You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

This thread will be for the discussion of The Shadow of the Wind. We'll be starting the discussion the first week of April.

Remember to mark spoilers and state which chapter/section it concerns.

I put an order in for it at the library. I don't think it will take too long to come in as they have quite a few in stock and no other reservations!

My copy is ready and waiting at the top of my TBR pile. Looking forward to getting started!

I am at page 130. I read another 3 pages in the Thai restaurant tonight waiting for dinner. That's almost a record in reading time with this book. I will sit down with it for an hour or so tomorrow, compose my thoughts and come back!

I read it years ago and loved it. Enjoy.

My e-copy is ready and waiting on my Kindle : )

I've put in the request at the library, I'll join as soon as I get it.

I'll participate in this one too :)

I just bought it. I will try to fit it in.

Lot's of people! This will be fun!

wooohooo! I totally didn't read it today... I'm expecting some of you guys to overtake me.

My book is ready for me to pick up :)

I will be starting this later on today (which is a few days earlier than I expected to). Very much looking forward to the discussion :)

I have started and am up to Chapter 7 (page 49).

This is the first book I have read by Carlos Ruiz Zafón and I am really enjoying his writing style. It is really lyrical and poetic and I love the descriptions of Barcelona which have an almost dreamlike quality about them.

I think this is going to be one of those books where I am constantly scribbling down quotes that I like so that I don't forget them. I particularly enjoyed this quote on page 3-4: (view spoiler)["Every book, every volume you see here, has a soul. The soul of the person who wrote it and of those who read it and lived and dreamed with it. Every time a book changes hands, every time someone runs his eyes down its pages, its spirit grows and strengthens". I think that is a really nice way of looking at and thinking about books. (hide spoiler)]

This is quite slow paced so far but it has me intrigued.

I started today, too, and agree with Lisa about the lyrical quality of Zafón 's writing.

I like the quote you noted, and that whole passage and some related ones. Brought old memory back to me... the first of only a few times I've ever seen and held a beautiful, leather-bound book with gold-embossed title and pages "like silk." So exquisite, sigh.

I'm listening to the audiobook, and I'm at Part 1, chapter 20.... where he meets Nuria Monfort. I don't know if the audiobook is organized differently. I'll have to listen more carefully to the chapter numbers as read by the narrator.

I really liked that quote too Lisa.

I think Fermin is a great character. I loved his outburst (view spoiler)[ at the theatre over the actress... forgot which one. He adds a lot of comedy to the story. (hide spoiler)]

The quote I had to jot down was (view spoiler)[ "to truly hate is an art one learns over time". Thought provoking for sure. (hide spoiler)]

I want to go visit the Cemetery of Lost Books. I wonder what book I would find.

You've overtaken me Janice. I'm in chapter 15. I agree, the writing is beautiful, but I have found it a little slow to begin with. As the story progresses I have wanted to pick it up more though.

Just finished a horror week at work though, and am being chased out the door by my boss. So I think after reading this thread, I may stop resisting and go and find a cafe to sit in this sunny, crisp 27 degree day in autumn and visit Barcelona.

True, and there is nothing cliché about his writing. I heard the narrator start to say, "It's like finding a needle..." I was expecting it to finish "in a haystack." Instead, he said, "It's like finding a needle in a field of lilies."

Of course, then I go off on a tangent about the analogy and wondering why someone would say that, or why someone would say haystack for that matter.... and had to rewind.

Janice wrote: "True, and there is nothing cliché about his writing. I heard the narrator start to say, "It's like finding a needle..." I was expecting it to finish "in a haystack." Instead, he said, "It's like..."

I was expecting that quote to end that way too. I was pleasantly surprised when it didn't. As you say Janice, there is nothing cliché about his writing at all. He puts his own unique twist/spin on things so you are never quite sure what is coming next.

I would also love to visit the Cemetery of Lost Books. It sounds like a book lover's paradise! I also like the idea that (view spoiler)[Daniel's father put to him about 'adopting' books and taking care of them so that they will always be known and enjoyed. (hide spoiler)] In a way, this story is like an ode to books and book lovers everywhere.

I'm reading The Angel's Game right now and read Shadow of the Wind a while back. I'm enjoying coming in here reading your comments to be reminded of what happened in the first book. His writing is just as wonderful in Angel's Game.

