The Shadow of the Wind

[Leah]

1. What did you think of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books? Would you like to explore such a place?

[Leah]

2. Discuss the title of the novel. What is “The Shadow of the Wind“? Where does Zafón refer to it and what does he use the image to illustrate?

[Leah]

3. Zafón’s female characters are often enigmatic, otherworldly angels full of power and mystery. Clara the blind white goddess ultimately becomes a fallen angel; Carax credits sweet Bea with saving his and Daniel’s lives; Daniel’s mother is actually an angel whose death renders her so ephemeral that Daniel can’t even remember her face. Do you think Zafón paints his female characters differently than his male characters? What do the women represent in Daniel’s life?

[Leah]

4. The evil Fumero is the only son of a ridiculed father and a superficial, status-seeking mother. The troubled Julián is the bastard son of a love-starved musical mother and an amorous, amoral businessman, though he was raised by a cuckolded hatmaker. Do you think their personalities are products of nature or nurture? How are the sins of the fathers and mothers visited upon each of the characters?

[Leah]

5.“Books are mirrors: you only see in them what you already have inside you.” (p. 215) Do you agree? In what ways was this your experience while reading The Shadow of the Wind?

[Leah]

6. Did Julian deserve for Miguel and Nuria to lay down their lives for him?

[Leah]

7. What did you think about the narrative structure of the book?

[Leah]

8. Which section of the book was your favorite?

[Leah]

9. Who was your favorite character?

[Leah]

10. What genre would you place this under?

[Leah]

**Add any other questions/observations/comments you have!**