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caraali's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Blood, Stalking, Gun violence, and Sexual assault
sherbertwells's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
“I imagined Julián Carax at my age, holding that image in his hand, perhaps in the shade of the same tree that now sheltered me. I could almost see him smiling confidently, contemplating a future as wide and luminous as that avenue, and for a moment I thought there were no more ghosts there than those of absence and loss and that the light that smiled on me was borrowed light, real only as long as I could hold it in my eyes, second by second” (147)
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Sexism, Religious bigotry, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Gun violence, and Blood
Minor: War, Racial slurs, and Forced institutionalization
bestnarryever's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
And once again, a book everyone loves that I hate
This was one of the worst reading experiences I've ever had (note: emphasis on "EXPERIENCE", because it reflects only my experience and not the quality of the book)
Yes, I'm that annoyed and revolted comment among several 5 stars and why didn't I like it? Because books have different effects on people!
“Why didn't you DNF it then?" Honestly, because I wanted to know if I'm crazy for being the only person I know who couldn't stand to read this book. I only finished it because I found an audiobook on Scribd.
I do have to admit that the book’s elements are well connected and that Zafon's writing is beautiful (but not stunning), but that was only worth a 2-star pity rating. The book isn't bad, but it's definitely not for me.
Starting at the core of the problem: the book lean towards a genre I don’t like - mystery. I can't stand it when the author purposefully hides something during the entire book to reveal it only at the end, and in the case of “The Shadow of the Wind”, this book is a big nothing in between, and throws all the information you wanted to know at the end, when everything could have been told to you at 20%.
“But the book also brings atmosphere and historical fiction." Okay. However, the beautiful writing came mostly in moments of total digression, with some irrelevant information or even talking about characters that we never saw again. I also hated the “journey” structure of going here and there asking people things. It was STALLING. Also, the historical fiction elements - which is one of my favorite genres - got lost with so much shallow characters. I would say 25% of the characters are relevant. I was extremely disappointed that a character like Nuria, super intriguing, is just a spokesperson, and Daniel's father looks like a mannequin who only questions the boy. Oh, and Daniel is also shallow, no one can convince me otherwise. To finish it off, one of the characters we know best is rotten when it comes to personality, he is racist and sexist - despite it being a characteristic of the time, he trivialized the comments to a point of changing the focal point of my reading into that in a book that is not even about these prejudices. Some scenes are even heavier than heavy scenes in historical fiction books about prejudice I've read.
I end the review by saying: yes, read it. I know that I can't stand mystery, I just didn't expect to be so disappointed, considering that I liked the first 10%. Also: my opinion is not the absolute truth, so here's one more reason for you to read and draw your own conclusions. But for me, it sucked.
Graphic: Racism, Homophobia, Misogyny, Rape, Incest, Xenophobia, Sexism, Gun violence, Police brutality, Hate crime, Death of parent, and Violence
suzyhps's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
While the writing in this book was stunning and I was intrigued by the mystery, it was just too long and slow for me. I personally struggle with mysteries and violence in stories, which were both present for this story. Had it been shorter I think I would have sped through it happily. Wonderful characters though, and fantastic twist, if ever so slightly predictable.
Finished:
Initially I had dnf'd this book, as it felt like it was plodding along with no respite. I still feel that there were a lot of sections that were incredibly dense and perhaps unnecessary, but this may also be a result of the work being translated. I am glad I finished this book though, it was a brilliantly twisting story, one twist after the other, and many moments of reading with bated breath. The characters felt full and complex, and it wasn't too hard to empathize with at least a number of them. I am not jumping to read this story again, but I am happy I picked it back up, so I can have the story bumbling around in my head now.
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Gun violence
distilledreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit
clemounette's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, and Police brutality
Moderate: Homophobia, Pregnancy, and Sexual violence
jessie_reads_too_much's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Sexual assault, and Torture
andreeanz's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Moderate: Violence, Torture, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Homophobia, and Gun violence
Minor: Blood and Death
gwynsvan's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Police brutality, and Violence
Moderate: Grief and Sexual content
Minor: Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Miscarriage, and Torture
jashanac's review against another edition
5.0
I love this book. Despite it containing several elements that I tend not to like. Primarily: the melodrama of it all.
I often find melodramatic, navel-gazing stories where the characters are all a bit morose and despairing VERY unenjoyable. And there's a decent amount of that in this story. However, there is also a particular light-heartedness and sense of humor to it all, which I think is what made me love it so much. That blend of serious, despairing, what-is-the-meaning-of-it-all-and-are-we-all-just-doomed-to-be-tragic moments and the optimism, humor, and tongue-in-cheek moments just really hit for me. Fermin de Torres is by far my favorite character, but Daniel is number two. Fermin is absolutely HILARIOUS.
Also, the prose. I wish I could read Spanish completely fluently, because I can only imagine how it is in the original language. But even in the English translation, the prose is wonderful. I was ENGROSSED in this book.
It might help that I did a summer study abroad program in Barcelona back in college, so re-reading this just made me ACHE for Barcelona. I felt like I was there again, and recognized the atmosphere of the various streets and parts of the city... it was just beautifully described, all the way around.
I also think that I enjoyed it so much because while, yes, it's quite a tragic, gothic, morose story... there's so much mystery involved and you're watching it all unfold and all of the various plot twists (which I had completely forgotten about!) made it so entertaining as well as lush and captivating.
Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Pregnancy
Minor: War