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The Shadow of the Wind (The Cemetery of Forgotten Books, #1)
by Carlos Ruiz Zafón, Lucia Graves
by Carlos Ruiz Zafón, Lucia Graves
** spoiler alert **
For a book heralded as an 'international sensation', it fell short of my expectations. For a book, period, it is reasonably addictive and memorable.
My main complaint is the portrayal of females, especially the supposed 'main characters'. They seem to be the same femme fatale in different bodies, flaunting different eye colours - an object of masculine desire and ultimate sacrifice. Beyond that, they serve only as catalysts. Kill off the sweetheart, so the man has a purpose. Kill off the mother, so the son has a quest.
The romances are also stilted and highly suspicious. How is it that a man can love a woman to the point of madness, wait for her seventeen years after only an 'emotion-loaded' glance and a quickie? An idea which does no justice to either sex. Parts of this book read like portions cut from those lurid romances with swooning raven-haired beauties and muscular dukes. Others are so insightful and REAL, that you wonder if there aren't two authors. The descriptions of 'that' book - the first to ever mean something - in particular, and the effect it can have on an 'untouched' heart...should be enough for "Shadow of the Wind" to leave an impression.
My main complaint is the portrayal of females, especially the supposed 'main characters'. They seem to be the same femme fatale in different bodies, flaunting different eye colours - an object of masculine desire and ultimate sacrifice. Beyond that, they serve only as catalysts. Kill off the sweetheart, so the man has a purpose. Kill off the mother, so the son has a quest.
The romances are also stilted and highly suspicious. How is it that a man can love a woman to the point of madness, wait for her seventeen years after only an 'emotion-loaded' glance and a quickie? An idea which does no justice to either sex. Parts of this book read like portions cut from those lurid romances with swooning raven-haired beauties and muscular dukes. Others are so insightful and REAL, that you wonder if there aren't two authors. The descriptions of 'that' book - the first to ever mean something - in particular, and the effect it can have on an 'untouched' heart...should be enough for "Shadow of the Wind" to leave an impression.
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Rebecca
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rated it 4 stars
Jun 18, 2009 06:48am
I think Zafon would shudder at your use of the term quickie, fairly apt though.
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And how is it that a man can love a woman to the point of madness, return to a city to look for her, and make time to have sex with someone else whom he doesn't and never will love? So frustrating! Not many people said anything negative about this book but I think your review is spot on!
Glad to hear someone else feels the same. I was thinking that I was judging it based on current women, not women of the 40s & 50s, but there were strong multi-faceted women then too! Yes, they were oppressed, certainly, but still had character. And the plot twist--half siblings? Been there, done that. I'd rather read a collection of Zafon's quotes. Why do sons have to carry on the vendettas of their fathers? Jeez, just talk it over, guys. Guess I'm not romantic enough to get these kinds of novels. These characters need a shrink!
