Thursday, February 7, 2008

La Sombra del Viento


Around 2 pm on Sunday, I started reading a novel by Carlos Ruiz Zafon called The Shadow of the Wind. I finished the book about 6:30, Monday morning. Walang tulugan! This novel is one of the most gripping stories I've ever read in a long time.


Set in postwar Barcelona, this stunning literary thriller is a celebration of friendship, of life's small triumphs in an unjust world. A love story, comedy, tragedy, suspense rolled into this marvelous adventure of a teenage boy, Daniel. The storytelling reminded me of Garcia-Marquez' One Hundred Years of Solitude, the language captivating. I could feel the cultural texture of postwar Barcelona. I cried a bucket at the tragic love stories of Julian, Penelope, Nuria and Miguel. The sinister Fumero sent chills down my spine. Fermin's character is the most witty and most entertaining.


"Look, Daniel. Destiny is usually around the corner. Like a thief, like a hooker, or a lottery vendor: its three most common personifications. But what destiny does not do is home visits. You have to go for it."


I love the Cemetery of Forgotten Books! A mysterious crypt that houses the books that have lost their owners, books that are no longer remembered by anyone. I could almost smell the musty scent of old books in this labyrinth sanctuary, where a 10-year old Daniel pulls a single book to adopt as his own. Daniel's adopted book started an adventure that will unravel another man's tragedy and solve a mystery that has already taken many lives. All the characters in this story are colorful and interesting.


Grab a copy of this novel and plan to stay home this weekend.


4 comments:

pusa said...

hmm i'll chec out this book.. been a while since i last read a book, just finish re-reading great expectations and i guess i missed reading

 gmirage said...

Haven't read a book that would make me stay awake just as you did for a long time. And don't you need to go to work on Monday? Then its good spending time on a book!

Unknown said...

ahhh, Great Expectations, a spellbinding classic. Like Great Expectations, The Shadow of the Wind has unforgettable characters, pusa. You would love it!

Unknown said...

I went to work on Monday morning, Gzel, bleary-eyed. Reading, for me, is a bit of an addiction. While most people would read at bedtime to fall asleep, the opposite happens to me. It always feels good after reading a good book.:)