Scan barcode
A review by deedireads
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/reads/.
TL;DR REVIEW:
The Shadow of the Wind is a beautifully told, immersive, wonderfully bibliophilic mystery that takes place in Barcelona in 1945. I loved it.
For you if: You like books that hint at magic.
FULL REVIEW:
Despite the fact that The Shadow of the Wind has been recommended to me time and time again, I went in knowing very little about it except that it was a book about books. Well, it is that, but also so much more, and I (predictably) loved it.
The story takes place in Barcelona in 1945, shortly after the end of wartime. As a child, the main character, Daniel, visits the Cemetary of Forgotten Books with his father, a rare-book seller, and stumbles upon a book called The Shadow of the Wind by Julian Carax. That sets off a chain of events that lasts into Daniel’s young adulthood as he tries to learn more about the mysterious Carax, aided by a few friends and haunted by a chilling figure intent on stopping him.
While I’d say this book is first and foremost a mystery, it really has something for everyone: romance, humor, revenge, doomed love, hints of magic, and (of course) a story centered on books. The storytelling by Zafón and translation by Lucia Graves are just incredible — I was transported and enthralled. It’s not a quick read, but it was immersive, and it was the perfect companion over a few weeks while my life was particularly chaotic. (Also, the audiobook was very well done!).
This is just one book in the Cemetary of Forgotten Books quartet, which apparently can be read in any order. If you’ve read them, let me know which one you think I should read next!
TL;DR REVIEW:
The Shadow of the Wind is a beautifully told, immersive, wonderfully bibliophilic mystery that takes place in Barcelona in 1945. I loved it.
For you if: You like books that hint at magic.
FULL REVIEW:
Despite the fact that The Shadow of the Wind has been recommended to me time and time again, I went in knowing very little about it except that it was a book about books. Well, it is that, but also so much more, and I (predictably) loved it.
The story takes place in Barcelona in 1945, shortly after the end of wartime. As a child, the main character, Daniel, visits the Cemetary of Forgotten Books with his father, a rare-book seller, and stumbles upon a book called The Shadow of the Wind by Julian Carax. That sets off a chain of events that lasts into Daniel’s young adulthood as he tries to learn more about the mysterious Carax, aided by a few friends and haunted by a chilling figure intent on stopping him.
While I’d say this book is first and foremost a mystery, it really has something for everyone: romance, humor, revenge, doomed love, hints of magic, and (of course) a story centered on books. The storytelling by Zafón and translation by Lucia Graves are just incredible — I was transported and enthralled. It’s not a quick read, but it was immersive, and it was the perfect companion over a few weeks while my life was particularly chaotic. (Also, the audiobook was very well done!).
This is just one book in the Cemetary of Forgotten Books quartet, which apparently can be read in any order. If you’ve read them, let me know which one you think I should read next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Incest, and Sexual harassment