March/April 2011 Group Read - The Shadow of the Wind

[Carol]

I finished the book last night. I thought the characters were my favorite parts of the story--especially Fermin! I loved to hate Furmano(sp). The way the characters' lived wound and meshed in various ways was also quite enjoyable.
There were one or two surprises for me, which I won't mention now because I always worry about what is and isn't a spoiler!
While I found the writing quite beautiful it also made the story more slow moving.
I imagine that it is common to the language to use full names so often in familiar speech or narration. That probably made the story slower going at times.
I did enjoy this book. Not in my top ten, but I like reading mysteries from other countries. I would expect them to have a different pace and flow.

[Rebecca]

I've read the book in both Spanish and English. Reading it in Spanish is like reading poetry! For example, there are tense choices that repeat sounds and rhythms. The English translation can't capture that, but it is very good, choosing words that evoke the atmosphere.

[Dena]

Rebecca wrote: "I've read the book in both Spanish and English. Reading it in Spanish is like reading poetry! For example, there are tense choices that repeat sounds and rhythms. The English translation can't c..."

I though that might be the case. The elaborate language is sometimes beautiful but sometimes cumbersome and I thought that possibly in Spanish it would be more lyrical.

[Chris]

Carol wrote: "Yes, it is unabridged! That is my one rule with audiobooks. I don't listen to abridged versions. It is Penguin Audio read by Jonathan Davis. The date is 2004.
It is very inexpensive on Audible...."

Looks like in the UK, Audible only have abridged, darn it!

[Almeta]

After reading all of the praise about The Shadow of the Wind, I fear that I may be hanged at dawn!

So much was said about the beautiful language, that I feel like a simple provincial. I thought that perhaps I was missing it, because I am ill equipped to read this in the romantic Spanish. But then someone who read it in English remarked on the "beautiful language", so I'm a yokel after all!

(view spoiler)[I love the idea of a book cemetery and what seems as a rite of passage to be allowed to choose a single book...to protect and cherish. (Wasn't there some SciFi novel about each person "becoming a book", reciting it word for word? Oh yeah...Fahrenheit 451) In a way, I think each one of us protects a book. We recommend it, refer to it in our conversations, buy it for others, probably own it, never loan it! As we keep it alive, it becomes a part of our lives and maybe the lives of others. (hide spoiler)]

I felt that the story moved terribly slowly until the climaxing chapters. I would not have been interested at all if it weren't for the character of Fermin to finally take the bull by the horns and move things along in an amoral, irreverent and comical way.

Daniel's Coming of Age was of no interest to me. (view spoiler)[ until later in the book it became obvious that his life was a Julian redeux (without the blind Clara, but WITH Victor Hugo). (hide spoiler)]

Then there is Miquel. No one has mentioned Miquel. A loyal friend (view spoiler)[ Who would die for his classmate. The real hero of this book. (hide spoiler)]

Oh...and I was a pleased as punch when (view spoiler)[Fermin and Daniel kept their promise to the dotty old man in the nursing home. I thought that the author was going to forget. (hide spoiler)]

So after all of my bitching I still give The Shadow of the Wind three stars for great premise, surprising moments and two characters: Fermin and Miquel.

[Debra]

Almeta wrote: "After reading all of the praise about The Shadow of the Wind, I fear that I may be hung at dawn!

So much was said about the beautiful language, that I feel like a simple provincial. I thought t..."

A thoughtful review. I agree with your points. Well-said!

[Michael]

Can we get The Shadow of the Wind added to the groups bookshelf? I would love to see what people rate the book

[Sandy]

Thanks for the feedback on the lyricism of the Spanish. I suspected as much, am pleased even more at the translation, which really does capture this quality.

I'm about half way through, and enjoying the pace. I'm willing to have the story move slowly and enjoy the ambience and mood while the boy grows up. He does grow up, doesn't he? Never mind, I'll find out. He does seem innocent in some rather strange ways.

