The Shadow of the Wind

By: Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Narrated by: Jonathan Davis

"Anyone who enjoys novels that are scary, erotic, touching, tragic and thrilling should rush right out to the nearest bookstore and pick up The Shadow of the Wind. Really, you should." —Michael Dirda, The Washington Post

“Wondrous...masterful...The Shadow of the Wind is ultimately a love letter to literature, intended for readers as passionate about storytelling as its young hero.” —Entertainment Weekly, Editor's Choice

“This is one gorgeous read.” —Stephen King

"I still remember the day my father took me to the Cemetary of Forgotten Books for the first time..."

Barcelona, 1945: A city slowly heals in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, and Daniel, an antiquarian book dealer’s son who mourns the loss of his mother, finds solace in a mysterious book entitled The Shadow of the Wind, by one Julián Carax. But when he sets out to find the author’s other works, he makes a shocking discovery: someone has been systematically destroying every copy of every book Carax has written. In fact, Daniel may have the last of Carax’s books in existence. Soon Daniel’s seemingly innocent quest opens a door into one of Barcelona’s darkest secrets—an epic story of murder, madness, and doomed love.

Critic reviews

“If you thought the true gothic novel died with the nineteenth century, this will change your mind . . . This is one gorgeous read.” —Stephen King

“Gabriel Garcia Marquez meets Umberto Eco meets Jorge Luis Borges for a sprawling magic show. . . . We are taken on a wild ride that executes its hairpin bends with breathtaking lurches.” —The New York Times Book Review

“Once again I have encountered a book that proves how wonderful it is to become immersed in a rich, long novel . . . This novel has it all: seduction, danger, revenge, and a mystery that the author teases with mastery. Zafon has outdone even the mighty Charles Dickens.” —The Philadelphia Inquirer

“Anyone who enjoys novels that are scary, erotic, touching, tragic and thrilling should rush right out to the nearest bookstore and pick up The Shadow of the Wind. Really, you should.” —Michael Dirda, The Washington Post

“Wonderous . . . masterful . . . The Shadow of the Wind is ultimately a love letter to literature, intended for readers as passionate about storytelling as its young hero.” —Entertainment Weekly, Editor's Choice

Great story, Great narration, Bad/Intrusive Music

Any additional comments?

The narrator was wonderful and the book engaging but if I wasn't so caught up in the story, I would have stopped listening .

The music played during some of the scenes was appallingly intrusive and often at odds with the emotion I was sensing in the book. It made parts of it feel like a telenovela.

shadow of the wind

Beautiful, sheer poetry, great audio presentation. This original story is inspiring and I will listen again and again.

True Mystery Simply Delightful

Having read most of the reviews before mine, I agree with the pros and cons of this book, however since this is a work of translation I kept this in mind wandering through the wind with Danielle... and conjuring up images of post war Madrid from an historical perspective. I loved the narrator (he narrated Snow Crash for those of you who are searching for him which I gave 5 star and wrote a review) and the music as corny and it might have sounded it somehow hit the right note :)... The first chapter is simple and deceptive because each story branches off into other stories with new characters with quirks, twitches and authentic voices you can see the cafe or the hat shop or the mansion where the murders took place... I love to listen to the language if you do you will love this book.

Outstanding

This book was recommended to me by a friend, and I must admit is not one that I would have picked for myself. However, it is now my favorite book. It is beautifully written, or at least the translation from Spanish to English was done flawlessly. The reader is outstanding, bringing each character to life.

Excellent example of a book best LISTENED to

I am so glad I experienced this novel as an audiobook! True, there is sometimes too much of a good thing in some of the lengthy descriptions the author uses, but the style fits with the fantasy world of the story. The narrator fits his emotions and pitch with each character and brings them to life, yet still allows the reader to imagine the rest. The icing on the cake is the piano music composed by the author. The notes add texture to what you experience. The flaws in this book are more than made up for by its strengths, earning it 5 stars.