Jankin,

We discussed The Shadow of the Wind last year, it may have been in August. Maybe the discussion is still somewhere in the old threads. Most people who participated in the discussion loved the book.

I read the book in Spanish, but I haven't checked the English translation to see if there is significant difference. I just happened to see a paper trade edition of the book (in English) this weekend at the bookstore in the "New In Paperback" table. If I have the time, I'll try cheching at least a few pages of the English version and letting you know.

Jankin, I read with interest your comment that you were unsure of the book through the first couple of chapters. I had exactly the opposite experience. I truly think that the first chapter of The Shadow of the Wind is the most wonderful chapter I have ever read. The effect it had on me is indescribable. It was so well done, just the right details, just the right descriptions, just the right mood and tone. I was so sure that the rest of the book would be wonderful that I put it aside for about 4 months to be read when I was on Thanksgiving vacation. It was something I so looked forward to, and it measured up to my expectations. I hope the thread is still available on the last pages. It was a good discussion.

Jankin, a number of us (including me) enjoyed the book very much. Very atmospheric. Also intriguing to me because I did not know much at all about that era and place.

Paula

Yes, I loved the book, and I hope someone saved the thread. I checked, it is gone. I thought the characters were wonderful, and I found it so imaginative and captivating. I won't hesitate to purchase this author's next book.

I loved the book too- I would say it was one of my top books for 2004, along with The Kite Runner

I checked Martin's archives and it wasn't there either. I remember that discussion well and would love to see it restored (people had some good thoughts re:magical realism, etc if I recall correctly).

~Tamara

Well, rats! I don't understand how I failed to save that. In fact, I've been a little remiss in my archiving, haven't I....

I do apologise.

I'll try to do something about that RSN.

But yes - I also thought it was a wonderful book.

Wayback machine didn't have it either.

I am another who enjoyed the book. We talked about the meaning of the pen, Clara's (?) role in the narrative, and, oh, what else?

The first discussion I tried to lead and I didn't save any of it -- where was my mind? Anyway, I loved the book, too. It probably was the best one I read last year and I'm glad others liked it just as much.

I am enjoying this book myself. I picked up a copy of this book for the August discussion and saved this thread to my pc a while back. Enjoy!

August Book Discussion - The Shadow of the Wind
Posted by Frances_MD (My Page) on Sun, Aug 1, 04 at 20:08

My plan was to read this book again before the discussion to refresh my memory and to get a better perspective since the book was so good I read it rather fast just to see what happened next. However, my job-that-never-ends kept me from even reading much of the newspaper for the last month and, since my job supports my book habit, it had to come first. So, my rather pathetic attempt at leading the discussion is based on my memory from reading the book almost three months ago. I also am not one who typically analyzes books in much detail. Please, everyone, add your own thoughts to the discussion.
1. What does the Cemetery of Forgotten Books represent?

2. Does Daniel "find" The Shadow of the Wind because his life will parallel the story to a great extent, or does his life parallel the story because he found the book?

3. Related to #2, one of my favorite paragraphs in the book is the one I mentioned in my earlier thread on the book. "Once, in my father's bookshop, I heard a regular customer say that few things leave a deeper mark on a reader than the first book that finds its way into his heart........" Has a book had the same effect on you?

4. What is the significance of Daniel giving his book to Clara and his attempt to retrieve it?

5. What is the real role of Fermin in the story?

6. Another favorite paragraph is about Daniel returning his book to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books to hide it. "As I walked in the dark through the tunnels and tunnels of books, I could not help being overcome by a sense of sadness. I couldn't help thinking that if I, by pure chance, had found a whole universe in a single unknown book, buried in that endless necropolis, tens of thousands more would remain unexplored, forgotten forever. I felt myself surrounded by millions of abandoned pages, by worlds and souls without an owner sinking in an ocean of darkness, while the world that throbbed outside the library seemed to be losing its memory, day after day, unknowingly, feeling all the wiser the more it forgot." Your thoughts?

7. At what point did you realize that Lain Coubert and Julian Carax were the same person and what is the significance of his taking the name he gave to the devil in his book?

