The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

The first book (that I remember) I can honestly say that when I finished reading I wanted to turn around and read it again from the beginning. It is beautiful writing – I wanted to prolong the pleasure and to ensure that I hadn’t missed anything, also to marvel at the author’s masterful storytelling and lyrical crafting. It is a true gem.

A couple of examples:

“The lamps along the Ramblas marked out an avenue in the early morning haze as the city awoke, like a watercolour slowly coming to life.”

“…. I leafed through the pages, inhaling the enchanted scent of promise that comes with all new books…”

Set in Barcelona just after the Spanish Civil War it tells the story of a young bookseller’s son Daniel and his discovery of a book in “The Cemetery of Forgotten Books” ( Quote: “a place where every book has a soul – the soul of the person who wrote it and of those who read it and lived and dreamed with it. Unquote). The story follows Daniel’s life as he unravels the author’s life and becomes obsessed with knowing what became of him. It is beautifully told with almost as interesting sub-characters. The warmth and humanness won me over. 

Posted by a member of the Hastings Book Chat group (meets in Hastings Library)

Translation from the Spanish by Lucia Graves 2004

About the Author

"Carlos Ruiz Zafón is the author of six novels, including the international phenomenon The Shadow of the Wind, and The Angel's Game. His work has been published in more than forty different languages, and honoured with numerous international awards. He divides his time between Barcelona, Spain, and Los Angeles, California." 
Read more at his website: www.carlosruizzafon.co.uk

Check our Catalogue and reserve online 

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, 2004