I was checking in on this thread too...I'm glad everyone seems to be enjoying this book. I thought this would be a safe thread but thanks to Tasha I've added a book to my TBR :o

So I've collected my book, but I had the new BDB (auto pre order) download onto my kindle and the call of it was just too much! ;)

I'll start on it next.

glad to help, Marnie. ;)

I am now up to Chapter 19 (page 158).

Janice, I also really like Fermín as a character. Some of the things he comes out with are so funny! However, (view spoiler)[I also find him a really sympathetic character. He is clearly very damaged by what what has been done to him in the past. The scene where Daniel and his father got called out to his 'pension' after he went mad and wrecked everything was quite upsetting. Sounds very much like post traumatic stress disorder or something like that. (hide spoiler)]

I don't know what to make of (view spoiler)[Coubert. The fact that he appears to have stepped straight out of the pages of The Shadow of the Wind itself is pretty creepy! He actually reminds me a bit of the Phantom in 'The Phantom of the Opera', mainly because of his facial disfiguration, how he dresses and the way he seems to be able to appear and slip away in the blink of an eye. One of the things he said whilst talking to Daniel in Chapter 7, "Your friend Clara, for instance. A woman like that... anyone could lose his senses", made me wonder whether he meant it quite literally. Seeing as he has no nose, no eyelids and no lips, did he get into trouble over some woman in the past which led to him being disfigured and this line is a subtle hint to that? (hide spoiler)]

I am also enjoying the (view spoiler)[gothic elements that are starting to creep into the story such as the fogs, thunderstorms and creepy/haunted houses. (hide spoiler)] I had no idea that this book was going to be this (view spoiler)[dark and mysterious (hide spoiler)] so it is proving to be a really pleasant surprise :)

I did run away to a cafe and read another 30 pages. I am on 179 in the middle of chapter 20 (would have read more if two policemen hadn't chosen the table next to me in an empty cafe to talk loudly about their holidays).

I found the part with the watchmaker (view spoiler)[ a little disturbing. More just how it was brushed away. Oh dear, he's broken and distraught. But you get ready for your "date" Daniel. Especially after Daniel's encounter with the Inspector... (hide spoiler)]

I am liking the mystery aspect, and love how Daniel is such a little charmer he seems to be able to get anything out of anyone, mainly older women. I'll be interested how this Bea thing goes as well.

Lisa wrote: "I am now up to Chapter 19 (page 158).

Janice, I also really like Fermín as a character. Some of the things he comes out with are so funny! However, [spoilers removed]

I don't know what to make of..."

I agree with your comments about Fermin. I think we will learn his story at some point.

Coubert makes me nervous. (view spoiler)[ I like how the book TSOTW reflects Julian's life, and Daniel's seems to be a repetition of the book. It seems that the theme keeps repeating itself and Coubert is the common denominator.

That's an interesting thought about losing the senses as in sight, smell, touch. I thought of it as in losing one's mind or reason. I just had a thought. Daniel keeps referring to Coubert as the devil from the book. If he is the devil, was he warning Daniel about how Clara was going to break his heart? And yet that doesn't sit right either. Because it seemed more like a threat... "Bring me the book or else something is going to happen to Clara." (hide spoiler)]

Rusalka, I think the scene with the watchmaker emulates life in a way. (view spoiler)[ What is too shocking or too difficult to deal with tends to be over simplified and filed away as inconsequential. Easier than dealing with it. I wonder if there will be more about it further in the story. (hide spoiler)]

I'm somewhere in the never ending Part 1, chapter 21. There's a lot of history being thrown at us in this section. The narrator reads it quite perfunctorily. It doesn't feel like he's telling a story. And yet there is a lot of interesting things that happen. Daniel is quite determined and intrepid. He's almost obsessive about it.

Janice, I also wondered whether (view spoiler)[Coubert is the devil and whether he was warning or threatening Daniel with regards to Clara. That particular line makes it sound like a definite threat but the stuff he said about women making men lose their senses (whether literally or theoretically) sounds more like a warning. But as you say, it doesn't really sit right because if he is the devil, why would he warn him? Unless he just said it because he wanted to sow seeds of doubt in Daniel's mind about Clara in a bid to get him to give back the book. Also, I wonder if he could actually be the 'devil of books' because the way he smells of burnt paper and goes around burning books, it is almost like he is committing books to their own Hell. Daniel and his father could be considered to be 'angels of books' because they look after them, preserve them etc. Coubert is their opposite because he destroys them. (hide spoiler)]

I read more this arvo as the coffee machine at work needed cleaning. (My problem visitor who turns his nose up at everything came in while I was reading (I put the book down and cleaned something else when I heard the door open, appearances sometimes) and he walked into the kitchen, picked up the book feigning intellect, saw it was a novel, sniffed with disdain, and threw it on the counter. HMPH).