8. What is the importance of the pen in the parallel stories?

9. Is The Shadow of the Wind that we read primarily a tragic love story?

10. After reading the last page, was it all real?

11. What do you think of Zafon's writing style? Why has this book not become more popular with the reading public?

As I look through the book refreshing my memory I realize how many aspects of it are good discussion points. I hope the other readers will bring those out in the...

iamkathy, thank you!! Thank you for saving and sharing this thread! I have so enjoyed reading through it. I will save it for future reference, too. I read this book in about 2 days over Thanksgiving weekend. Reading through all of these comments makes me want to get the book back out and revisit it. I especially enjoyed GreasySpoon's 2 later contributions. That succinct explanation of author-book-reader-pen is brilliant! I also read this book too fast - it is probably one I will reread at some point. Take it a bit slower, and savor and think as I go.

Yes, iamkathy, thank you very much. I've enjoyed reading all the comments again (even my own, to my amazement) and they all make me want to re-read the book. I've noticed that several people have posted in the past several months that they have read the book and hope they will add their own perspectives to this thread, now that it has been rescued from oblivion.

Jankin,

I was supposed to get back to you about the quality of the translation of this book, and then I didn't (Sorry!). I just remembered when I saw the thread come up again...
But I remembered to check it out back in January, when you originated this thread. As you may not remember by now, I read the book in the original Spanish. I found the English translation to be quite good, after reading 3 chapters in English and then reading the same chapters in the Spanish version.

When the book was published last year in the US, the review article in the Books-A-Million monthly newsletter mentioned how few books in translation were succesful in wooing an English-speaking readership, and what a pity that is. When you think that there must be other books out there, maybe as good as The Shadow of the Wind, unknown to English readers, just because they were not written originally in English, that is certainly sad. Luckily, not this one, though.

Thank you all so much for posting the original discussion of
this novel - I now intend to reread in the light of all the comments - and special thanks to 'reader-in-transit' if you could elaborate on 'quite good' Id be interested although it does seem to be a satisfactory translation - I also agree about novels (and poetry) in translation - one of my spocial favourites is Susskind's 'Perfume' and, of course, Madame Bovary - and it would be fascinating to learn of some really 'good reads' recently in translation.
We have in the past discussed poetry in translation and although I cannot read Rilke in German - the English translation of 'You who never arrived' just blows me away, as does much of Cavafy's work'
Thanks so much and now I'm about to ask about another novel - in translation ion a new thread.

I don't post often but I do like to read your recommendations. I read "Shadow of the Wind" and was most impressed. I loved the setting in a time I knew nothing about. Good characters, too.

Thanks!
Mimi

Bump up for Rambo and Dynomutt. It was the August 2004 read on RP.

Personally, I read it last September, and while I much enjoyed the beginning, I felt the novel turned conventional with the introduction of the Gothic elements. Also, IMO, the author was too self-conscious, especially with his use of wind as foreshadowing.

Thanks Venusia!

I actually liked the Gothic elements in the book. It just gave the story more mystery. Actually, I think the book's very visual. The author paints such vivid scenes with his words that I could quite easily picture the scenes. In a way, it was almost like watching a movie but with the added bonus that your mind was conjuring up the images.

And, while the Gothic elements seemed at times heavy-handed, I didn't mind it. In some scenes, I thought the only things missing from a Hammer Films vampire movie was the mysterious castle framed in the moonlight or the resonant flap of bat wings punctuated by occasional claps of thunder.

The mystery element of the book was very well done but I think the element that spoke to me the most was the coming of age of Daniel. His discovery of Clara, his (sometimes sickening but completely understandable) lovesick puppy devotion to Clara, the heartbreak he experiences, and his subsequent rediscovery of women through Bea were, in my mind, quite wonderful. My only problem is that it hit too close to home. His certainty of his rightness about things reflects the endearing naivete that's one of his best qualities. And it's this naivete that works beautifully when he's cast as the narrator -- since everything is through his eyes and his thought processes, the reader is swept along with his feelings and his conclusions. Of course, some of those feelings and conclusions are blatantly in error and (sometimes) even the audience knows this. But the fact that he STILL gets swept along is part of the thrill of the ride.

I don't think it was just his naivete either -- his youth and his innocence (and this is different from naivete) also add to his charm. He's alarmed if not frightened by the misty, gloomy streets of Barcelona when the scarred man accosts him. Yet he doesn't automatically assume that this person's, well, evil. He thinks it's the devil but the portrayal of the character's not exactly evil.

It's also interesting that the banality of the ultimate villain of the piece is contrasted with the fantastic appearance of the pseudo-hero. Fumero, while portrayed as evil, cruel, and just plain bad, is someone who merely parlayed his peculiar "talents" to rise in the ranks -- he was the right person at the right time at the right place. As was noted in the book, during times of war (or unrest), people like him prosper. There are a lot of Fumeros in the Third World, especially in former Spanish colonies. Not all of them are sadists and twisted homicidal maniacs but some of them probably are. Others are merely "talented" in their line of work. The scary part of this whole thing is that Fumero does exist, albeit in different forms. And, scarier than that, is that Fumero, as a "police officer", is a pretty accurate description of the secret police in a dictatorship.

