol... but then I didn't.