Janice - (view spoiler)[ I agree. I guess I was just terrified for the poor man, I wanted more outrage. I need to remember that outrage for homosexuals in certain times and/or cultures can cause more problems. I did appreciate caring for him comes up still every now and then (hide spoiler)]

re: Coubert (view spoiler)[ interesting possible reveal that those of you somewhere around pp202/chapter 22 ish (book is in the lounge room... so far away) (view spoiler)[I'm intrigued with. I am keen to know where that goes. (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

I do need to google fascists in Spain though. I need to get my Spanish history slightly in order.

I must come back to your spoiler about Coubert, Rusalka, as I'm not there yet.

I have a friend who will read only non-fiction. She's not disdainful of fiction, just doesn't think she'll learn anything from it. I tried to impress on her that good authors are students of human nature. Reading a book like this makes you an observer too. What non-fiction book will have a statement like, "Warm heart; cold mind - the seducer's code." ROFL. I'm joking. I'm still scratching my head over that, wondering exactly what it's supposed to mean. Gotta love Fermin!

Lisa, I think we could think circles around Coubert - what he is, who he is, what evil is he going to visit on Daniel. Isn't that the beauty of fiction?

Rusalka, I am looking forward to reading that spoiler about Coubert.

I have also been googling Spanish history and the Civil War since starting this as my knowledge of the period covered in this book is patchy at best. We didn't really study it when I was at school and hardly anyone I know studied it either. What about everyone else? Did any of you cover this period of history in school?

re: the beauty of fiction- Janice, I completely agree with you. I love letting my imagination run riot about what may or may not be going to happen.

Lisa, Winter in Madrid gave me a bit of a glimpse into this although much of it focused on the lives of those living post war. Still, my first real introduction to that period and events. That's why I love Hist Fic. It opens so many doors for learning!

Tasha wrote: "Lisa, Winter in Madrid gave me a bit of a glimpse into this although much of it focused on the lives of those living post war. Still, my first real introduction to that period and eve..."

Tasha, I haven't read Winter in Madrid yet. I might have to give it a go once I finish TSOTW. I am the same as you, I love Historical Fiction for that very reason. You always seem to discover something new, either directly from the book itself or from doing wider reading on the subject matter, time period etc.

I'm getting this book from zee library tomoz. I can't wait. I'm going to be reading it for the Library Snapshot challenge and hope to join in on this thread too =]

I am up to Chapter 25 (page 206).

Fermín is such a hoot! Some of the things he comes out with are just priceless! In Chapter 24, (view spoiler)[I was literally cringing when he and Daniel visited San Gabriel's school and he started talking to Father Fernando Ramos. He sounded like he was seriously taking the mickey out of the priest, no wonder Daniel wanted the ground to swallow him! Also, I love how he automatically thinks that Daniel is involved (or is going to become involved) with every woman he talks to! He can hardly talk, can he? He certainly seems to have had an eye for the ladies in his younger days. Finally, I like how those lemon Sugus sweets that he likes are his answer/cure for everything! I wonder if they exist? If so, it might be worth checking them out, they seem to work wonders! ;) (hide spoiler)]

So, (view spoiler)[if Nuria Monfort is telling the truth, there is a possibility that Coubert is Jorge Aldaya! Yikes! (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[Seeing as Daniel's life appears to be following that of Julian Carax, it seems likely that his friendship with Tomás is going to turn sour. There already appears to be cracks forming in their relationship, I thought Tomás threatened Daniel to an extent in Chapter 23 when he said "I'll only tell you once, Daniel. Don't hurt my sister". I just hope that their friendship doesn't end quite as badly as Julian Carax and Jorge Aldaya's appears to have done! (hide spoiler)]

This book is really making me want to go and visit Barcelona!

Sarah wrote: "I'm getting this book from zee library tomoz. I can't wait. I'm going to be reading it for the Library Snapshot challenge and hope to join in on this thread too =]"

Yay! I hope you enjoy it too Sarah! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts :)

Lisa, I think Fermin is a Lothario regardless of age.

