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A review by amarettto
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
4.0
This was an enjoyable read. I'm a sucker for historical fiction and this is the first time I've come across historical and fictional mystery. Needless to say, it was really different from other books I've read and the author has a great knack for describing events and scenes in a romantic way, perfectly capturing tones of wistfulness, longing, and finally contentment, among others.
My biggest gripe with this book would be that there were a few characters too many which made it kind of difficult to keep track of, and some plotlines/events seemed unnecessary, though I agree they added that little pixie dust to the book because that's where most of the beautiful descriptions lay (for ex. the entire Daniel and Clara story arc).
I particularly liked that one recurring quote throughout the book that 'books are mirrors that reflect what is already inside us'. I found this so interesting and can see some truth in it because I wonder if any two people can have an identical experience reading the same work. The things that stuck out to me and gave me my opinion of it and what I will remember of this book, are most likely completely unique to me. Just an interesting reflection I didn't expect to find in this book!
Overall, an intriguing story set against a charming and mystical backdrop.
My biggest gripe with this book would be that there were a few characters too many which made it kind of difficult to keep track of, and some plotlines/events seemed unnecessary, though I agree they added that little pixie dust to the book because that's where most of the beautiful descriptions lay (for ex. the entire Daniel and Clara story arc).
I particularly liked that one recurring quote throughout the book that 'books are mirrors that reflect what is already inside us'. I found this so interesting and can see some truth in it because I wonder if any two people can have an identical experience reading the same work. The things that stuck out to me and gave me my opinion of it and what I will remember of this book, are most likely completely unique to me. Just an interesting reflection I didn't expect to find in this book!
Overall, an intriguing story set against a charming and mystical backdrop.