A review by livlosiewicz
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

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

4.75

Pros: 
·The CHARACTERS! I love me some good creative characters, and Fermin in particular really had my heart. 
·The writing style was witty and funny and overall charming despite the sometimes dark events that occur 
·This was a lovely, interesting book for people who love stories and love to be immersed in books. There’s enough going on that you have to invest a bit to follow everything, and it’s so worth it 
 
Cons: 
·The women in the book were a little subpar for me, bordering a bit too much on mostly being valued for their ability to be the subject of romantic or sexual desires. They did have other strengths (especially Nuria) but this book miserably fails the Bechdel test and Penelope and Bea felt pretty manic-pixie-dreamgirl-esque. 
·There are so many layers to the story that sometimes I got confused and had to backtrack a bit if I hadn’t been paying close attention (mostly because I read it in small bursts though) 
 
Recommendation: I recommend to people who love stories, and who love books where you invest and immerse yourselves in the characters and their world. The characters and writing were wonderfully charming; I was reminded a bit if John Irving and John Boyne. Avoid if you want something fast-paced or have trouble following complicated stories. 
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