The Shadow of the Wind

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Average customer rating 4.7 (50 comments)

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I loved this book! It was beautifully written and Zafon clearly is a master of words. The story was intriguing and the characters were well developed and engaging.

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I loved reading this book, it was so beautifully written. I found myself bookmarking passages just so i could read them at my leisure later. And they were all just as melodic the second & third time around...i would love to read it in Spanish! My hat off to the translator! A pleasure to read, i highly recommend it.

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a page-turner... Ruiz Zafón is a master of weaving plots. My favorite character was Fermin, much more than the central character, Daniel. It is easy to get lost in Ruiz Zafón world of forgotten books. A masterpiece!

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It would seem that I enjoy a good Gothic Novel. There is so much going on in The Shadow of the Wind that there is never a boring moment. The characters' stories are woven together beautifully, and the mystery will keep you guessing throughout the book. Zafon paints pictures with his words and brings to life a Barcelona from the past. Just like Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Isabel Allende, reading Carlos Ruiz Zafon makes me wish I could read in their native Spanish rather than a translation.

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Carlos Ruiz Zafon paints the most beautifully written art and I just can't get enough!

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I found this novel by accident, while quickly browsing shelves at the local library, and let me just say it was the best accidental find i've had in years. From the very first line to the end i loved it, and as a reader i am not easily pleased by anything. I love stories out of the ordinary that captivate my imagination and run away with it. That is exactly what The Shadow of The Wind did.

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A real challenge to read -- hard to maintain interest when there's only 10 pages of plot in every 100 pages of text. It would have made a terrific short story! There was little character development and virtually no suspense, with the "surprise" ending hinted at so broadly throughout the book. The villain was perhaps the best part, but not enough to sustain 486 rambling pages.

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I loved this book. The character's voices are so real and the author has a wonderful sense of humor. The Angel's Game was not as good but his latest, The Prisoner of Heaven, is excellent.

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The best summary of my reactions I can come up with: if a Korean suspense drama was sprinkled with Gothic elements and turned into a Spanish novel, The Shadow of the Wind would be it. There's a scandalously complex plot with characters that intersect with one another and a few plot twists thrown in for good measure. I went into this novel with high expectations, everyone seemed to proclaim it's greatness. I wanted to start the series so that I could read its lauded third installment that just released without being lost: The Prisoner of Heaven. However, despite being entranced in the delightfully complex mystery and the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, I can't bring myself to wholeheartedly recommend it. Partly because its pacing is too slow for my liking in the first third, some characters falling flat, and the denouement disappointing. I'd Never Guess it was a Translation: I am usually hesitant to read translations, fearing that a beautiful literary masterpiece will be skinned bare of its artistic elements into a stoic, mundane read. I'm glad The Shadow of the Wind didn't join that party. I'm not sure how much was lost in translation--unfortunately, my Spanish comprehension ends at ¿Cómo estás? and I still haven't figured out how to roll my r's--but I could've been easily fooled that this was the original. Props to Lucia Graves! Story, Bring Me Back To The Cemetery Already!: From the start of the novel, we are introduced to the mysterious Cemetery of Forgotten Books. It's any book lovers paradise, a maze comprised of old books, giving us hope that unknown masterpieces can transcend the test of time and culture. The Cemetery and the mysterious Carax novel were the most beautiful, enchanting elements of the novel, yet almost as soon as it was introduced, I had to leave it to deal with 13-year old Daniel and his infatuation with a blind girl a decade older than he. I found myself wishing Julian Carax's books really existed so I could read his masterpieces for myself. I suppose even if his novels did exist, they wouldn't be found on Amazon. Characters: I loved each character, even the minor characters aided the story in unexpected ways. I found each character special and I proudly say that there were no instances of me struggling to remember who was who. Daniel, The Protagonist: I really wanted to like Daniel, but it just didn't happen. He is good-hearted, but I found him too impulsive. I winced when I read through his first love with a blind girl ten years his senior. I knew it was a nightmare waiting to happen. For a protagonist, Daniel faded in the background. I found everyone else much more compelling than Daniel. Even if the novel was in his perspective, I still don't know anything about him other than he makes horrible romantic choices. Fermin: The idea of being best friends with someone decades older strikes me as odd, but whatever, Fermin is just that perfect friend. My favorite character. Fulmero, The Villain: I expected more back story from him. It seems like he was just evil because he had severe mental problems or something. Oh yes, and his unrequited love problem which made him bitter at everyone else. A guy that killed his own mother (even if she was a selfish, shallow woman)? Now that's spine-chillingly scary. Romance: "That was random." pretty much sums up my reaction towards Daniel's romance. I still don't know what Daniel sees in girls beyond a pretty face. Everyone else had a better love story than the protagonist. Gothic Elements: The haunted house gave me the chills. I wanted to yank Daniel out of that house. Pretty horrible place for a date if you ask me. There were also these eerie, divine dreams that some of the characters had. Oh yes, and of course, the Devil also plays a role. Denouement, Is This Lady a Stalker?: I am disappointed that the mystery boiled down to a hundred page info-dump letter to wrap up all the loose ends instead of having Daniel solve something. I don't know how this lady knew all this stuff in such great detail to recall all the dialogue with such precision despite not even being present in most of the events. I wonder if her version of the events are trustworthy for much of was secondhand information (or should be, maybe she is a skilled stalker.) I thought she wrote the letter in a hurry in anticipation of her impending death, but if she could write a letter that spanned a third of the novel I doubt she was in a big hurry. If she had such amazing foresight, I hope she kept cyanide by her side to make her death as painless as possible. I enjoyed the complex plot and finding out how all the loose ends joined together, it's the delivery that disappointed. We ran around for two thirds of the novel gathering clues only to find out we could have just lounged on a sofa and waited for this letter to solve everything. Plot Twists: I wasn't surprised (I probably typed this review just so I can boast my psychic abilities.) Maybe I watch too many Korean dramas to prepare me for these "scandalous" plot twists. I wonder what the next installment will be about. I am hesitant to read it since I thought the ending tied up the story so well that I wouldn't want a lackluster sequel to ruin it. It's one of those books that I liked, but still feel the story would suffice as a standalone.

