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

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

4.5

The story is set in Barcelona in 1945. Daniel is brought by his father to a library called "Cemetery of Forgotten Books". He discovers a mysterious book entitled "The Shadow of the wind" by an author called Julián Carax. The boy is so interested in this book that he wants to find other work by the same author. But he finds out that he may have the last of Carax' books. They all have been destroyed. Daniel wants to know the truth behind Carax' story. What secrets does the past hold and how will they influence this boy's life?

This book was intense and made me feel all kinds of emotions. I cried, i laughed, i got angry, i was amazed, i was scared, everything happened in this book. This book is so rich in its poetic language that i felt like i had to memorize every line. That's how beautifully this is written.

I'm not gonna lie, there was a moment when i felt a little bit overwhelmed, because of how intense it got. But i'm so happy i kept on reading because of how elaborate the story was. It's not at all superficial. Everything is thought through.

I would say there are some trigger warnings. Some parts were hard to read, so keep that in mind. If you're looking for a light, happy read, this is not the book for you. This story doesn't spare gruesome details and exposes the truth with brutality. But if you are looking for an intense story, full of detail and that will make you feel something, this is it.

I loved that it's a book about books. About readers, the love for reading and writing. It's also a story about love, family, friendship, grief.

"Books are mirrors: you only see in them what you already have inside you."

"Every book, every volume you see here, has a soul. The soul of the person who wrote it and of those who read it and lived and dreamed with it. Every time a book changes hands, every time someone runs his eyes down its pages, its spirit grows and strengthens."

"Memories are worse than bullets."
Expand filter menu Content Warnings