‘The Shadow of the Wind’

Here is the book review for next week: “The Shadow of the Wind” by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.

This New York Times Bestseller is one of the novels we most often recommend when people ask for a “really good read.” Both men and women love it and it has become a modern day classic.

“The Shadow of The Wind” is written by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, who is one of the world’s most read and best-loved authors. Born in Barcelona, his work has been translated into more than forty languages and published worldwide, garnering numerous international prizes.

This wonderful novel opens in Barcelona 1945. To celebrate Daniel’s coming of age his father takes him to an underground library that houses thousands of books, but only one book by each author. Daniel is allowed to pick one book. When the word passes through the villages about the book that he chose, the wealthiest men come forward and offer Daniel enough money to set him for life if he sells them his book.

Daniel is a young man and does not truly understand their offers and so keeps the book. As he begins to read the book, he is so excited that he immediately wants to find another book by the same author and that is where the tale begins!

Soon Daniel’s seemingly innocent quest opens a door into one of Barcelona’s darkest secrets where we meet a delicious mixture of circumstances and characters that quite literally “come off the page.”

“Shadow of The Wind” is a wondrous and masterful piece of literature, an epic novel that is all at once intriguing, scary, courageous, erotic, hypnotizing, tragic, and thrilling! Previous reviewers say you should rush right out to your nearest bookstore and buy a copy of “The Shadow of The Wind.” We happen to agree! By the way, we will be sending our reviews from France this next month! Bonne lecture!

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Ed and Cynthia Justus are the owners of The Bookstore in Hanapepe.