The Shadow of the Wind By Carlos Ruiz Zafon
This book was nothing short of amazing - one of the best I've read in a long time. The plot sounds simple - a 10-year-old boy discovers a novel by an obscure author in The Cemetery of Forgotten Books. Upon reading it he undergoes that rite of passage where he falls absolutely in love with the words he's read, and he can't stop thinking about the book or its author. He decides to find out more about the author (Julian Carax), and discovers that someone has been systematically destroying every book Carax ever wrote.
The plot is much more intricate than I can describe in a few words, but it's a gothic tale containing mystery, love, madness, murder... all of it anchored by the idea that books can change our lives. One reviewer described the novel as a "love letter to literature," which I agree with. Some of the writing and the little bits of magical realism reminded me of the classic "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
I had a lot of late nights this past week because it was the only time I had to read - and I couldn't put the book down, despite knowing I would kick myself in the morning. I highly recommend this book - run out today and pick it up at your local library or bookstore!
The verdict: 5 stars out of 5
The plot is much more intricate than I can describe in a few words, but it's a gothic tale containing mystery, love, madness, murder... all of it anchored by the idea that books can change our lives. One reviewer described the novel as a "love letter to literature," which I agree with. Some of the writing and the little bits of magical realism reminded me of the classic "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
I had a lot of late nights this past week because it was the only time I had to read - and I couldn't put the book down, despite knowing I would kick myself in the morning. I highly recommend this book - run out today and pick it up at your local library or bookstore!
The verdict: 5 stars out of 5
4 comments:
Darn it...Another 5 star rating!! I just got The Girl with the
Dragon Tattoo based on your review. Now this one.....I have to ask you this though, did you like the book One Hundred Years of Solitude??
I did like One Hundred Years of Solitude for what it was - it's classic literature, therefore not a light read due to the symbolism, etc., and I actually want to read it again. However, One Hundred Years of Solitude and The Shadow of the Wind are nothing alike as far as the stories are concerned - the similarities have to do with the use of language, i.e. the lyrical way the story was told, and the use of magical realism.
I'm adding another to my list. Thanks, Tania.
Thanks for the recommendation! I just downloaded it to my Kindle.
Post a Comment