Uncovered Book Club discussion
May/June 2016
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The Shadow of the Wind (Max's Pick- May/June 2016)
I read this book years ago. I loved it!! I want to read more by the author. Good choice!
My copy is in Spanish, so it will be nice to see the comparison with the translations.
I read this book last year when I visited Barcelona. It was really great to experience most of the settings by myself. In general I enjoyed the novel but I was in a reading slump back then, so it took me ages to get through it... At some point I had lost the desire to finish it which is unfortunate and I had to force myself to read the whole book. Maybe that's why I didn't fell in love with it.
I have always wanted to read this book.... This is a great opportunity.
This was on my to buy list so gives me an excuse to buy and then read :)
I read this book a few months ago and I'm actually reading the second book right now! This is a great opportunity for more people to discover an amazing novel:)
just requested a copy from the library!
So perfect; I just bought this book at a charity sale!
I bought this book about a month ago from a library sale and am so excited to start it!
I have this book on my shelf and now I have the perfect reason to read it! Will hopefully start it tonight!
I have read it a few years ago and what lovely book and writting!I will be following the discussion.
I read this a few years ago and remember that I started out really liking it but then for some reason that I can't remember I fell out of love with it. Still, I am looking forward to giving it a second chance. Very interested to hear what everyone else thinks of it.
I've been wanting to read this! This should get me reading it finally! I'm currently on Chapter 7!
I bought the book way back in Fall 2014 and I haven't gotten around to reading it because life got in the way, other books and my laziness/procrastination. This new book club and the chosen book has given me inspiration to finally pick it up.
I bought this book months ago and keep on putting it off because it's intimidating(both size and content) I'm excited to finally pick it up! I will read on June because next week is my finals >< thanks for having this awesome book club!
Sounds interesting, would love to join the reading, but long waiting lists for this book in the local libraries, alas
Had this on my TBR shelf for a while, definitely excited and ready to jump into it!
oh I have read this 6 years ago and I reread the whole trilogy every summer... its honestly my favourite book of all time
How lucky, I already have this one on my shelf!
I grabbed this at a library sale last year and have been meaning to get to it … excited to read it as part of this new group!
Ooh, I've been meaning to pick this one up! Can't wait to start.
Yay! I just bought this one! Hopefully it gets here soon or I'll have to play some serious catch-up.
My copy just arrived! Going to dive into it later!
After reading this book last year I immediately went to check out more novels by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. I just began the second installment of the cemetery of forgotten books and I am enjoying It nearly as much. I think that nothing will compare to how deeply shadow of the wind stayed with me but the angles game is giving it a good run for it's money. so happy this was your choice for the month more people need to be exposed to this wonderful author
Just started this book a couple hours ago and i'm on chapter six. The story and narrative sucks you from the get go. I can safely say that i'll be getting very little sleep tonight. Thanks Max, for such an awesome pick. I'm a sucker for well written and enthralling storylines. Can't wait to talk more about the characters and progression of the plot. BTW this is my first read from this author.
What luck! I bought this a month ago at a local used bookstore and have been wondering which book to pick up next. I guess I'll go start now!
I've had this book on my shelf for forever. About time that I pick it up
Just read this one last month, you all are going to love it!
Mod
Even though this is my 3rd time reading it, I'm still enthralled and totally in love with this book. Zafon is just so good at creating atmosphere with his writing. I love the sort of gothic Barcelona he creates, and we aren't even into the really gothic stuff yet. Also since I'm reading the same edition I read the first 2 times, I love seeing all the quotes I underlined and parts I particularly loved in the past, as well as marking new passages this time around.
Has anyone else started? Any initial thoughts? How do you feel about it so far?
I've been meaning to read it for so long. I've already purchased it and can't wait to have it!
Just read the first 6 pages... I think my night just got less productive!
Chapter 3, pp. 28,29 Clara speaking to Daniel:"Never trust anyone Daniel, especially the people you admire. Those are the ones who will make you suffer the first blows."
What do you think about this? I can't imagine a life where I did not trust anyone. I'd be closed off from society and would be terribly lonely and depressed. I understand what she's saying, but I don't think I could do it. Many people don't deserve our trust, but many do. What are your thoughts?
