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A review by bestnarryever
A Sombra do Vento by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
slow-paced
- 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
RATING: 2
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Homophobia, Misogyny, Rape, Incest, Xenophobia, Sexism, Gun violence, Police brutality, Hate crime, Death of parent, and Violence