The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón (5 Stars)

For the past few years I’ve been working my way through a couple of those List of 100 Books You Must Read. The Shadow of the Wind was No. 56 on the BBC’s list. Unbeknownst to me, this is the first of four in The Cemetery of Forgotten Books series. Generally I avoid series as the plot becomes more fantabulous as the author spreads out the story too thinly, and the ending is an unsatisfying cliffhanger. This book was so phenomenally good, it’s ending would stand on its own and I do intend to read at least the next book as I didn’t want this one to end:

1.0 The Shadow of the Wind
2.0 The Angel’s Game
2.5 The Rose of Fire (36 pages)
3.0 The Prisoner of Heaven
4.0 The Labyrinth of the Spirits

Barcelona, 1945 and the city is slowly healing from its war wounds. Daniel is an antiquarian book dealer’s son who mourns the loss of his mother. His father brings him to The Cemetery of Forgotten Books, a place of mystery and sanctuary.

“Every book, every volume you see here, has a soul. The soul of the person who wrote it and of those who read it and lived and dreamed with it. Every time a book changes hands, every time someone runs his eyes down its pages, its spirit grows and strengthens. Between the covers of each book lays a boundless universe, waiting to be discovered.”

In this place Daniel finds solace in a mysterious book entitled The Shadow of the Wind, by one Julian Carax. When Daniel seeks other works by the author, intrigue and danger becomes part of everyday life. Someone has been attempting to destroy every copy of Carax’s book, and Daniel may have the last one in existence. His seemingly innocent quest will open a door into one of Barcelona’s darkest secrets–an epic story of murder, madness, and doomed love.

The plotline is intricate and totally absorbing, yet easy to follow. Like a snowball being made, the story just picks up more and more until it’s complete. As you’re reading, one more event is divulged, one more curveball thrown, or one more perspective change is revealed. The major theme is light and dark, but the story shows us there can be duality or a balance of the two. There are a lot of characters, and even the minor characters are written with depth, and their distinct personalities and voices are well-defined, with a bit of humor throughout.

Sometimes when reading a good thriller, I find myself trying to sneak in a few minutes of reading. With this book, I didn’t want to just grab a few minutes. I wanted time to savor the plot, listen to the characters’s dialog and savor the sights, sounds and smells of Barcelona. Just a marvelous read!