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Summary: English or Spanish, one of the best books I have read!
Review: I read the spanish edition as soon as it was available. From the first pages, Ruiz-Zafon grabs your attention in such a way that you JUST CANNOT PUT IT DOWN!! He is able to transport you to Barcelona, the details of the post war lady of the Mediterranean imprints in your mind the horror of a fraticidal war. The plot, which innocently enough, begins with a father and his child sharing a secret, grows in scope and characters that eventually share a common thread. AND just when you think you know what is going to happen next, Ruiz-Zafon turns you and your new found world (the novel) upside down!
READ IT! READ IT! I will read it Again. SOON.
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Summary: Couldn't put it down.
Review: I started this Novel about 7 in the evening on Friday night and couldn't put it down till i finished it at 5 o clock the next morning. I loved the idea of a cemetary of forgotten books, and i found the characters realistic and the mystery element about Julian intriguing. The end could maybe have been more dramatic, but it sorted out all the loose ends well. Altogether i would recommend this book!
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Summary: "Things from the past have to be left alone."
Review: I'm very grateful that THE SHADOW OF THE WIND was translated into English or I would have missed out on this magnificent and splendid novel. I applaud Carlos Ruiz Zafon's ability to make both the plot and characters come alive on the page ultimately resulting in a satisfying reading experience. At the center of this novel is the young Daniel Sempere who, during a visit to the Cemetery of Lost Books with his father, takes home a discarded novel by unknown author Julian Carax. After becoming intrigued by the book Daniel sets out on a journey back to the beginning of the 20th century to uncover the secrets of the life of Carax. There are enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing until the very end. As the novel progresses Daniel realizes that there are significant similarities between his and Carax's life. Accompanying Daniel on his journey is the womanizing Fermin who is full of espionage advice and the sadistic and brutal police inspector who has a fearful reputation. Despite the human characters I believe one of the effective characters in this novel is the setting of post-Civil War Barcelona, Spain. Carlos Ruiz Zafon creates a wonderful and intriguing atmosphere including rainy and dark nights punctuated with foggy mornings of the old cobblestone streets. While reading I couldn't help but envision the story in black and white similar to a classic movie. Presented is an alternate side of Barcelona not often seen in other works of fiction or films set in this city. All aspects combine to create an enjoyable book that I highly recommend.
Rating: 
Summary: aims higher than it reaches, but engrossing
Review: I've never been a fan of the "passion, obsession, tragedy" genre, where characters fall in love at first sight, can never love again after their beloved betrays them, spend their entire lives nursing violent hatreds, etc. So parts of this book definitely rubbed me the wrong way. And the writing is not great literature (though it clearly wants to be). But on the whole I thought it was an engrossing, enjoyable read. Just one fairly major quibble -- even with current medical technology, it is not possible to diagnose pregnancy WITHIN A WEEK of a single sexual encounter. Sorry. Uh-uh. Major points taken off for making your entire book revolve around something that is biologically impossible.
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Summary: Fowles-Marquez-Helprin-Eco - this is very good!
Review: If you are a fan of John Fowles (The Magus), of Gabriel Garcia Marquez (One Hundred Years of Solitude), Mark Helprin (A Soldier of the Great War) or Umberto Eco (The Name of the Rose), you should do yourself a favor and read this. There are books that come along that do make a difference and I think this is one. Try it!
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Summary: Funny, suspenseful, enchanting and absorbing: Great read
Review: If you enjoyed Katherin Neville's The Eight, Charles Palliser's The Quincunx or Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose, make space on your shelf for this one. The Shadow of the Wind is one of those books that is both well-written and, yes, shamelessly entertaining. If you are looking for Gabriel Garcia Marquez, look elsewhere, but if you want a book that will transport you into another space and time, then read this one. Much, much more fun than any of Perez Reverte's books (the characters are more likeable).
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Summary: A book to get lost in...
Review: It just doesn't get any better than this if you are seeking living, breathing characters who you'll come to care about, high excitement and a complex and intriquing mystery. I loved this book and envy all who may be opening to those first pages right now, as they are in for a real treat. This wonderful novel really stays with you. Extremely well written and nothing appears to have been lost in the translation as even the occasional humor translates very well. I look forward to more from this author. Also recommend The Flanders Panel/ Gospel /The Quincunx /The Eight /The Magic Circle
Rating: 
Summary: A very good book
Review: It's a very good read. It makes you forget where you are and brings you to the time when love can be truly pure and selfless.
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Summary: Never Before
Review: My reading usually leans towards suspense novels. When I read a synopsis of this story I was intrigued and decided to take a chance. It is not very often that I become emotionally involved in a novel. This is one of the best stories I have ever read. I was captivated from the first chapter. It is a suspense novel, yes, but more than that. It deals with life and the choices we make along that road. I recommed this book to all who enjoy having the pages of a book come alive, so much so you can smell the streets after the rain or feel the pain of the well described characers in the book. Once read, you will never forget it.
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Summary: A Good Read That Could Have Been A Great Novel
Review: Reading "The Shadow Of The Wind" was both a delight and a disappointment. This novel had the potential to be excellent literary fiction. At times Carlos Ruiz Zafron's work reminded me of Gabriel Garcia Marquez' and Jorge Luis Borges,' and my expectations rose dramatically as I began to hope for more than a good read. Instead of great literature, however, the novel became an overlong, predictable bestseller, ("bestseller" and "great" are not necessarily an oxymoron), with a most original premise, some brilliant passages and many flaws. Sr. Ruiz Zafon's extraordinary idea of creating a Cemetery of Forgotten Books, a labyrinthian library where each book awaits someone to choose it and give it another chance to live by making it part of the new owner's life, gave me chills. I thought Zafon's novel might indeed make an impact on my own life. There existed a possibility, as I read the first chapters, that I might be able to list this as one of my own favorite works of fiction. Unfortunately, my disappointment when reaching the novel's conclusion overshadowed the book's many positive elements. Daniel Sempere, the young boy who fears he has forgotten the image of his dead mother's face, and his compassionate antiquarian book dealer father, who introduces him to the book cemetery, are wonderful characters. Many of Ruiz Zafron's other characters are also memorable and unusual, especially Fermin, a former Republican agent who becomes a second father to Daniel, and Julian Carax, the author of the book Daniel chooses. Daniel's choice of books ultimately determines the course of his life as he tries to discover if the author is still alive and solve the multitude of mysteries surrounding him. The setting, post-WWII Barcelona, is fascinating and the author depicts a brooding city in mourning as a result of the atrocities of both civil and world wars. The rich plot and various subplots, filled with passion, obsession and revenge, have such potential but become terribly convoluted and lose coherence at times. There is much too much information given about some of the characters, their rationales, and oddly enough, about an ancient, haunted house. Much of the mysterious ambiance is lost, however, as a result of all the unwieldy description. Here, the concept "less is more" would have strongly improved the narrative. The entire novel could have been cut by a third...or even by half and made a better, tighter book without losing any of the story or character development. I am a big fan of long, juicy novels, but the length should have a purpose and enhance the tale. The author has focused more on the melodramatic rather than the literary elements. Some may not care, as this is an excellent read. I did care though, as I see so much more potential here and hope the author lives up to it next time. I do recommend "The Shadow Of The Wind." Most will find it highly enjoyable, as did I. I just wanted more.
JANA
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