Congratulations to Beth M. Brown for writing a compelling book review of Shadow of the Wind by Carlow Ruiz Zafon.  For her brilliant assessment of the novel, she will be awarded a $30 gift card donated by Border Books, Valencia.  You’ll find her review of the Zafon book reprinted below.

So who wrote The Shadow of the Wind…Carlos Ruiz Zafon or Julian Carax?  That is one of several mysteries worth reading about in this complex coming of age story.  Told through the eyes of Daniel, the main character and narrator, who ages from (almost) eleven to nineteen, this story takes us from Barcelona to Madrid to Paris during the 1940s and 1950s in the post Spanish Civil War era, but returns to the beginning of the century in Barcelona to fully unveil the intricate story of all involved.

Still mourning the death of his mother, Daniel is taken under great secrecy to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books by his father, a professional bibliophile.  Isaac invites them in as Daniel surveys the catacomb of books.  

His father tells Daniel, “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…books that are lost in time, live forever…Every book…has been somebody’s best friend.”

His father further informs him, “According to tradition, the first time someone visits this place, he must choose a book, whichever he wants, and adopt it, making sure that it will never disappear, that it will always stay alive.”  

From all the rescued books, Daniel chooses The Shadow of the Wind by Julian Carax, and that’s where the story begins.  
Now as possessor of his great prize, Daniel tries to find out everything about the author.  Complications arise when others also desire this book.  Characters that help further this light, poignant, but realistic tale include blind Clara, Daniel’s first love interest; her uncle and guardian, Gustavo Barcelo; her maid, Bernarda; Fermin Romerode Torres, a former anarchist who becomes Daniel’s sidekick; Tomas Aguilar, Daniel’s school friend; his sister, Bea, a young femme fatale; and Francisco Javier Fumero, who will remind many of Victor Hugo’s Inspector Javet.  Some of the secondary characters who enhance the dual story of The Shadow of the Wind include Isaac, the caretaker of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books; his daughter, Nuria Monfort; her husband (or is he?) Miquel Moliner; Penelope Aldaya, the forbidden love of Julian Carax and obsession of (future Inspector) Francisco Fumero; Jacinta Coronado, Penelope’s governess; and, of course, the father, Ricardo Aldaya.  Characters are well rounded with likeable ones defined through dialogue and contemptible ones identified through their actions.

Like any good mystery novel, foggy train stations, haunted abandoned mansions, winding streets, dark taverns and secret hideouts set the place and mood of The Shadow of the Wind.  Though exotic settings, times, and even names, this story enthralls the reader with universal emotions of naïve anticipation, undying love and extreme sacrifice, without making these sentiments melodramatic.  When the tale is finished, a tinge of bitter sweetness touches the heart.

Carlos Ruiz Zafon is a fine storyteller with a luxuriant tone.  Though the tragedies of life of biblical proportions are explored in Shadow of the Wind, it was more than satisfying to get lost in the shadow of the wind of another time and place.

Santa Clarita Magazine

Santa Clarita Magazine