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Book Review : The Shadow of the Winds

Book Review: The Shadow of the Winds
Author: Carlos Ruiz Zafón (Spanish)
Translated by : Lucia Graves
Genre :  Fiction, Mystery
Other books in series : The Angel’s Game

The Shadow of the winds is the story of Daniel and his quest to locate the author of a book that he has found and adapted at a secret book society called the Cemetery of Forgotten books. The plot is based in Barcelona, 1945 that is reeling through the aftermaths of the Spanish Civil War and throughout the book you will realize the impact these aftermaths have on the life of the main characters of this story.

To sum it up, Daniel, a 10-year old, son of bookseller is lamenting the loss of his mother. His father takes him to Cemetery of the forgotten books to get him a hobby and in turn a new life. Cemetery of forgotten books is a place known by a few and visited by far lesser people where in everybody picks a book, adapts it and makes sure its passed on to a  new generation. Daniel picks a book titled “The shadow of the winds” by an obscure author Julian Carax.

This book and the quest to locate the author and his other works changes Daniel’s life forever. Julian Carax is an author who is supposedly killed in Barcelona and someone is trying to erase all his works from the face of the earth. Daniel has his own love interests that keep him away from the quest for a while but a few years later he follows up on the quest again. The book then convolutes the stories of Julian Carax as well as that of Daniel leading to a formidable end to the story.

This is one of a kind gothic quest that details the life in Barcelona and the pains of the civil war. The author Zafon, has a way of telling things that anchors your interest till then end. Talking about the end, it becomes kind of obvious. But otherwise it is a great book and I am looking forward to read other of his works.
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Comments

Shreya at Jumbodium said…
I have read this novel and m really impressed with the stories as well as the writing skill. Loved reading each and every word, not only because I am a reader but also that the thoughts mentioned are very attractive....
29/12/14
MuddassirShah said…
@shreya.
This is one book in the series.There is a prequel to it. Try to give it a read.
3/1/15
Unknown said…
Thanks for sharing your travel experience with us, i am waiting for your future upcoming post.!
Stone Supplier
9/11/15
App Development Bangalore said…
Blogging is the new poetry. I find it wonderful and amazing in many ways.
14/1/17
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