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Unusual book with many intertwined plots of intrigue. It begins at a slow pace (Till the first few pages, I kept on thinking of quitting it). But, once as the story unfolded, I was hooked. It has sooo many twists and turns that it could have made one's head spin, but Carlos spins multiple parallel tales of love masterfully. Each of them - platonic love, blind love failed love, enduring love, filial love, forbidden love, etc. is explained and depicted in an extremely sensitive manner. It's a very well written book and it certainly lives up to the hype that it has created everywhere. This one's a keeper!!

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Fabulous book. Quote-worthy writer. If you love books, words, and reading, you will enjoy this tale.

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This book really gets to you, even into you at points. It can be a little dark and disturbing (who is not in love with a bit of a Gothic story now and then?) but it has so much hope and is so beautiful I had a really hard time putting it down. In fact, I have already bought the next two books in the series and hope to devour them as quickly as I did this one. Great story taking you into the world post-WWI (1920's and 30's) Barcelona and really shows the city for it's horrors of a civil war but the beauty that can survive. The father-son story is also wonderful if you need more than the idea of it being a Gothic romance to get you excited. Plus, who wouldn't want to live in the Cemetery for Forgotten Books??? Give it a whirl if you enjoy a story about books and historical fiction that is not about royals.

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This is a beautiful book. It grabs you in with its sweeping, beautiful language and its poetic story... I was spellbound by both the historic yet mythical-feeling city that Zafon writes about with such passion as well as the passion for language and between the characters that exists in its pages. You will stay up nights caught in this tale... it beautifully tangles the lives of the characters into a web of old-fashioned mystery, darkness, beauty and poetry.