The ubiquity of Fumero's character in dictatorships all over the world can be nicely contrasted...

Wow... this thread has been really nice to read through. I just wish I had my copy of the book with me to cross-refrence.

Rambo --

Well, you could save the thread and read it through when you do get your copy of the book back! Or, you could pikc up a second copy -- the paperback's out. ;-)

Where IS your copy anyway?

It's somewhere over the atlantic ocean... It's currently in a box being shipped to Canada, where I'll be moving in a month. (I'm currently living in the UK) To be honest, it's probably good it's not here...I really need to be working on my dissertation and other papers in order to make my deadlines. Books, unfortunately, are going to have to be put on hold for a bit.

My condolences -- for having to put (interesting) books on hold and not for having to move to Canada!

I see from your profile that you're from Ontario. If you're moving back here, then it's the perfect time -- September's quite nice as the heat and humidity's almost gone and the bone-chilling temperatures of winter are still a few months away!

This summer's been quite bad for heat and humidity here, both in Toronto and Ottawa. Fortunately, August's here and once September rolls around, the cooler fall temperatures kick in. It'll still be cool enough for a patio barbecue at Chateau Montebello though!

As for the dissertation, I thoroughly understand. I had to shut away all my books, computer games, and everything else when I was working on my thesis project back when I was in engineering. That, of course, was many many moons ago ;-)

Good luck on the dissertation and other papers! And cheer up -- you'll be on your way back to poutine and a (real) hockey season! (Not to mention a new Governor-General)

Thanks.

I'm very excited to be moving back. I've enjoyed my time in the UK but I miss Canada. I'm so excited for a real winter, skating for free, and, oh, the raging wars between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators. (I actually feel relieved knowing that I didn't miss any "ice" hockey this past year.)

I can understand about you missing Canada. I have a friend who went to Europe for just a few months and she can't wait to get back. Apparently she's REALLY looking forward to some poutine!

Real winter? You're EXCITED about a real winter? Ok, tell me that in January when the wind chill is in the -40s! I'll remember to remind you of what you said. Don't get me wrong, winter's nice but I just wish it wasn't so darned cold.

Don't forget the skiing. Well, I mean (I hear) Europe's got better skiing but at least here you're close to Tremblant, Cascade, and other, somewhat reasonable ski hills.

By the way ..........

Leafs rule.

Here is the Novelist Book Discussion Guide (free copyright)

What genre would you use to describe this book?

Ruiz Zafón's intention is to blur the lines between genres. Certainly there are elements of gothic romance here in the tale of unfulfilled love between Julián and Penelope. However, Ruiz Zafón could have written that story without including the story of Daniel, so there is more here.

The book also contains elements of a mystery. Julián Carax has disappeared; where did he go? Who is destroying all copies of his books and why? What does the crooked policeman, Fumero, have to do with the story? And why are so many people turning up dead after all this time?

There is a bit of fantasy in the novel as well. The Cemetery of Forgotten Books is used sparingly, but it invites the reader to believe in a whole world of possibilities. How does it exist as a world apart from Barcelona, a place no one can find unless first led there? What other books exist there, and what adventures have occurred in the lives of other people who have adopted books from it?

It would fair to call this a coming-of-age novel. Throughout the various subplots, Daniel is growing up, has his first love, and even meets the woman he will marry.

One last tradition that guides this novel is that of the literary thriller. Art thrillers such as The Da Vinci Code have gained enormous popularity recently, but the literary thriller has existed for a long time. This book, with its intrigue about the author and the destruction of his texts is a refreshing addition to that line.

This genre-mixing was really Ruiz Zafón's intent in writing the novel As he puts it,

I wanted a big saga with many characters and many elements. . . . My ambition was to pull off something that was at the same time a mystery, a romance, a saga, a comedy of manners, and a gothic novel, so that none of these things would collide. I think that reading a novel is like spending a holiday in the brain of the author. You have to say, "Welcome to the fun house, we have many tricks in here and I guarantee the ride will be intense." (http://www.thebookseller.com/?pid=84&did=10336)
No doubt Ruiz Zafón's experience as a screenwriter has also influenced this mixing of genres. Certainly, there is a bit of post-modern experimentation here, throwing out traditional boundaries and reinventing the genres at the same time. What the reader is left with is a sense of a big book, not so much in length as in scope. It is also a book that speaks to the deep, rich history of a Barcelona with mysterious back streets and families that have lived there for hundreds of years.

