The Shadow of the Wind Audiobook By Carlos Ruiz Zafon cover art

The Shadow of the Wind

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The Shadow of the Wind

By: Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
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"Anyone who enjoys novels that are scary, erotic, touching, tragic and thrilling should rush right out to the nearest bookstore and pick up The Shadow of the Wind. Really, you should." —Michael Dirda, The Washington Post

“Wondrous...masterful...The Shadow of the Wind is ultimately a love letter to literature, intended for readers as passionate about storytelling as its young hero.” —Entertainment Weekly, Editor's Choice

“This is one gorgeous read.” —Stephen King

"I still remember the day my father took me to the Cemetary of Forgotten Books for the first time..."

Barcelona, 1945: A city slowly heals in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, and Daniel, an antiquarian book dealer’s son who mourns the loss of his mother, finds solace in a mysterious book entitled The Shadow of the Wind, by one Julián Carax. But when he sets out to find the author’s other works, he makes a shocking discovery: someone has been systematically destroying every copy of every book Carax has written. In fact, Daniel may have the last of Carax’s books in existence. Soon Daniel’s seemingly innocent quest opens a door into one of Barcelona’s darkest secrets—an epic story of murder, madness, and doomed love. Historical Literary Fiction Mystery Thriller & Suspense Suspense Genre Fiction Scary Heartfelt

Critic reviews

“If you thought the true gothic novel died with the nineteenth century, this will change your mind . . . This is one gorgeous read.” —Stephen King

“Gabriel Garcia Marquez meets Umberto Eco meets Jorge Luis Borges for a sprawling magic show. . . . We are taken on a wild ride that executes its hairpin bends with breathtaking lurches.” —The New York Times Book Review

“Once again I have encountered a book that proves how wonderful it is to become immersed in a rich, long novel . . . This novel has it all: seduction, danger, revenge, and a mystery that the author teases with mastery. Zafon has outdone even the mighty Charles Dickens.” —The Philadelphia Inquirer

“Anyone who enjoys novels that are scary, erotic, touching, tragic and thrilling should rush right out to the nearest bookstore and pick up The Shadow of the Wind. Really, you should.” —Michael Dirda, The Washington Post

“Wonderous . . . masterful . . . The Shadow of the Wind is ultimately a love letter to literature, intended for readers as passionate about storytelling as its young hero.” —Entertainment Weekly, Editor's Choice

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Intricate Plot • Gothic Atmosphere • Excellent Narration • Unexpected Twists • Authentic Spanish Pronunciation

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As others have noted, Zafon's own piano score does not help this narration. Davis is a great narrator who does the Spanish impeccably and adds distinctive touches to each character's voice, but when the piano came on I was so distracted. It tends to crank up whenever a woman appears, too, as if we are supposed to take notice of how very ephemeral and mysterious she is. (All his female characters are ephemeral and mysterious.) I hope the producers take note of these comments and consider removing that piano from later editions. I also agree wholeheartedly with the comment to have the physical book on hand (mine was from the library) to keep the characters and especially the POV character straight. When we went into Nuria's POV, I began to get very confused, and even Davis's narration couldn't help me. Otherwise, very enjoyable listen.

Narrator is brilliant; piano is distracting

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This is a well written book, yet it seems to imply that it will be more of an intriguing mystery than the love story it really is. It uses the world of books, novelists, and fictional characters as a background for the convoluted lives the characters lead. There are many vivid passages, and amusing characters. Yet I found the plot lacking the consistent surprise that might make me love it more. The reader is talented, yet I feel this book is best read, not listened to. Try this one if you like romances, and if you enjoy a hint of mystery to them.

Well written melodrama.

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I started reading this book, not remembering much of what it was about. I was immediately captivated by the story line, the wonderful descriptions, and characters. What an adventure. It was hard for me to stop listening!

The narrator, Jonathan Davis, was wonderful; and his depictions of the many characters were flawless. I will be looking for more books authored by Carlos Ruiz Zafon and more books narrated by Jonathan Davis.

Loved this Book!

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The idea of a "cemetary of forgotten books" was just too much for me to pass up. What a beautifully romantic idea.

I liked this listen, but didn't love it. At it's heart it's more the story of Daniel's coming of age in post-WWII Barcelona. And, as such, it is touching, though banal. The literary mystery, while interesting, is oddly paced and doesn't really take off until about half way through the book. Ultimately, the stories of the mysterious author, Julian Carax, and his circle of friends and enemies is far more compelling than the story of Daniel and *his* friends and enemies.

The stories within stories within stories is a structural conceit I generally enjoy, but found it didn't quite work here. Perhaps there was a bit too much emphasis on hammering home the parallels between Daniel's life and Julian's life. Additionally, I think the book could've benefited tremendoustly from a strong editor's hand prior to publication.

Still, there is much to like about this book. The characters are well-rounded. The sense of place is rich and detailed. The narrator is good. It's the plot that doesn't always keep up.

Generally I'm a big fan of unabridged works, but in this instance, I'd recommend checking out the abridged version of the book (if it's available).

Almost, But Not Quite...

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A beautifully crafted book superbly rendered by the narrator!!

Lyrical

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