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#200 ~ The Shadow of the Wind
The BBAW theme for today is highlighting a book that you have read based upon the recommendation of a book blog. As it so happens, one of my favorite books of the summer came highly recommended from all over the book blogging community. Conversations with various people on Twitter prompted me to buy the book, but I saw this book reviewed on several book blogs as well. I knew as soon as I read the daily themes that I would hold on to this review for today. What I didn’t know at that time was that this would be even that much more special to me because this review is
!!!!!!!! MY 200th REVIEW !!!!!!!!
since beginning my book blog! What started as a goal to read a mere 52 books in 2007 is now so much more. I thank all of my readers and fellow book bloggers for their recommendations and their support. I do not think I would have read and reviewed as many books in such a short time (for me, not Swapna – LOL!) had it not been for this community of readers.
The Shadow of the Wind
by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
I love Gothic literature. When Daniel was taken into the Cemetery of Forgotten Books by his father, I knew that I would love this book as much as I loved The Angel’s Game. My instincts were correct. Daniel selected The Shadow of the wind by Julian Carax during that visit and thus began a love of reading and an unrelenting search for more books by Carax, which were nearly impossible to find because someone was systematically burning all of Carax’s books. Daniel is prepared to do whatever is necessary uncover the mystery surrounding this book. He finds that simply by having the book in his possession puts him and those with whom he is close in danger from sources he would never before have imagined.
I think that the Cemetery of Forgotten Books is one of my favorite literary locations. It is a safe harbor for books that may otherwise be forgotten. Who among us would not want to lose ourselves among seemingly endless corridors filled with books that are otherwise lost to the world? Knowing you could save only one book to bring back with you into your life, how would you choose? Once you’ve made your choice, imagine how much your heart would pound as you read it. What book could be as special to you? Imagine if someone tried to buy it from you. Would you let them? What if someone tried to take it from you by force, if necessary, with the express purpose of destroying it? Would you fight for it? If so, you understand Daniel’s character and you’ll be invested in his story like no other.
Although Daniel is the main character and I enjoyed him very much, I loved Fermín Romero de Torres. Fermín is the vagab0nd that Daniel saved from the street. He is quirky and unreliable. He could be Daniel’s salvation or Achilles heal. He adds laughter mixed with anxiety. Fermín is the reason why I could never watch a film adaption of this book. If his character was marred in any way, I would be crushed. He is one of my all-time favorite secondary characters in literature. Off the top of my head, I cannot think of any other character to match his place in my reader’s heart. He makes me glad to be human.
If ever there was a Gothic author who appealed to book enthusiasts, it is Carols Ruiz Zafón. Both The Angel’s Game and The Shadow of the Wind are gripping Gothic mysteries. Where David from The Angel’s Game is an author, Daniel is a reader. For both, there is danger in every corner. The peril in which they find themselves because of reading and writing amplifies the importance of both in this world. If such things were without power, they would never be at risk from characters like Fumero or Andreas Corelli. So, if I ever make my way to Barcelona, I will see the Barcelona of Daniel and David. I, a woman who doesn’t normally give in to the supernatural or fantastical, will keep alert for the Cemetery of Forgotten Books. If I find it, I may never return.
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In case you’re not familiar with it, Fyrefly created a custom Google search of Book Blogs. It is an invaluable too. If you’re interested to see what book bloggers out there are saying about The Shadow of the Wind, click here for that exact search. If you’ve never used this tool and would like to take it for a test drive, here is the link to the search itself.
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To buy this book, click here
Related articles by Zemanta
- #184 ~ The Angel’s Game (literatehousewife.com)
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September 17, 2009 | Filed Under Book Blogger Appreciation Week, Gothic Fiction, book review, fiction, male author
Comments
16 Responses to “#200 ~ The Shadow of the Wind”
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Stephanie
Posted: Sep 17th, 2009 at 9:26 pm1Reply to this comment.Congratulations on your 200th review! I’ve never read anything by Carlos Ruiz Zafón but I’ve seen nothing but good reviews about his books so I really must read them.