What is Ruiz Zafón trying to say about books?

Certainly one thing to be gleaned from The Shadow of the Wind is an awe for the power of books to take the reader to all sorts of real and imagined places. Daniel's incredible adventure takes him from childhood to marriage.

Ruiz Zafón also wants us...

Here's an interesting question -- instead of saying what's so great about this book, how about mentioning what could have been improved upon?

I think someone mentioned the novel's structure before. I may have to agree with this. Even though I enjoyed the book immensely, the structure wasn't exactly straightforward and if you weren't totally into the book, you could easily get lost in not only the different time periods but also in the multitude of characters. In a way, it was almost like watching "Pulp Fiction" or "Shortcuts" with their story-within-a-story-within-a story structure. Arguably, the different stories within the novel could, with a bit more fleshing out, have stood on their own. But, with the overarching story of Daniel (or was it really a story about Carax?), all the stories provided support for one another.

I'm bringing up this thread for others like myself who were slow to find this wonderful novel. I'm about 150 pages into it and am finding it hard to put down at night so I can get some sleep....

I'm the last one to finally read this. I was blown away by all the insightful comments above. I loved this novel for its symbolism, its poetry, and yes, even for its Gothic elements. I thought the beginning and the ending were brilliant, but I confess I got lost in the middle, a bit. I think it's the risk the author runs with the story within a story within a story, etc.

Someone asked what was the role of Clara in the novel. I think it was related to what was written above in terms of the coming of age experiences of the boy Daniel. For D., C. was almost an initiation, a rite of passage, his introduction to women.

I had no problems with the translation, perhaps because I read French. Indeed, I thought this added to the quirky humor of some of Fermin's remarks.

Much as I liked this novel, I have to say that I thought Kostova's "Historian" far more artfully written, better crafted, and more seamless in style. (I'm comparing the two because I read the first not so long ago and find their themes to be somewhat similar).

Woodnymph --

I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the book. I still consider it one of the best I've read for the sheer enjoyment I derived from it. I actually gave it out as a present to quite a few people this past holiday season. Being the considerate guy that I am, I warned them about the late night effects it can have. I received feedback from someone I lent a copy to -- it was a Post-It note with the following message :

3 am. B*stard.

That, to me, was testimony to the enjoyableness of the book.

;-)

I did get the same complaints about the book as you've said. The beginning was very good. The ending was very good. But people tended t oget lost somewhere in the middle. But that's the problem with multiple storylines that intersect and intertwine almost interminably.

Still, I did find the book quite enjoyable. ;-)

I read this last summer and enjoyed it a great deal.

Someone in another thread asked what Zafon was working on now. I've attached a link to a bookstore site that Zafon visited last year and they have some info on what he is currently working on (more books related to the Cemetery of Forgotten books). It might be hard to read, though. They haven't set up the text to wrap properly around the picture, but you can still read it.

I also went to the complete-review site to see the reviews for this book (you can find it by googling). The reviews are all over the map from A to D- by various newspaper reviewers. I can see why this book might not be to someone's personal taste, but I do think a D is just a twee bit unfair IMHO.

Here is a link that might be useful: What is Zafon working on next?

Bringing this up for sherwood38 -

*** The saved discussion of "The Shadow of the Wind" is toward the end of this thread! ***

Oops - I guess a better way to put it is the discussion is not at the very top of the thread, so keep reading!

This thread was almost ready to fall off the end so I am bringing it up to save it, even though I doubt that the book is being read very often now.

I have the book, but put it down, because I was reading more than 2 at a time. I'm glad to see the good reviews on this book.

Goodness so much time has passed and after all I wrote I had forgotten my enthusiasm for this novel, I often see it on the charity (thrift) shop shelves so next time i shall grab it and reread.
Somewhere else I will regale you with the changes in my life = still teaching BUt have been bringing up my beautiful grandson now 15 for the last 6 years - unfortunately he HATES reading but boy do I love him!

jankin, we have been thinking about you and it is so good to hear from you again.

Jankin, we have missed you. Hope to hear more from you soon!

Hi Jankin!

Hi, Jan. I was envious when a poster said she had met you, remembering the couple of times we had to cancel. It is good to hear from you again. Catch us up on your life when you have a chance.