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

Have the book handy

The staging of this book is great. The plot is interesting and the characters all have depth...but if you skip a day or two while you are listening to the book, you may have trouble keeping things straight. For most of the novel, the story is actually two similar stories, each with its own set of cooresponding characters. What can make the audio version especially difficult to follow is the sheer number of characters, all with Latin names. This is further complicated by the fact that many minor characters are also addressed by name and for the non-Spanish readers, the street names and places can also sound like names adding to your distraction. Here is an example, Calle Tallers, Nuria Monfort, Lain Coubert, Jorge Aldaya, Fumero, Don Fredico, Fermin, Miquel Moliner, Mr Cabestany and Dr. Anacleto.. The first is a street, the next group major characters we need to remember and the last is a publisher and a then a doctor of less importance. All appear within a few pages of each other and represent less than half the characters you will have to keep straight in your head. In the book it is fairly easy to keep all the plotlines and people organized. When you only have the audio version to rely on you may not keep enough detail in memory to fully enjoy all the nuances. I finally bought a copy of the book so I could go back over the parts I was fuzzy on. I enjoyed the audio much more with the book handy.

Wonderful

I bought the book to read and had started it and liked it very much. The lyrical nature reminded me of Bel Canto. When I saw it come to Audible, I was interested in hearing it. The reader does such a fine job and the Spanish pronunciations are so interesting that I am glad that I finished the book on Audible. A great story told so well.

What a find!

This book is a symphony of all my favorite things about audio books and books in general.
Zafron is a master story teller who delivers unforgettable imagery, vibrant humor, and poignant historical references for his characters. He deftly weaves a riveting and intricate narrative that is hard to put down (this is not a book you can listen to while doing something else - you have to pay attention)
Jonathan Davis is a wonderful narrator and makes the story all the more inviting. He could have helped me a little by letting me know when the main voice changed to a female character. It wasn't a big deal; I figured it out; but it kept me confused for a while!

It has been years since I loved a book this much!

What made the experience of listening to The Shadow of the Wind the most enjoyable?

The language is so beautiful - you are so beguiled by the descriptions - places, things and times I have never lived were brought into reality - I could see it all.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Shadow of the Wind?

It's too hard to name one without spoiling one of several moments for the next reader.

Have you listened to any of Jonathan Davis’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not, but this one was exquisite. I have started The Angel's Game - a different performer is doing that one and I normally love him as a reader, but for these stories, I can't imagine anyone being better than Jonathan Davis.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I guess I had two - first, I was crying at the beautiful ending, and second, I immediately began to listen to it again. I had to make myself go on to another book after I finished it for the 2nd time!!

Any additional comments?

I cannot believe I waited thirteen years to read this beautiful, mysterious book!

A masterpiece

What can I say about this book that hasn't already been said better by Stephen King? I don't always agree with his book choices, but this one is spot on. The book is a marvel, it instantly transports you into its world. A masterfully crafted story, wonderful characters, a satisfying ending and superb narration. My only warning - don't start this book when you have work to do, because you won't get anything else done!