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The Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafón, is set in Barcelona. It starts in the 1950s and spans several years, with the Spanish Civil War as a backdrop. There is a backstory that starts after World War I and spans the Spanish Civil War. The story is about a boy, Daniel, who is invited to take a book from the Cemetery of Lost Books. He is drawn to a book which sets him on a long adventure that begins when he wants to find more works by the books author, Julian Carax. There are none to be found, and he is possessed with the curiosity to learn whatever he can about Julian. As he proceeds, he receives some very large offers for the copy of the book he possesses. As Daniel uncovers fragments of Julian Carax’s life, the author gives us the story of Julian as the second story in the book. This story starts prior to the Civil War and starts to weave the house of mirrors with Julian and Daniel at the center. The two stories, and many of their characters show a lot of similarities. It is like a house of mirrors, where aspects of one person are reflected in another, sometimes stretched, sometimes distorted, and sometimes reversed. Toward the middle of the book, this made it a bit difficult for me to follow and keep the characters straight. The middle of the book seemed to flow rather slowly. Some promising events from early in the book seem forgotten and lost, my wife and I just wanted it to move along. With all the characters and similarities being thrown about, it became confusing. As I reached the second half of the book, it started to get engrossing again. The events pick up and information becomes understood making the book difficult to put down. As much as it is the story of Daniel and his investigations, it is also a story about human emotions and what they do to us. I felt the book was an exploration of love and hatred as much as it was a mystery about the book and its author, Carax. I learned of the book from a BBC podcast on book reviews. It was so enticing I had to get the book to read. The book was originally published in Spanish, some of the pacing seemed more appropriate to their lifestyle. I think the translator did an excellent job. Although a difficult read at times, I enjoyed it and believe most readers will, as well.

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I have to admit that I bought this book because the cover spoke to me and am I glad it did. I rarely read a mystery, but this one kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end - great read.

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Shadow of the Wind has it all: intrigue, romance, humor and compelling characters who take you on a tour of Barcelona which will make you long to see it for yourself!

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One of the most interesting and creative books I have read in a long time. An homage to literature from a place called "The Cemetery Of Lost Books." It will keep you guessing til the end. Zafon, a Spanish author, is a masterful storyteller and I am excited that more of his work is now being translated and published in this market. Shadow Of The Wind topped Spain's Best Sellers Lists for two straight years, and once you read it you will understand why. A must-read!

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As one of the tags put forth as a brief description of C. R. Zafon's book stated - "in short, it's a hoot." Oh yeah, I loved it. I'd say it's a great romp with amusing characters involved in a series of dangerous games. So put away all seriousness and find the joy you had in books as a kid, as this can be the same for adults. It does make me want to book a flight to Spain with Zafon's map in hand, and look for the mysterious library, which does make one suspect it might be available, and the "character" who becomes the new manager could possibly open the door. My imaginary fun continued through a second reading with no loss of the richness of the words. Then I went downtown Ithaca to a tapas bar to extend the fun.

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This is a wonderful book with a plot that hooks you from the start. Lots of wonderful word choices and phrases as well as some interesting plot twisits. Loved reading it and am moving on to his next book.

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Beautifully written, atmospheric and mysterious, this story of post-civil war Barcelona and a Library of Forgotten Books is a must-read. Perfect for a rainy fall, it will take you to another world.

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I was looking for a good mystery and this one did the trick. Loved this book. You're there, in the dark streets of Barcelona, with Julian Carax, Daniel and his book. It keeps you guessing till the end. Can't wait to read his other novels.

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This is a reader's novel -- well-paced, interesting, full of character, place, gothic mystery and a bow to the reader's love for hefting, turning pages, and burying one's nose in a real book. The "meh" factor can be high in fiction, but this novel kept me up late to relish every bit.

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Initially, I was not enthusiastic to read a novel that was translated from the author's native language,however, within the first chapter, I realized that the novel was written with great passion and talent, I was became enthralled. After reading this novel, I searched my local bookstores for another book "The Angel's Game" and after finally finding a copy, realized that this novel was a prequel to "Shadow of the Wind". I am hoping that Carlos Ruiz Zafon will continue writing about the Sempere and Son's bookstore as the his words make one feel and breathe the air of Barcelona, Spain.

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The first page of this book brought me in. It was beautifully written and the plot perfect! Some parts made me smile, laugh, cry, or jump up and down not knowing what was going to happen. This book has every feeling from sadness to laughter. I fell in love with the characters and the surrounding. This is the perfect, most well written book i have ever read.

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A beautiful, immersive work. This is a translation from Spanish, and while I don't know how faithful the translation is, the writing flows easily. The characters and settings (throughout Barcelona) are well drawn and the story is thoroughly engrossing (after the halfway point it was difficult to stop reading). The best book I've read in a while.

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Mystery, a secret library, young love, the gothic streets of Barcelona - what's not to love?

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Amazing and delicious.

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I was skeptical about this book at first, but ended up loving it! I think it could be read and enjoyed by a wide variety of people.

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This is the best book I've read in a long time. I could not put it down!