[[deleted user]]

Rebecca wrote: "I've read the book in both Spanish and English. Reading it in Spanish is like reading poetry! For example, there are tense choices that repeat sounds and rhythms. The English translation can't capture that, but it is very good, choosing words that evoke the atmosphere. "

I chose to read it in Italian for just that reason, becasue I wanted to be as close to the Spanish poetry as possible. I really enjoyed it and thought the Italian translator did a wonderful job.

[[deleted user]]

Knowledge Lost wrote: "Can we get The Shadow of the Wind added to the groups bookshelf? I would love to see what people rate the book"

Sorry... updated that just now.

[Michael]

Hayes wrote: "Sorry... updated that just now."

thanks

[Rebecca]

Almeta wrote: "After reading all of the praise about The Shadow of the Wind, I fear that I may be hanged at dawn!"

Heck, no! I love to learn different opinions of same book. For me, this book is a page-turner, but I can understand why some think it moves slowly.

[Tina]

Rebecca wrote: "Almeta wrote: "After reading all of the praise about The Shadow of the Wind, I fear that I may be hanged at dawn!"

Heck, no! I love to learn different opinions of same book. For me, this book is..."

I agree with Rebecca! It's great to hear other opinions even if they don't agree with mine. I loved the language, but I understand that others may not.

Once I figure out how to mark spoilers, I have a couple of comments about the book.

[Leonora]

I absolutely fell in love with this book from the moment I started reading it. I read it over this week and suffice it to say not much was done around my house! I loved all the characters, plots and sub-plots, but my absolute favorite was the language. I felt just like Daniel did the first time he read Shadow after picking it from the Cemetery of Forgotten Books. I fell right into the story and only came up for air when absolutely necessary. To me that is truly a great book, one that captures you whole. I know I sound like a love-sick teenager but the truth must be told. Sorry if I'm so gushy! I'm just so happy I got to read the story.

[Chris]

Leonora wrote: "I absolutely fell in love with this book from the moment I started reading it. I read it over this week and suffice it to say not much was done around my house! I loved all the characters, plots an..."

You're so right - this is my favourite book - I get gushy too and give it as a gift for birthdays etc

[[deleted user]]

Tina wrote: "Once I figure out how to mark spoilers, I have a couple of comments about the book. "

You can do one of two things, Tina. You can write something like **Spoiler Warning** above and below the section that is giving a spoiler, or if you want to use the new spoiler marker that lets you do this: (view spoiler)[hiding a spoiler within the text (hide spoiler)] you need to type {spoiler} before the section that you want to hide and {/spoiler} after the section you want to hide, but you have to substitute { and } with < and >

[Bob]

This is one of the best novels I have ever read. I loved the numerous fascinating characters, and the portrayal of their lot in life. It is a grand story of love and hate, revenge, lost dreams and life redeemed. The author's writing is simply spectacular with many great phrases, sentences and passages worth remembering. I originally borrowed this book from the local library. I plan on purchasing my own copy so I can re-read and underline and annotate my favorite sections. I loved this book.

[Sandy]

You're right. I just finished it and already wish I'd marked it up. I may have to search through to find them again.

[Cathy]

Leonora wrote: "I absolutely fell in love with this book from the moment I started reading it. I read it over this week and suffice it to say not much was done around my house! I loved all the characters, plots an..."

I'm a little over half way through but I'm agreeing already - I'm just loving the skilful use of language and how drawn nto the plot I feel when I'm reading it! Can't wait to get back to it but don't want it to end. I've read The Angel's Game and I loved it also. Maybe I'm enjoying this more because I knew a little of what to expect

[Debra]

I keep thinking about this book... it's haunting me, so I thought I'd do an update to my original tepid review. I've revised my rating from a 3 to a 4 (sorry, Janis!). If a book sticks with me like this and I keep thinking about the characters, then there has to be something about it (unless, of course, it was so bad that it is unforgettable; which is not the case here). Anyway, I think I'd recommend this book to others, primarily for it's gothic feel and good character-development. I still think the pace was slow in the beginning and may not, at first, grab the reader. However, it does get much better after 200 pages or so.

[Maggie the Muskoka Library Mouse]

This is a book I have read recently, and it was very well-done. I loved the way the author wrote about books and reading.