The Shadow of the Wind
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Do I carry on with this?
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Horrible book. Both mysteries are easily guessed as they are so obvious. If you are not enjoying it, I say stop and find a book that you like.
Amazed at the debate this one has caused - it's my favourite book. I was completely taken in by it and loved every page. You could possibly guess the ending, and in some ways it's disappointing, but I like a book that doesn't do what you expect it too - that doesn't happen often with the books I read. But as everyone else has said on here if it's not for you it's not for you!
Jewel wrote: "It was interesting. A story within a story. It was long, but I finished it because if I hadn't, I would have wondered how it ended. I can't say I loved the book, but I'm glad I finished it:-)"My sentiments and my experience
As I said before, I loved this book, Angels Game and finally the Prisoner of Heaven which ties the books together and was absolutely brilliant too! But, (and I repeat) Not everyone likes the same type of book, we all have the right to like or dislike a book, it doesn't mean that we are wrong or right...we also have the right to not finish a book too!
It's very challenging at first but once you get the gauge there's no turning back. Good luck, I hope you finish it though! :)
My mum read this and loved it! We have quiet similar reading tastes so I thought I'd love it too... I had the same sort of problem, I just grew very bored of it, I didn't feel a connection at all. Apparently I abandoned it too early.. but why spend time feeling bad about not enjoying something, when you could have your head in a book you love!
Such mixed reviews! I really liked this book when I read it, but I like the subject matter. I didn't think it was terribly challenging. There are definitely some slow parts, but the ending was good. I think if you aren't into the subject matter, it would be difficult to get through it and I wouldn't bother.But then I find sometimes I'm not in the right mood for a book. What's impenetrable for me today, may be my favorite book a year from now. You can always put it aside and try it in a year or two.
Rosa wrote: "wait hold on...there is a sequel?..please tell me the name Hi Rosa,
I don't know if someone has replied to you, but look for "The Cemetery of Forgotten Books" here on Goodreads (the author page) and you'll find the next two books.
Angels Game and Prisoner of Heaven
Yes, I found it long to, but needed to finish to see how it ended ... I did not find it to bad once I got to a certain part in book and it seemed to pick up some speed
I latched on the book till the end because of the hype my friend placed on it. She called it 'the best bok she's ever read.' I thought i was persistent so i kept reading, hoping to reach when the book will "break even" and i'll pick up speed. But let me tell you. The book never did break even, and the speed i picked was out of frustration. If u are a lover of Jeffrey Archer or Sidney Sheldon, then this book is not meant for you. It's not worth it...
The book is not spectacular as many reviews would make you think. Popular does not mean good. Just like in music and cinema, the best books are usually not popular. I read the book and if I would be offered to read it again, I would skip it. Untrascendent would be the world.
My standard opinion is that you should never start if you can't finish. I only violated that once (in my defence that book was complete crap) but fortunately this one is good enough not to disembark early.
Michael wrote: "My standard opinion is that you should never start if you can't finish. I only violated that once (in my defence that book was complete crap) but fortunately this one is good enough not to disemba..."I can't even imagine knowing before I start a book whether I'll be able to finish it. How are you able to do that? I don't think the way I read and select books even lends itself to doing that. I generally pick 8 books and start them all and read a few pages of each until one grabs me and I don't stop. At that point I put down the other 7. Sometimes nothing grabs me and I pull out another 8 and start over. There's no guarantee the book I pick will keep a hold on me. I might stop even after I've read half the book, but that usually doesn't happen. Just because those 7 don't grab me today doesn't mean they won't next month or next year and I may end up loving them all. Some books take 100 pages to take hold of me and they are often the books I end up loving the most. And then there's the book Little, Big, which I love the first half and have read a couple of times and just can't seem to read the second half. I end up stopping right there. I hope someday to finish it.
David wrote: "I can't even imagine knowing before I start a book whether I'll be able to finish it. How are you able to do that?.."That's a fair question. I wish I could give you a glossy, fragrant and alluring answer, but all it comes down to in the end is knowing what I like - I really should know by now after all these years - and refusing to be beaten. The combination of those two things (mostly the first really) tends to do the rest. This does not always ward off disappointment, but that's rare and I have a very good hit-rate. Perhaps this makes me unusual or just very bleeding fortunate, but I'll take that.
My view on Little, Big meanwhile, is... persevere. It's a lovely book.
I loved it! Don't remember a morning part but I did it on audio so maybe it was easier to get through that. But loved it, the storytelling, the writing, the plot!!! I like Neil Gaiman and it reminds me of his writing in some ways. I agree with the person who said this is the best of this author. My recommendation would be to stick it out. The end is amazing!
I thoroughly enjoyed it, but if you don't like it, don't read it. No point asking others. Quite obviously if they liked the book, they will say keep reading and if they didn't they'll say shelve it.
The problem with this book is that both "mysteries" are so obvious that it does not seem worth reading. I was assured that I could not possibly guess either mystery so I read the whole thing. I was correct about both things. The writing style was interesting but would have been better if I had read it in Spanish.
Lisa wrote: "The problem with this book is that both "mysteries" are so obvious that it does not seem worth reading. Both mysteries were easily deduced. I was assured that I could not possibly guess either mystery so I read the whole thing. I was..."
I loved this story. I felt however the start of the book, the attraction/fascination with the older woman was unnecessary and didn't go anywhere, (can't remember character names sorry, I read it several years ago). Where the book comes alive for me however is its invocation of old Barcelona, the obvious love of literature, and the noir thriller aspects of the secret police bogeyman.
If you dont like it, you dont like it.Dont waste you time on something that doesnt interest you. Sometimes its the timing when a book is not dragging you into the plot. Discard it for now.
David wrote: "Such mixed reviews! I really liked this book when I read it, but I like the subject matter. I didn't think it was terribly challenging. There are definitely some slow parts, but the ending was good..."Exactly what happens to me, too - sometimes a book does not "draw"me in, and in another 6 months or a year i am completly in to the story.
That´s not the case for this book or the other - only read The Angle´s Game, which i find darker than this one - and i loved to bits this book! The subject matter interests me and the fact that i live almost next door to Barcelona only gives me urge to visit the placed that the book describes.
Pedro wrote: "I consider it a compliment when people who "loved every page" of this corny, syrupy, adolescent fantasy call me pretentious. Now THIS is what a pretentious response looks like."While I enjoyed the book, I don't disagree with that it was 'corny' and 'syrupy'.
I just read this for the second time. Yep, I still love it! The Angel's Game is on my actual bookshelf and is being saved for a special quiet time!
Honestly, I did not find this book boring at all. I loved it!However, I think you should carry on with reading it just because I think the mystery should be solved. So, I'd read it even from curiosity, to find out what is going on with the characters and their secrets!
I loved Shadow of the Wind and in my review gave it 4*s. However, it is a tough read and I agree towards the end the author does tend to 'show off' displaying his talents as a writer in pages that lend nothing to the story and could have been cut.
I found it difficult to read because of the overuse of flowery language. It was really distracting and kept drawing me out of the story. I got about halfway through, then just skipped to the end. My expectations were high because of the rave reviews, so I was quite surprised at what I actually experienced. Clearly, the majority of people got something that I didn't.
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I also had a hard time at the beginning, but ended up getting involved and liking it.