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First off WOW!! I was pretty much hooked from the first sentence of this book! For a book lover like myself what could be better than a book starting out by the main character visiting something called The Cemetery of Forgotten Books? Right from the start the story is both enchanting and intriguing and impossible to put down!! This book literally has it all; intrigue, action, love story, history, intense love of books, really too much to try and summarize in a review! Basically anyone and everyone who considers themselves a lover of books should go out and find this book immediately!! This is by far the best book I've read in months and I want everyone I know to read this book and be as enthralled and gripped by this book as I was! This is one of those books that doesn't come along often so when it does you treasure it. I just can't decide now whether or not to keep it or share it! I don't want to describe the details of the book here, you can find that on numerous websites without me outlining it, I just want people to know that it is an amazingly well written and thought out book and hopefully it will hook you from beginning to end as it did me!

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Best book of the year! Beautiful language that runs through your mind like a beautiful and slightly exotic painting. I loved this book. I will be rereading many times. I got sucked into the story everytime I opened the pages until hours passed by.

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Awesome. Stephen King said it best (in the back of the book).

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This book is so beautifully written, it's practically poetry. At the same time, the story is gripping, intriguing and impossible to put down. I couldn't stop thinking about it even when I wasn't reading and I've loaned it to everyone I know since. It's beautiful and the storytelling is incredible.

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This is my favourite book of the decade. For a booklover it is pure magic. The story revolves around a young boy, sad at the loss of his mother, who is given a book (from a secret repository of books no less), falls in love with the story and tries to search out other books by the same author only to find they are being systematically destroyed. The story within the story, the parallel lives, everything about this story draws you in and holds you fast. I have loaned my book to all my friends and recommended it to everyone else. Read this book! You won't regret it!

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When I first picked up this book, a few years ago, I became an instant fan. I recommended the title to my book club and it was equally enjoyed by everyone there. I was enamored by the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, and wished there was a place not unlike that for me to visit. When the reader first learns of Julian Carax, the mystery begins and keeps one enthralled throughout the entire book. I have continued to steer many inquiring minds to this tome. I now must delve into the newest book written by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. I am excited to learn that it is a sequel to "The Shadow of the Wind".

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The author did a wonderful job of creating a rich cast of characters. The city of Barcelona is described vividly and almost feels like another character in the book. The concept of a story within the story was well written and true readers everywhere will love the Cemetery of Forgotten Books!

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Currently reading this book and am really enjoying it. Zafon's writing is beautiful and powerful. I agree with other readers comments: this is a book that will take you to another world--one that is shrouded with mystery and hauntingly beautiful writing. Zafron has created incredibly powerful characters, ones to love and to hate. Absolutely one fun ride.

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FamousPick: The Shadow of the Wind Book picks by: Emma Watson Cecelia Ahern link: famouspick.blogspot.com

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Some books have changed my life by transporting me to other worlds. Some authors create a world that holds us captive. Ruiz Zafon in The Shadow of the Wind described a world so unique and intriguing that I wanted to know more about his writing and his life. The Shadow of the Wind's protagonist experienced another world through the words of Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Along with him we search for clues to the author's life and meet with complicated characters and mysteries that hold us captive. I took this book on CD on a long road trip. For a thousand miles, this kept me driving; when I got home, I couldn't budge from the CD player until I heard the rest of the story. I can't wait to read more books by this author; I highly recommend this one to anyone who loves to read, and especially loves to travel with and through books.

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THANK YOU FELLOW READERS! I feel exactly the same -- this book is extraordinary and so beautifully written. I've been trying to get my bookgroup to read it -- and now I have an abundance of proof that they MUSt read it! Thanks again! (Also, another "I can't put it down book" is the Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. If you enjoyed Shadow, you will enjoy this too.)

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Most authors have spots of brilliant prose, which make up for the rest of their not-so-brilliant prose. Nearly all of Ruiz Zafon's prose, however, is brilliantly written. His vocabulary, and especially his metaphors and similes, place him above most writers. During one scene in which a character is creeping through a house at night, Ruiz Zafon reveals the presence of "the piano's endless grin" (rough paraphrase mine). And, if you're not spellbound by the prose, you'll be taken in by the plot alone--a story you couldn't think of if you tried.

