Reviews

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

mickey_dimitrova's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

celestecorrea's review against another edition

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5.0

Estaremos ligados numa estranha cadeia de destinos e acasos?

«Ainda me recordo daquele amanhecer em que o meu pai me levou pela primeira vez a visitar o Cemitério dos Livros Esquecidos», assim começa o primeiro livro da saga O Cemitério dos Livros Esquecidos.
Um incipit prometedor de um bom livro recheado de muitas personagens e uma história que o autor soube narrar com habilidade; no entanto, é aconselhável que se leia de seguida para não perder o fio à meada.
A premissa é muito original: a história de uns livros e do homem que os escreveu, de uma personagem que fugiu das páginas de um romance para os queimar, de uma traição e de uma amizade perdida. Há ainda amor, ódio e sonhos que vivem na sombra do vento.
Uma história de gente só, de ausências e de perda em que Daniel, o nosso admirável protagonista, se refugiou até a confundir com a sua vida, como quem escapa das páginas de um romance porque os que precisa de amar são só sombras que vivem na alma de um estranho.
Tudo ambientado numa Barcelona que nos fascina num tempo histórico que o autor descreve com breves e precisas pinceladas: sentimos o ar envenenado de medo e de ódio, os olhares de receio e do silêncio, escutamos os boatos e os murmúrios.
Depois de «Marina» e outro título de uma trilogia juvenil, Zafón convenceu-me, por fim.

cynicalworm's review against another edition

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2.0

This book is a major disappointment.

Originally drawn in by the rave reviews and the concept introduced in the first chapter, after laboring through this book, I have discovered that the "cemetery of forgotten books" is merely one of many corpses found in the cemetery of abandoned side-plots.

In response to those shouting "but it's a gothic novel!", no literary genre excuses carpet-bombing the reader with exposition at random turns.

For those about to make the same mistake I did, let me warn you that the entire novel is wrapped up through 85 straight pages of a post-humous tell-all letter addressed to the protagonist, followed by three chapters that read like post-scripts written in response to an editor's sticky notes.

The Shadow of the Wind is a novel that is better forgotten.

sachahart_logan's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Barcelona, mystery that builds through the book, great characters 

klovi's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny inspiring mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0


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aydon's review against another edition

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4.0

really solid. the main character is kinda boring, especially compared to most of the side characters, but it's still a pretty interesting read. some parts drag, but the mystery is intriguing, and the payoff is worth it. there's a reveal that blew me away with how zafón sneaks it right under your nose, and there are definitely some turns i didn't expect. kept me engaged right to the very end, banger book

8/10

aixahv3858's review against another edition

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5.0

Decía Fermín Romero de Torres que Barcelona es bruja, se le mete a uno en la piel y le roba el alma sin que uno se dé ni cuenta. Y lo mismo se puede decir de esta novela. No importa las veces que se lea, ni lo mucho que se conozca ya a los personajes, siempre se encuentra algo nuevo entre sus páginas que te acaba robando el corazón.

laura_mikasa's review against another edition

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4.0

Me gustó la historia y el personaje de Fermín. Los detalles y las reflexiones de la guerra te dan un buen contexto de la situación tan dificil que pasaron los personajes. Me hubiera gustado que tuviese mas suspenso acerca de la sombra y menos drama, creo que habia situaciones que no requerian un drama tan complejo o exagerado.

emmhardt's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

mayke's review against another edition

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5.0

What a beautiful book. A romantic story, mixed with mystery. Many characters, many secrets.

Since there are more books to this series, I thought the story wouldn't wrap up as much as it did. And that was only in the last tens of pages. Not in a rushed way though. The story ended neat in my opinion. Beautiful writing by the author, who writes in certain poetic way that is just wonderful to read.


(Buddy Read)