Kara wrote: "Chapter 3, pp. 28,29 Clara speaking to Daniel:"Never trust anyone Daniel, especially the people you admire. Those are the ones who will make you suffer the first blows."
What do you think about ..."
It would make me so paranoid! I don't think I would leave my house. Not being able to trust anyone it would make a horrible world and society. Though I do kind of agree with the fact never trust people you admire, actually never meet them.
I'm in page 68. I'm reading the book in spanish and enjoying it!
I loved the part: "A book that didn't matter to anyone, changed my life." I can soo relate to that. I like her very much, don't know about Daniel yet and I am not a fan of the "telling" by the author, that just doesn't do it for me. But when he shows the characters and really lets them interact, it's always sublime.
i'm on chapter 18 and i absolutely love this story so far! i think my favorite aspect is how elaborate the mystery behind carax is. it's not just his books, it's his past, his family, his love life, and everything else in between. i love that we're getting so many story line at once, especially because you know they will all probably completely connect at one point, but you just don't know when, how, or why. very excited to continue.
Mod
Kara & Samantha- I agree. It's difficult to imagine living your life without being able to trust anyone. Coming from Clara, though, I think it's kind of understandable how she might feel that way. As a blind woman, she has to rely so heavily on her uncle, a close family member, and that's pretty much the only person she can count on. Also I think she senses Daniel's affection for her and doesn't necessarily want him to pine over her (for obvious reasons).
Francisco- That's awesome! How is the Spanish version? I own a copy but am not fluent enough to read it at all. But I can only imagine how great it is in the original language if the translation is this good.
Julia- That quote is one of my favorites! I have it underlined from one of the first few times I read it.
Ciah- I agree. The complexity to the novel, the way it unfolds, is astounding to me, even on my 3rd reading of this book. There is still new information I am picking up and connections I am making now that I didn't notice the first 2 times I read it. It's a fun & beautiful read.
I read Shadow of the Wind a couple of months ago so I won't be re-reading it. Actually it was on my shelf for about ten years until I saw Max mention it a lot on his channel and I gave it a go.Shadow of the Wind is a marvelous novel. It is so well crafted and yet it is unpredictable. I had a lot of trouble seeing where the narrative would go and I'm glad I was stumped. All the characters are three dimensional, with Fermin being the charmer of the lot. I liked the use of past and present and how Ruiz Zafon brings it together.
Honestly I'll just keep on praising this book endlessly. I'll end saying that i've recommended this novel to three people and they've all loved it. The novel has that magic.
My first language is spanish, so I'm used to spanish literature. CRZ is very lyrical, very "old school descriptions", but it works because the historical context and the "old España" placements.I really like Clara. She is magical, dreamlike. I feel Clara could be an Helen Oyeyemi's character.
I read this book last month, haha. I probably won't read it again even I really enjoyed it, but I needed sooo long to get through it. But I wanna say that this book is fantastic.
I am in love with the writing! I've never fallen in love with someone's writing so fast!
I've just finished the book tonight, and it's amazing. I just went and ordered 2 more of his books.
Mod
I'm so glad you liked it! I would also recommend The Angel's Game if you want something with a similar feel. The Prisoner of Heaven has the same characters as The Shadow of the Wind but it's not nearly as good in my opinion.
Max you killed me with that last comment. I just recently finished the Angels game and loved it. I was so excited to start prisoner of heaven and now...haha I'm sad it won't be as wonderful as I was hoping.
Mod
I started yesterday (finally!) and the beginning is really beautiful, and mysterious and sad, at times.
I first read this book in May 2014 and immediately fell in love. I read it again in May 2016, and here I am reading it for the 3rd time this May!
It's a hauntingly beautiful story set in a gothic-inspired Barcelona about a boy who falls in love with books, particularly a book by a mysterious author whose own story our main character, Daniel, gets sucked into.
I can't wait to read this one again and discuss it with all of you. Please just comment the chapter you are on at the top of every comment so you don't spoil it for others. Happy reading!