I'm racing through the book. I'm at Part 2, Chapter - according to Overdrive, I'm at about the 80% mark. (view spoiler)[ Recommended that you don't read this unless you've gotten at least this far, but (view spoiler)[Daniel has revealed that he is going to be dead within a week. I'm all in a dither! (hide spoiler)]. Pieces of the puzzle are starting to fit together. I like how Julian's father finally accepts him as his son. (hide spoiler)]

My grandson is going to have to listen to the last part of the book because he's travelling with me tomorrow. Sucks to be him. Ah, he'll probably put his head phones on and play on his tablet. Or, I'll listen with my headphones. We'll work it out. But, I have to know what's going to happen.

My goodness, some of y'all are just flying thru this one. I'm poking along but enjoying myself. I think I'm at about page 50.

Daniel has gone to (view spoiler)[retrieve his copy of Shadow of the Wind from Clara, and discovers her in bed with the piano teacher/composer. Then he goes to the Cemetery for Forgotten Books so he can deposit his endangered copy of Julián Carax's tome for safe-keeping. I really feel for him, and am intrigued about the mysterious Laín Coubert, whose face has been cruelly disfigured by fire. Wondering what the connection is with fire that destroyed his face and his obsession with finding and destroying all of Carax's books by burning them. Is Carax actually Coubert? There's some similarity in their names, and only some crazy, over-looked author would be single-minded enough to pursue this twisted goal in my opinion. Also, is Daniel's father his biological father? I'm wondering about that, too, based on some foreshadowing, etc. (hide spoiler)]

I'm off to pick up my copy from the library now. I've about 200 pages left of my current book so I will join you all soon.

I've read a couple of the posts in this thread although not the spoilers. I have some idea of Spanish history but until I start reading the book I cannot say whether it is the period of history which I know something about. Eager to get started with this one.

Ooooh - that's an intriguing theory, TJ! I can't say that I entertained that thought, but it makes sense given that (view spoiler)[Daniel's life seems to mirror Julian's. (hide spoiler)]

I'm looking forward to your comments, Sarah!

Janice wrote: "Ooooh - that's an intriguing theory, TJ! I can't say that I entertained that thought, but it makes sense given that [spoilers removed]"

I had the same thought today.

TJ, I also had that same thought re: (view spoiler)[Daniel's father. It would be a shame if he wasn't his biological father but all the signs are pointing towards it being some other guy. (hide spoiler)]

I really like your theory about (view spoiler)[Coubert actually being Julian Carax! I hadn't thought of that myself but seeing as no-one seems to know for certain what happened to Carax, there is a real chance that it could be him. With regards to his burnt face and obsession with burning books, I am starting to wonder if maybe he was set alight on purpose as punishment for something? If he is Carax, maybe he has turned all bitter and vengeful over what happened to him and is now trying to wipe out all memories of the man he was by destroying his books? Maybe his books, particularly TSOTW, incriminated him in some way and led to him being punished? (hide spoiler)] I can't wait to find out!

Got the book, will be starting it later this evening =]

Ok so I started reading it and am half way through chapter 5 so it's early days for me but I am really enjoying it. I love the writing style and agree with the comments about it's poetic nature.

With regards to the phrase about finding a needle in a lily field, I actually found that funny! I don't know whether it was suppose to be or not! There are some people out there who get their turns of phrases mixed up and I thought that Zafon was implying that the character who said that was one of those people. But when I thought of sayings which included a lily field, I couldn't think of any so perhaps that isn't the case .

I don't know where this book is heading yet but I am very intrigued by it and it is holding my interest. I love all the references to books and what one gets from reading and discovering new books - it is the perfect book for book lovers and this challenge too!

I love the idea of the cemetery of forgotten books. Made me feel sad about all my books which have lost priority to my kindle.

As for the time period the book is set in, I studied some of this at school when I took Spanish A-level but that was over 15 years ago now and I've forgotten most of it. The government in place at that time were Republicans and they were democratically elected and they fought with the Nationalists who were fascistic, led by the dictator Franco who was a nasty piece of work from what I remember. There was a coup which kicked it all off and Franco took over and he was in power for a long time. I don't think it was a nice place to live during his reign. There was also religion involved from what I recall (catholic and protestant). I think also he abolished some of the privileges held by parts of the autonomous Basque country in the North which caused a lot of problems. I vaguely remember being taught that it was similar to the troubles between Ireland and Northern Ireland and an armed group called ETA was formed (similar to the IRA) but I think this was much later than the period in this book. That's all I can remember unfortunately. Might have to go brush up on Wikipedia!

