The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Who was YOUR personal Carax?

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[buckbuckles]

Glad you reviewed this book. I love the book. Read it multiple times and just wrapped up the series this year. As a librarian I try to recommend this book when possible. I feel it has that ability to spark passion in reading. I also feel that Zafon tells a good story. In fact, Zafon is what got me into reading translated text. English is not a love language and even though you mentioned you felt the prose were not as strong in this book, I feel the way Zafon can describe Barcelona (I first read Marina and was blown away at his ability to create setting and mood). I hope you enjoy the series. His book was a great turning point in my reading career. I feel like along the way there are many authors and books that create lasting impressions on me. It is fun following you and seeing the same. You get so excited as you read and talk about these great works. It was nice when you were going through your DFW phase as I was as well. Keep up the good work.

[kathygraham]

thank you, love this book and it's characters also hooked me into anxiously awaiting their fate. I found this book very romantic, historically. I would like to visit Barcelona and tour the historical areas of the book

[TheFiown]

I read all his books and am listening to the audio version, I have one hour to go. I learned last night that he died two years ago ! I was so looking forward to more of his work, so sad, he was so young.

[ArzybgVideeoo-ngoc]

A favourite of mine! Would love to read to my children or pass it on to them, is that good! claro en cierto derecho

[beverlyschuch]

I also lived in Barcelona at a very different time, when Franco's power was dwindling. When I finished the book finally, the last lines, I didn't have words, only sounds and I thought, "you are
mine forever".

[panicpillow]

As a child I used to read a lot, but when it became mandatory in high school I gave up on it. Kafka brought me back to reading (or Deleuze, seeing how he pointed me towards Kafka). It was the first time I was confronted with the idea that one can read not only as escapist fantasy, but also as apreciation of style.

[graybow]

Welcome back! A new writer to me. The writers who have given me such a unique and rich reading experience are Joyce and Pynchon.

[romm]

This is a new one for me. Thank you for the recommendation.

The first author who captured me was Dr Seuss. Like many readers, I am guilty of forgetting my first loves, but his books taught me how to read. I would listen to the stories on tape, turn the page at the chime, and eventually learned the scribbles on the page had meaning. Now that I have a child myself, I have had fun going back over the stories again.

The first "adult" author to capture me in that way was Poe. I started reading his works around 10, often not understanding all that was on the page, but being absorbed by the atmosphere. To this day, some of my favorite books have been the ones I struggled with (for whatever reason), and came out with a rewarding experience at the end. GR, of course, but also Ada, or Ardor (by Nabokov), VALIS by PK Dick, or House of Leaves.

[THFLCNx]

The first writer who really captivated me, I mean really, REALLY hooked me, was Mary Shelley. I read a dumbed down kiddie version of Frankenstein when I was like 10, and was left baffled as to how different it was from what I had been expecting. Then, when I was like 17, I read the real, original version, and was blown away. The sheer amount of topics and themes which she crammed into that slim little book still floors me today. Needless to say, Frankenstein remains my favorite book of all time.

[angelabliss]

I just discovered this review. I read SotW and fell in love with it years ago. It's on my shortlist of all time favorites. I've picked it up again in the wake of the news of Zafon's passing.

[rose]

I'm so moved by your comment about this book! I was born and live in Barcelona, and, consequently know all the places that appear in 'The Shadow of the Wind', which I read in English and found very, very interesting and connected to my city, of course. I suppose that I cannot be very objective, since I have known during all my life the Bookshop Llibreria Canuda, that inspired Carlos Ruiz Zafón. Unfortunately, that sanctuary closed its doors in November 2013. It was the most prestigious Bookshops especialized in Old Books. As you came in, you could breathe the old book pages, and, at the same time, hear your steps walking on the wooden floor. I went three days before that place disappeared, asked to the devoted Director permission to film and photograph the whole space. The exact and generous answer was: 'Do whatever you want'. All the emotion is condensed on the video I uploaded on my channel, whose title is: "Llibreria Canuda de Barcelona, ¡Hasta siempre!". I supposed you are very busy, but if you have two minutes to watch it, I hope you will enjoy. Thank you for your attention.

[JavierCardenasZurita]

I love the book, I’m on the second one now and I can’t stop reading !!! I can read Spanish so I’m doing that and they’re awesome, I’m glad I can read the 4 books one after another !!!

[teecop]

This book was great ! 👍🏻 and I’m hard to please for top reads I like so many stories but this is still a top ten for me

[bookish.bulletin]

Very fascinating! Didn't know about the existence of a genre called "Lost Manuscript." I had given up reading this book after the first couple of chapters a few years ago (probably because I didn't pay attention to the plot as much as I did to the writing style). I'm motivated to pick it up and give it a re-read after watching your video.

[ericgrabowski]

Santiago Gamboa is dope! "Night Prayers" is a beautiful book. Thank you. i own " The Shadow of the wind" ! I knew there was a reason i picked it out of that Box of used books on the floor at a local store. Thanks Man.

[brainfragrances]

just came back to this one after finishing Angel's Game, which I liked more, I like how dark it was. I'm jumping into #3 today

[Splackavellie]

I read this book when it came out and absolutely loved me. In many ways, it reinvigorated my joy for reading. Its successor, The Angel’s Game, was a bit of a letdown for me, but The Prisoner of Heaven was so gripping that I finished it in a single day. Fermin is such a fantastic character.

As for my personal Carax, it’s Eco, who shaped me with Foucault’s Pendulum

[mrl]

In my personal mythology, Chabon wrote somewhere in his essays : "I write for entertainment. Period." I can't really be sure because "Maps And Legends" is hidden somewhere in a pile of books over there and I'm using what little energy I have left to write this

[warlockofwordsreturnsrb]

Highly interesting, there was another 'Graveyard of Unwritten Books' by the Turkish writer Nedim Gürsel that appeared in Son Tramway (1991) Which Alan Moore & Kevin O'Neill mentioned years later in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.

[bigfat]

I've never heard you mention him, but John Irving's The World According to Garp got me back into reading and creative writing during my senior year of HS. After I finished the first chapter, which ended in an ejaculation joke based on the death of an injured turret gunner, my jaw dropped for ways you could only understand if you read it lol.