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November-Mystery: The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz-Zafon--Spoiler Free
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This is for Lynai. I've read your review of The Lucky One. You seem to be a tad disappointed of the book. Well you really wanna cry buckets of tears then why don't you try to hunt and find this book.The book's biggest twist will certainly make you crestfallen and depressed for days. This book is a serious look at solitude. Just try and read this one for yourself.
I'll guarantee you'll love this one!
"Fools talk, cowards are silent, wise men listen." Braulio Recolons - the pork butcher, Calle Avignon
Discussion QuestionsZafón's book shares the name name as the Julián Carax novel. What is the significance of The Shadow of the Wind? To what does it refer?
Who is the stranger who wants to burn Daniel's copy of The Shadow of the Wind? At what point did you guess his identity and why?
‘Not evil,’ Fermín objected. ‘Moronic, which isn’t quite the same thing. Evil presupposes a moral decision,intention, and some forethought’ (page 158). Fermín determinedly distinguishes evil from thuggery whenspeaking of Don Federico’s beating during his night in prison. What instances of evil are there in the book andwho are the perpetrators?
‘The man who used to live within these bones died, Daniel. Sometimes he comes back, in nightmares’ (page 335). What do we learn of Fermín’s past life? How would you describe him? How important is he to Daniel, and Daniel to him?
The Shadow of the Wind begins just six years after the Civil War. What impression did you gain of Franco’s Spain from the book? How important is the novel’s setting? Why do you think Zafón chose to set it at this point in Spanish history?
‘This boy reminds me of myself,’ Julián tells Nuria (page 458). In what ways does Daniel’s life echo Julián’s? How do they differ?
‘Books are mirrors: you only see in them what you already have inside you,’ Julián tells Jorge when he declares:‘Books are boring.’ (page 215). To what extent does this idea explain Daniel’s fascination with The Shadow of the Wind? Do you agree with Julián?
Humour plays an important part in the book. How would you describe that humour? Were there particular passages or characters that you found amusing?
Zafón maintains an atmosphere of suspense throughout his novel, a suspense that becomes more intense in the last half. How does he do this?
What did you think of the way the book ends?
The Shadow of the Wind has been described as ‘thriller, historical fiction, occasional farce, existential mystery and passionate love story’. How would you describe it?
I don't have time to read the book for the discussions really...my exam in Mathematics is this Friday and my Biology, Chemistry and Physics are next Thursday! Ahhh
And let me say very promising... I read this thick book in just a week... it's so riveting... and did I mention that I have an 8 hour work? This is one of the books that made read in the wee hours... and to my shock oooohhh my I'm late for work.... get ready for Zafon's engaging cliff-hanging chapters...enjoy!
The Shadow of the Wind is actually a translation of Zafón's real work...ETA: ...by Lucia Graves, daughter of Robert Graves, author of "Goodbye to All That."
Here's the description of the book from Zafon's official website: http://www.carlosruizzafon.co.uk/shadowo...Hidden in the heart of the old city of Barcelona is the 'cemetery of lost books', a labyrinthine library of obscure and forgotten titles that have long gone out of print. To this library, a man brings his 10-year-old son Daniel one cold morning in 1945. Daniel is allowed to choose one book from the shelves and pulls out LA SOMBRA DEL VIENTO by Julian Carax.
But as he grows up, several people seem inordinately interested in his find. Then, one night, as he is wandering the old streets once more, Daniel is approached by a figure who reminds him of a character from LA SOMBRA DEL VIENTO, a character who turns out to be the devil. This man is tracking down every last copy of Carax's work in order to burn them. What begins as a case of literary curiosity turns into a race to find out the truth behind the life and death of Julian Carax and to save those he left behind. A page-turning exploration of obsession in literature and love, and the places that obsession can lead.