Thanks for the info Sarah. It sounds like you learnt more about this period in school than I did. I did only study Spanish up to GCSE level though so maybe that has something to do with it. I knew who Franco was and that he was a dictator but that was as far as my knowledge went.

I am just over halfway through now and am up to the beginning of Chapter 31 (page 264).

In Chapter 25, (view spoiler)[I really enjoyed hearing what Father Fernando Ramos had to say about his childhood friendship with Julian Carax. I can't believe that Javier, the shy boy who Julian also tried to befriend, is Inspector Fumero! And that he tried to kill Julian because he was jealous about Julian's relationship with Penelope! It certainly throws up some new questions with regards to Julian Carax's disappearance. Is the Inspector to blame? (hide spoiler)]

I liked it in Chapter 28 (view spoiler)[when Bea told Daniel all about the history of The Angel in Mist. That is one creepy house! You can certainly understand why people refused to live there! (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[I just love the friendship between Daniel and Fermín! They make a really great team and Fermín seems to understand Daniel so well. Also, Fermín is just genius. In Chapter 30, only he could get the two of them inside the Hospice of Santa Lucia by telling the nun that they were there to collect a body! Honestly, the things he makes Daniel do and say! Talking of their visit to the hospice, this response by Fermín to Daniel's question about how they were going to find Jacinta Coronado gave me a good laugh: "I don't know. It's a cauldron of idiots. I've tried the Sugus sweet trick, but they seem to think they're suppositories". He certainly has a way with words! (hide spoiler)]

I'm up to Chapter 16 now, and really intrigued by this book. I really love that quote and will be writing it down in my little notebook I have of quotes from books I love.

I felt really sorry for Daniel when (view spoiler)[he walks in on Clara with the music teacher =[ It was his birthday of all things and only Bernarda popped round to give him a gift. But I had a funny feeling about her that she wasn't good for him, but I sense she may hold a place in the story to come. (hide spoiler)]

I also quite like the (view spoiler)[mysterious character, Coubert, he kind of reminds me of The Phantom of the Opera. I'm wondering about whether it was such a good idea for Daniel to take 'The Shadow of the Wind' back to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books as I can't help but think that Coubert may find out where this place is eventually and burn it down =/ eeep. (hide spoiler)]

I finished the book and loved it! I will definitely read this again someday.

Sarah... The needle in the field of lilies isn't the only saying that Fermin reconstructed. There were a few that he created, and all of them made me laugh. He is by far one of the most colourful characters that I have encountered in a while.

My grandson started listening to the book in the middle of Part 2. I just had to finish this book and wasn't going to stop because he hadn't heard it from the beginning. (Inconsiderate Grandma!") He fell asleep and then woke when it was over and asked, "What happened to this person? What happened to that?" He now wants to read it from the beginning even though he knows some of the spoilers.

I liked how at the very end of the book (view spoiler)[, Daniel takes his own son to the cemetery of lost books. I thought maybe the next book would continue with his story but the synopsis talks about David.. Daniel and Bea named their son Julian which I suspected they would. If it had been a girl, I wonder if they would have named her Penelope. (hide spoiler)]

Wow, you flew through it Janice! I am really glad you enjoyed it. It sounds like it might gain a new fan in your grandson too! :)

I am now up to Chapter 34 (page 309). I have slowed down quite a bit because I am enjoying it so much that I don't want it to end! But I also really want to find out what happens too!

All I am going to say about these past 3 chapters is, (view spoiler)[Inspector Fumero is one nasty piece of work! (hide spoiler)]

Sarah, I also felt sorry for Daniel when (view spoiler)[he caught Clara in bed with the music teacher. I kind of guessed that it was coming but it was a shame that he had to discover it on his birthday and in those circumstances. (hide spoiler)]

I started off slow with this one, but then read faster and faster! Finished it late last night/early this morning. My husband is out-of-town this weekend, and practically all I've done is read non-stop!

I wavered between giving 4 and 5 stars. I liked it a lot. Many fun turns-of-phrase here, but it didn't quite make it to the 5 level for me tho it is definitely a page-turner. Very glad to have read it : )

I read this years ago, but is still the one of my favourite books of all time. I am looking forward to reading it again soon...