July Read #2 - The Shadow of the Wind

[Em Lost In Books]

(view spoiler)[but you never said that.:/:P

his love for Penelope has only a part to play in how he turned out as an adult. from the very start he was a vicious boy. If he'd been any different I think he might have been able to forget Penelope instead of going out for everyone whom he thought had a hand in Penelope and Carax's love story.

In start that house seems a haunted mansion. at many times I thought that house to be a resident of some devil i.e. Lain Coubert.

yes that and also how she died effected him deeply. I too hated when he turned on his own work. (hide spoiler)]

[Anirudh]

(view spoiler)[I think it would not have mattered if he had never met Penelope. His behaviour would have been triggered by something else in his life. He has no empathy

The house is indeed creepy. Apart from the secret rooms and the noises, the backstory of the house itself is enough to doubt about supernatural forces in the novel.

At least the novel ended in a positive note. he chose to write again :) (hide spoiler)]

What do you think about he melancholy that dominates this novel?

[Em Lost In Books]

The book truly has the gloomy touch to it.

(view spoiler)[when the book started I thoght about a boy's adventure where somehow he found himself inside the book but no my imaginative adventure soon turned into a sad and dark story. No one in the book had a happy life or even moments of happiness. whoever had been in touch with The Shadow of the Wind got cursed in one way or the other.
Every time a story was told it had a sadder end than the previous one. (hide spoiler)]

[Anirudh]

Manju wrote: "The book truly has the gloomy touch to it.

when the book started I thoght about a boy's adventure where somehow he found himself inside the book but no my imaginative adventure soon turned into a ..."

I was interested in the whole search of lost author thing. But 2666 had the same concept and that book was boring. But here it is not what I initially expected but I enjoyed it greatly, despite not liking melodrama in general

[Em Lost In Books]

Well I've not read that book.

(view spoiler)[
When Daniel first started Julian search I thought there would be some story so I was totally surprised on how one thing led to other and then other. In the last we got to know some really shocking truths.

Where I was thrilled reading every story I was equally sad at the end of every love story. Actually no one got their beloved except Daniel and Fermin. (hide spoiler)]

Forgiveness is a big thing. What you think about how this emotion effected the character and story?

[Anirudh]

Actually that's part of the reason why this book is so good. If everything went well and according to plan the book would be just another love story. But this way it truly interests the reader.

I don't think anyone truly forgave anyone else. Daniel didn't forgive the blind girl. Julian and Fumero didn't.

The way Daniel's story ran parallel to Julian's was amazing. Very good editing I suppose.

[Em Lost In Books]

True author has blended love, hate, sadness, thrill and tragedy perfectly. Anything amiss and I think story would not have been this perfect.

(view spoiler)[Julian's father forgave him.

I think what Clara did was right. Daniel was infatuated with her. But poor boy'sheart was broken and he had only himself to blame for his sadness.

Julian and Fumero were on opposite sides but when it comes to forgiveness they'reon same page. In fact for me they both were trying to out do each other.

(hide spoiler)]

[Ahtims]

But why is book 2 so bad? An author who wrote magically in book1; how come he deteriorated?

[Anirudh]

(view spoiler)[ Which father?

Clara was his dream girl and I think she knew it. She didn't harm him intentionally but it's clear they were never on good terms after that.

Julian and Fumero hated each other more than anything else. There was no room for forgiveness there. Nor should there have been.
(hide spoiler)]

I can explain why book two is so bad but it will be a major spoiler. So you must suffer through it in order to understand :-P

[Ahtims]

Hmm. Tall order. :/

[Anirudh]

PSmith wrote: "Hmm. Tall order. :/"

Why don't you read book two and find out your self? :P

[Em Lost In Books]

@Anirudh:

(view spoiler)[hatter. He forgave Julian.

I felt very bad for Clara when she offered Daniel her friendship later in the book. Daniel's reluctance, I can understand that and somewhere I think he was right in doing so. But still it was very sad and painful because Carla never wanted anything wrong for him.

Yes its there hatred for each other that we got to read such a beautiful story. (hide spoiler)]

What you think of Fermin and Jorge?

[Anirudh]

(view spoiler)[ Oh him. Probably the only character.

Well I can understand that. It's true that it was not Clara's fault but Daniel never viewed her as just a friend. And the thing with the music teacher made him feel too sad. He could not be friends even if he wished. (hide spoiler)]

Fermin is a really funny character. I enjoyed his conversations with both the Sempere. His origins, his state when he first meets Daniel, his mannerisms everything is mysterious. You will get to know more about him in book 3 don't worry :)

(view spoiler)[ Jorge was shocked to find out about Julian and Penelope. I think he never expected Julian to be that way. Maybe he had the notion of being superior and rich compared to his friend. Or maybe it's just the protectiveness of older brothers. (hide spoiler)]

[Em Lost In Books]

(view spoiler)[I hated him when Nuria first told her story to Daniel, the fake one. About how he used to misbehave his wife and beat her. There was no love between the father-son duo.

But when the truth was revealed my heart went out for the old man. He suffered so much for Julian and till the very end was adamant on saving him. He kept trying to seek from Sophia and got it too. (hide spoiler)]

I loved Fermin. He was so funny. Even his story was so painful.

(view spoiler)[may be and he was afraid of his father. He was a coward. (hide spoiler)]

[Anirudh]

(view spoiler)[ Yes Nuria's story is very misleading until the truth is revealed. I also thought that what she said was true :)

(hide spoiler)]

[Em Lost In Books]

There were so many stories in the book. Every character had one for Julian. Which one you liked the most and why?

[Anirudh]

Manju wrote: "There were so many stories in the book. Every character had one for Julian. Which one you liked the most and why?"

I think I liked Miquels story itself. It was tragic and yet he did what he could. Other than that I liked Fermin's story :) well what he tells us happened :)

[Em Lost In Books]

My favourite was Penelope's maid's tmstory.:)

[Anirudh]

Manju wrote: "My favourite was Penelope's maid's tmstory.:)"

Which was that? When she tells Daniel the story?

[Em Lost In Books]

No. She told Penelope's story. How she met her and what happened once Aldaya became aware of Penelope and Julian.:)

[Kelly-ann]

this is one of the most gorgeous books I've ever read. ..