By Carlos Ruiz ZafónTranslated by Lucia Graves
© February, 2005
487 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0143034902
When Daniel’s father takes him to visit the cemetery of forgotten books for the first time, Daniel finds the novel Shadow of the Wind, written by Julián Carax, and is immediately hooked on the author’s story. But when he sets out to find other books by this same author, he finds that someone has been systematically searching out and destroying every single copy of Carax’s books. No other copies of any Carax books are known to exist, and Daniel wants to know why. Every question he asks uncovers a bit more of a mystery that goes deeper and deeper, exposing a web of deception and secrets that even threaten Daniel’s life—and those of his loved ones.
It’s been a while since I read a book that wasn’t speculative fiction. Shadow of the Wind is, as classified by Stephen King, a gothic novel. It’s a perfect description for this character-based drama —a bit historical, a bit scary, with a healthy dose of mystery that keeps you turning the pages, and just a hint of romance with a dash of eroticism. It’s also a tale of Daniel’s coming-of-age, spun in a classic, literary way that endeared the character to me forever. In addition, some of the side characters—especially Fermín, Daniel’s best friend and mentor—slink their way into your heart and take up permanent residence, while others, like Fumero, take on the role of the character you love to hate.
Shadow takes place in Barcelona, Spain, and opens in 1945. Politics of that era do touch on the story in how the government’s actions and rulings affect the characters’ lives, but it’s a light brush that fits well into the storyline. There is representation of the very rich and the desperately poor within these pages, a blend that lent reality and richness to the texture of the whole. Zafón’s mix of story elements is enchanting, captivating. I often found myself reading past my bedtime to follow the mystery he sets up in these pages. With so many layers to the tale, it was easy to get lost in the narrative, following Daniel’s investigations into the Carax mystery, yes, but also in his fumbling attempts at romance, his blossoming friendship with the beggar who changes his life, his search for courage, his relationship with his father, and so much more.
But the story always comes back to the mystery of Carax. At about the 60% mark, I thought I had figured out who Carax was. Boy, was I wrong. Not only that, Zafón’s twist on who that mystery really centers on was just one of numerous twists that I did not see coming. At one point, I admit my jaw dropped and I said out loud to my living room, “Oh. My. God. No way!” But yes, it was totally believable. The way the author led me right into that unexpected discovery was brilliantly done. Bravo!
I could go on and on, but I’ll stop with this: If you love a mystery, expertly told, with touches of romance, historical backgrounds, and the innocence of a coming-of-age tale, you will love this book. Most highly recommended.