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I found this book an excellent read, the first mystery book that I was unable to solve after the first few chapters. In fact the depth with which he describes his characters and their roles makes you realise this is much more than a mystery novel. There is a passiona dn intrigue as well as humour throughout. It is not your run of the mill book but if you are looking for something different which will stay with you then enjoy. May I also recommend reading--The Fates by Tino Georgiou, it's an brilliant novel you don't want to miss.

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I adored this novel! It has pretty much everything: a mysterious manuscript, danger, intrigue, doomed love, ghosts, disappearances and reappearances... If you are a fan of The Club Dumas I would recommend this -- it has a rather different focus, but the overall feel of the novel is very similar.

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This book was given to me by a friend who said it's the best book she's read recently and gave copies to friends and family. While in the elevator of my building someone saw the book in my hand and said it was a favorite of theirs. The next day on the train to work someone interrupted my reading and said it was their favorite book, that I'd love the ending. It's a story of life...love, death, friendship, envy, greed...all of it. I found myself feeling like the main character, I was so curious about the author that I now want to know everything he's written. Just not the "adventure" young Daniel had while researching the author of HIS favorite book!

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The plot will appeal to any reader who, upon reading a new book, has searched out every book written by that author in an attempt to escape into the magic of the writer's narrative again. So few authors can capture your imagination with the written word and I am pleased to say that Carlos does a wonderful job of creating a true page turner. Mr Zafon takes the thrill of the 'hunt' to a new level, for someone is buying every book by author Julian Carax and burning them. And now that this stranger knows that Daniel, a young boy living in post WWII Spain, has a copy of 'The Shadow of the Wind' by Carax it is only a matter of time before they shall meet. Daniel, in an attempt to understand why someone would destroy such wonderful books, begins investigating the author - leading him to a startling conclusion that will have you awake late at night frantic to reach the end of this fantastic book.

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Shadow of the Wind is THE VERY BEST BOOK if have ever read. It is so good that I stand in the "R" aisle at Powell's and recommend it to total strangers who happen to glance at it. I have offered money back guarantees to friends and family who will buy the book. In short Please buy this book.

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This is an extraordinary tale, exquisitely told. It is magical, eerie, dark, lusty, enchanting, mysterious, uplifting, pleasurable and much more. This story takes you away fom the world in which you live, somewhere where you want to be. This is what pleasure reading is all about.

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How about a novel that is so good, so riveting that three grown, sensible people start hackling over who gets to finish it first (and so captivating and addictive that three grown, sensible people try to share one copy in the first place)? Okay, here's the story: This is a book about love, betrayal, redemption, and, most of all, story-telling, set in post-World War II fascist Barcelona (letting you know any more would spoil it...). It is also about books--books, moreover, that exude a strange spell and capture those who bother to read them... I came into the possession of my copy by picking it up from a friend's night stand at a very boring party, started reading, and then, without realizing it at the time, taking it home... I should not have left it unattended, though. One morning it had disappeared from my night table--turned out my wife had started reading it and would now not give it back until she was done. To complicate things, my friend called and wanted his book back... Needless to say, this novel with captivate you. Beautifully written, intricately plotted, highly suspenseful, and equipped with strongly drawn, multi-dimensional characters, it's a literary page-turner you can easily get addicted to. And remember: don't let your copy out of sight...

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I read this book in one day on the beach. The mother of a boy on my brother's basketball team recommended it to me, and I went out and purchased it that night at about 10:30 PM. The next week we headed down to the shore, and I had this book packed in my backpack, which was already full of books. I sat down with it, and in four hours I was finished. It was completely FANTASTIC!!! First off, it is a book about books. As a proud bookworm, I love all sorts of books, and a book about books is like a dream come true. The characters are so carefully wrought that they seemed real, and the plot was a pleasing mix of horror, gothic thriller, romance, and mystery. I have recently taken a liking to books that take place in Spanish-speaking countries, and this is just one more addition to my list. I would HIGHLY recommend this to anyone to whom being wrapped in a fuzzy warm blanket with a mug of tea/hot chocolate/coffee and a good novel appeals.

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this book found me when i was in the book store one day i didnt even read the inside cover flap or the back i brought it home and didnt put it down until it was over. this book has forever changed me and gave me a new passion for spain and it's historic secrets. carlos ruiz zafon writes with the tongue of a scholar and his every word is like poetry. i was totally enthralled and blown away by this book. Thank you Mr. zafon for giving me a chance to see this other world.