Book review: The Shadow of the Wind

"A book is a mirror that offers us only what we already carry inside us, that when we read, we do it with all our heart and mind."

Whenever I decide that I want to become a writer, I read a book that's so amazing, so wonderfully done, that it quickly diminishes that thought. My writings can never be comparable to the greats, and I believe this Carlos Ruiz Zafon just fell into that category. Stephen King writes that The Shadow of the Wind is "one gorgeous read." He couldn't be more right.

The novel immediately lures you in due to its unique and engrossing plot. A bookseller takes his eleven year old son to a building hidden among the debris in post war Barcelona called The Cemetery of Forgotten Books. He is not to tell anyone about it. There, in the literary mausoleum, Daniel, the boy, is allowed to choose one book to make his own--one book to give life to again. Following the maze of shelves and dusty books, he chooses The Shadow of the Wind by one Julian Carax. Little does he know how much Carax's novel will change is life.

After devouring the novel, Daniel, searches out Carax's other books. He soon learns that Carax is shrouded with mystery and that all of his books have been burned and destroyed throughout the years. Daniel might have the last known copy. And so starts Daniel's quest to uncover the truth and solve a mystery that has been hidden for thirty years throughout the streets of Barcelona begins.

Zafon tells the tale through Daniel's eyes. You learn with him through his investigations and prying. Daniel's life, from age eleven through nineteen is constantly juxtaposed to that of Carax's and you learn about their various similarities. The story takes bold turns and gives shocking revelations that lead up to the "eyes open wide, holding my breath, don't disturb me" finale. You care for Daniel, for his friends, and for Carax as well. And you learn that everyone is connected in one way or another--for better or for worse.

The book, originally written in Spanish, is a true masterpiece and deserves its renowned recognition. Although the 485 pages may seem daunting, the prose is so beautiful, you don't seem to notice. The plot progresses slowly, but every description and every detour is completely worth it and almost always important. Just keep track of the characters. Admittedly, I had a hard time doing that at some points.

What I liked most was that between the beautiful words, Zafon bestows us little lessons and quotes. Passages like, "A stranger sees us the way we are, not as he wishes to think we are" seem to stay embedded in your brain.

I highly recommend the book for anyone who is interested in tale that weaves mystery, danger, love, and life together brilliantly in a cobweb of disguise. Or, as Daniel puts it towards the middle, "It's a story of love, of hatred, and of the dreams that live in the shadow of the wind." I ended the novel with tears and goosebumps.

Even though there is an epilogue, I still want to go back and visit the characters. See how they're doing. Stop in Daniel's father's bookshop and say hi. Ask if Daniel is there. See if he has any old Carax novels.

"Look, Daniel. Destiny is usually around the corner. Like a thief, like a hooker, or a lottery vendor: its three most common personifications. But what destiny does not do is home visits. You have to go for it."