Wednesday, April 22, 2015

The Shadow Of The Wind






Bea says that the art of reading is slowly dying, that it’s an intimate ritual, that 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, and great readers are becoming more scarce by the day – The Shadow of The Wind by Carlos Luis Zafon

            When was the last time you were completely and utterly lost in a book?  A time when you came to the end, closed the cover, and emerged glassy-eyed and waiting to regain your bearings, reluctant to return to the real world.  I think, perhaps, it happens more often in childhood than adulthood.  You remember those summer afternoons being transported to Oz or falling down the rabbit hole or being yanked back to earth from the Land of Mordor only because your mother is calling you to supper, don’t you.  You do if you loved to read as a child.  Every now and again, however, it can happen when you’re old enough to know that magic isn’t real, that it’s all in the flick of the wrist.  But every once in a while you’ll pick up a book, begin to read, and realize – notwithstanding all your years of living - that there are all kinds of magic in which to believe.

            It is the summer of 1945.  Daniel Sempere’s father, the owner of a shop that specializes in antiquarian books, wakes him just before dawn and tells him to get dressed.  “I want to show you something,” he says.  Daniel follows his father through the narrow, hazy lanes of Barcelona until they stop in front of a large door of carved wood, blackened by time and humidity – the entrance to what resembles a crumbling palace.  “Daniel,” his father cautions, “you mustn’t tell anyone what you’re about to see today.” The door is opened by a man whom his father greets with familiarity.  “Good morning, Isaac.  This is my son, Daniel.”   Inside Daniel is stunned by what he sees:  labyrinths of passageways and corridors and halls, crammed from floor to soaring ceiling with bookshelves full of books.  “Welcome to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, Daniel,” his father winks.

            His father explains that they have entered a place of mystery.  That every book within the walls has a soul.  The soul of the person who wrote it and of those who read and lived with it and dreamed with it.  “Every time a book changes hands, every time someone runs his eyes down its pages, its spirit grows and strengthens.”   A book that is forgotten – whether it be from the closing of a bookstore, the disappearance of a library, or simply consigned to oblivion – those who know of and guard this sanctuary make certain it comes here to live, waiting for the day when it will reach a new reader’s hands.

 Daniel’s father explains that according to tradition, the first time someone visits the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, he (or she) must choose a book and adopt it, making sure that it will never disappear and that it will always stay alive.  “It is a very important promise.  For life.”  On this day it was to be Daniel’s turn.

            As he roamed through the galleries of that seemingly boundless universe, his eyes spotted the book that he knew he would chose – or which, more precisely, had chosen him.  The gold letters of the title gleamed from the light peeking in from the glass domed ceiling. 

The Shadow Of The Wind
Julian Carax

            Taking it home with him, Daniel not only gets lost in the book, he becomes curious about its author – whose works, he learns, are being systematically hunted down and destroyed by someone unknown.  In his passion to discover who and why, he begins to unravel an amazing story of mystery, murder, and near madness, with shadowy plots and subplots and with enough ghostly gothic film noir essence, nail biting thrills, dangers lurking with every creaking floorboard, and both the nobility of the human spirit and its evil twin to keep the pages turning furiously.  I promise you, it’s pure literary seduction to which you will gladly succumb.



16 comments:

  1. I liked the kind of "what happens after you pick which book you will champion" plot, but found it difficult to get caught up in the story because of the way it was written, which was probably due to the translation. I could see some of the high drama and subterfuge being expressed better in Spanish.

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  2. Jeanne, translations are always difficult when capturing the nuances of a book. I wished I could read Spanish well enough to capture those nuances. College Spanish doesn't cut it. Nevertheless I loved this book and was totally mezmerized. Have you read the next one in the series?

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    1. Jeanne, me neither, but my copy of The Angel's Game should be coming by tomorrow...expected it today. I have already warned myself not to expect too much. But I am nevertheless excited.

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  3. This is a FANTASTIC intro. That alone makes me want to pick up this book, even before learning what it's about. Yes, I will need to check this out.

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  4. Red, I can't recommend this one highly enough. Yes, we all have different tastes. But I think if you want a book you can "read" read...one that will pull you in...this is a good choice. By the way, I need to revisit your lovely blog. In fact, I'm going to do that right this minute.

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  5. I normally have trouble with books in translation, but my experience of reading Shadow of the Wind was just like yours -- I was totally swept up in it.

    That swept-away feeling does seem rarer now that I'm an adult, but I do wonder if part of that is because I have more responsibilities now. When I was a kid, I was much more likely to have large blocks of time where I could sit and read and LET myself be carried away by a story. Now I am liable to be interrupted.

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  6. Jenny, I am so happy to hear you saw in this book what I did. And, yes, those wonderful carefree days of reading with abandon that belong to childhood are so precious. The second book in the Cemetery of Lost Books series should arrive on my doorstep tomorrow. I can hardly wait!

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  7. I'm with Jeanne. I enjoyed it but wasn't enchanted. My mother felt the way you do, however!

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    1. Tinky, Isn't it funny how we all bring different perspectives to a book. And being a big fan of you mother, I'm gratified she felt the same way about it that I do. I wish I'd have had the opportunity to sit down with her and chat about it.

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  8. Isn't it a wonderful book? I loved it so much. The sequels, however, are a bit disappointing. None of them grabbed me in the way this book did.

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    1. Stefanie, I"m so glad to hear you loved it. I heard the sequels didn't quite hit the mark this one did I ordered The Angel's Game anyway and will probably read The Prisoner of Heaven sometime this year. And Zafon is still young, so hopefully we will see much more from him and he will grow as an author. He has the talent, for sure. Wish I knew Spanish well enough to read his stuff in its original language.

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  9. Great review, Grad. If you recommend this one I'll definitely add it to my TBR list.

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    1. Pete, now I'm feeling the pressure! I thought it was wonderful. Still, I hope I didn't sell it too hard. BUT I do think you won't be sorry to have spent your time with it. And with two little ones, your time is precious!

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  10. I LOVED this book. it's one I'd like to re-read sometime. I felt like Stefanie did about the sequels, but I'm still glad I read them.

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  11. Bigreading life, Iknow. Wasn't it just the best! I am not expecting the sequels to equal Shadow, but I got them anyway and will start on The Angel's Game as soon as I finish the book I'm currently reading. I'm wondering what Zafon will do next?

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