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The Shadow of the Wind (The Cemetery of Forgotten Books, #1)

Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Start date: October 15, 2014

Finish date: November 1, 2014

Discussion: Reading List

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Reading List

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What Members Thought

Jul 31, 2013 Jenny (Reading Envy) rated it really liked it

Shelves: location-spain, books-on-books, read2013, around-the-world

This book was part of my Speed-Dating project for July 2013. The fact that it was on the first part of my to-read list shows just how long I've intended to read it!

I first encountered Zafón when I read The Angel's Game, and this entire novel seems to build up to the existance of that book. I wish I'd read them in opposite order, but I knew after reading The Angel's Game that I would want to read this. What I loved there - the gothic feeling of Barcelona, the fast-pacing, the hints of magical rea This book was part of my Speed-Dating project for July 2013. The fact that it was on the first part of my to-read list shows just how long I've intended to read it!

I first encountered Zafón when I read The Angel's Game, and this entire novel seems to build up to the existance of that book. I wish I'd read them in opposite order, but I knew after reading The Angel's Game that I would want to read this. What I loved there - the gothic feeling of Barcelona, the fast-pacing, the hints of magical realism - are present in this book as well, more of a stylistic element of Zafón than anything else.

This is where The Cemetery of Forgotten Books is introduced, and anyone who loves books will love the idea of it.

This describes Daniel's first experience inside, and captures how I feel about every library, every bookstore:

"As I walked in the dark through the tunnels and tunnels of books, I could not help being overcome by a sense of sadness. I couldn't help thinking that if I, by pure chance, had found a whole universe in a single unknown book, buried in that endless necropolis, tens of thousands more would remain unexplored, forgotten forever. I felt myself surrounded by millions of abandoned pages, by worlds and souls without an owner sinking in an ocean of darkness, while the world that throbbed outside the library seemed to be losing its memory, day after day, unknowingly, feeling all the wiser the more it forgot."

The surrounding story, I was less interested in at times - the parallel stories of Julían and Daniel made the superfluous characters confusing, and Daniel isn't nearly as interesting as Julían is. I suppose he was chosen as the storytelling framework, but I think telling it from Nutria's perspective was the best point of view. You get a portion of her story near the end of the book that brings everything together.

Still, the story is full of mysteries, and I found myself trying to stay awake to read just... one... more... chapter, so it really did draw me in. I'd like to read this in Spanish some day, because some of the translator's choices made for strange word-selection at times - literal instead of colloquial, to the point where I really noticed it particularly when some phrases and words were repeated.

In the end, this is such a love story to Barcelona, a city that has gone through revolution and civil war and still has traces of the old with the new.

"This city is a sorceress... It gets under your skin and steals your soul without you knowing it."

In the back of the book are maps and addresses for places that actually exist from the book. Take Ulysses to Dublin; take this book to Barcelona. And that is one reason why it will return to my shelf instead of being donated after reading.

This book is pretty quotable, particularly about books and reading. I always see little bits of it floating around Tumblr and book blogs.

"People tend to complicate their own lives, as if living weren't already complicated enough." ...more

20 likes · Like · see review

Feb 14, 2007 Courtney rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction

A boy, a true reader and bibliophile, finds a mysterious and compelling book. He is so taken by the story that he sets out to find the author, a man presumed dead. Strange things begin happening. A mystery and a love story - conventional love, the love of books. I really enjoyed it.

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Oct 18, 2020 SooYoung rated it really liked it

Apparently I read book #4 of the series first; before I even knew it was a part of a series. When I found out it was a series, I hurried to acquire book #1. I read it over the weekend, and it was captivating from start to finish. I was confused at times as bits and pieces made me wonder and recall bits and pieces from Book #4, but honestly, I don't remember too much, so I tried to enjoy Book #1 as is. Strongly recommend.

A few excerpts:

"...if you ever have a daughter, you'll begin, without realiz ...more

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Dec 02, 2019 Clifford rated it really liked it

Shelves: novels

This book was recommended to me years ago and it has been sitting on a shelf since then, but I didn't feel compelled to read it until I took a trip to Barcelona, where the book is set during the 40s and 50s. The impression of the book is enhanced by a familiarity with the city, I think, as the narrators refer to real places (and the author even includes a map of the primary locales). It was interesting, for example, to read of a body being found in the plaza next to the Santa Maria del Mar churc ...more

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Oct 25, 2009 Cooper rated it did not like it

Starts off brilliantly -- vivid story about the mystery of a forgotten novel and a young man's journey to find it's author. Unfortunately, 1/3 of the way through the book, the author's voice takes a 180, and not for the better. Instead of an interesting tale of a mysterious book, it turns into a predictable telenovela. Too long and too many unnecessary scenes. The story changed from 'what's next' to 'who cares.' ...more

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Mar 05, 2007 Kate rated it it was amazing

I love this book. I first learned about it a couple of years ago when it was recommended as a summer read on NPR. It is fabulous. Once I picked it up, I could not put it down. It is a myserty wrapped up in romance and it is about book lovers. Nothing could be better!

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