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Cynthia
Posted: Sep 17th, 2009 at 9:35 pm2Reply to this comment.Congrats on the 200th review! The Shadow of the Wind is one of my all-time favorite books. I feel exactly the same about the Cemetery of Forgotten Books and Fermin. On Zafron’s website, there is a map of Shadow of the Wind locations. I wish I had thought to find his website before I went to Barcelona this year. A missed opportunity! The audiobook version is excellent, too. The voice the narrator for Fermin is perfect.
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WordLily
Posted: Sep 17th, 2009 at 10:17 pm3Reply to this comment.Yes, congrats on review #200! Ah, I’m glad you’ve experienced Shadow of the Wind! I found it so beautiful.
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Laura @ ImBookingIt
Posted: Sep 17th, 2009 at 10:44 pm4Reply to this comment.Congratulations on 200 reviews!
The more I read other people’s reviews of Shadow of the Wind, the more I wonder if I would have liked it better if I’d read it on paper, rather than listened to the audiobook. I liked it, but didn’t love it, I think it just felt long at audiobook speed.
I’ll wait for Angel’s Game until I can read the physical book, rather than audio.
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Ti
Posted: Sep 17th, 2009 at 10:54 pm5Reply to this comment.I loved Fermin too. Shadow is definitely one of my faves.
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softdrink
Posted: Sep 18th, 2009 at 12:18 am6Reply to this comment.Hooray for #200!
I adored the Cemetery of Forgotten Books…I wanted to move in! Or adopt them all!
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Belle
Posted: Sep 18th, 2009 at 12:37 am7Reply to this comment.Congratulations on your 200th post! You hooked me as soon as I read “Cemetery of Forgotten Books”. Simply unforgettable.
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Meghan
Posted: Sep 18th, 2009 at 6:52 am8Reply to this comment.Congrats on 200 reviews!! What a wonderful milestone. =)
I too loved The Shadow of the Wind. It was such an atmospheric book and seemed like it was designed precisely for readers like us. I don’t own a copy, but it’s on my list of books to acquire permanently once I have money and space.
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Sandy
Posted: Sep 18th, 2009 at 6:54 am9Reply to this comment.As of this moment, I am listening to Shadow of the Wind on audio. What an amazing book! You are right, the soul of the story is Fermin. Passionate, slightly off kilter, and a heart as big as his head. And to HEAR this story, with the narrator’s seductive Spanish-accented voice, it is almost like a love sonnet to me only! It is actually a pretty long audio…17 discs I think. I hope to have it finished soon! Then I am on to Angel’s Game!
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Lezlie
Posted: Sep 18th, 2009 at 9:22 am10Reply to this comment.Congratulations on the 200th review!! Here’s to *at least* 200 more!!
Lezlie
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Kathy
Posted: Sep 18th, 2009 at 10:44 am11Reply to this comment.Congratulations on your 200th review. It was excellent as I’ve come to expect from you. You’ve made me anxious to read the book.
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Colette A Buckeye Girl Reads
Posted: Sep 18th, 2009 at 7:30 pm12Reply to this comment.This looks like a great book, and something I probably wouldn’t have found on my on. I’m going to have to add it to my want to read list.
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Kim
Posted: Sep 19th, 2009 at 10:32 pm13Reply to this comment.I read this for my library book club last year and so enjoyed it. It’s the only book I can think of that I read first as a library book and then purchased it.
Fermin was my favorite character as well. I loved the whole idea of a cemetary for forgotten books. The Angel’s Game is on my TBR list.
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S. Krishna
Posted: Sep 20th, 2009 at 10:24 pm14Reply to this comment.I loved this book. Congratulations on your 200th review!
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Jen - Devourer of Books
Posted: Sep 21st, 2009 at 12:09 pm15Reply to this comment.I’m so glad that you liked this one! I was partly inspired to pick up Zafon this year by book bloggers. And CONGRATULATIONS on your 200th review!
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carol
Posted: Sep 25th, 2009 at 12:14 pm16Reply to this comment.Congrats on #200. I’m reading The Shadow of the Wind, right now. I love the Cemetery, too.
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