Carlos Ruiz Safon, "Shadow of the Wind": book reviews, summary

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Reviews of the "Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz Safon will interest all fans of the work of this Spanish writer. This is a fantasy novel that was written in 2001. Almost immediately, it became incredibly popular and loved by thousands of readers around the world. Was translated into Russian. This article provides a summary of it, as well as reviews left by readers.

About the book

In reviews of "Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz Safon, many say what a fascinating work it is. Its events begin to unfold in 1945, when a father brings his son to some mysterious place located in the center of the Old City. It is called the Cemetery of Forgotten Books.

In this place, the main character, whose name is Daniel Sempere, discovers a cursed book. She plunges him into a web of twisted intrigue and secrets unfolding in the dark soul of the city itself.

The book "Shadow of the Wind" is an intellectual thriller set in Barcelona, where the author himself comes from. Along its length, one can trace the entire path from the splendor of modernism to the darkness of war. In fact, this is a mixture of a fairy tale with a historical novel and a comedy of manners. At the same time, a tragic love story takes an important place in the work, which unfolds over a significant time period.

"The Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz Safon is a well-written novel in which the author reveals intrigues and conspiracies, extracting them as if from a nesting doll. He does all this with incredible skill. The intrigue remains literally until the last pages of the novel.

Author

Author of the book "Shadow of the Wind" Carlos Ruiz Safon. He was born in Barcelona in 1964. Known not only as a popular Catalan writer, but also as a composer. After graduating from a Jesuit school, he decided to study computer science.

As a freshman, he caught the attention of a major advertising agency. As a result, he built a successful career, becoming the director of the creative department. Remained in this position until 1992.

After that, his literary career actually began. In 1993, he released a whole series of mystery novels, the main target audience of which were teenagers. These were the works "Lord of the Mist", "Midnight Palace" and "September Light", which over time were combined into the "Mist Trilogy".

In 2001, his first novel came out,originally intended for an adult audience. It was the book "Shadow of the Wind". This work brought him great popularity, it was translated into 30 languages of the world. In total, it was published in more than 40 countries with a total circulation of over 10 million copies.

Safon's book "The Shadow of the Wind" was followed by the novel "Angel's Game", which was published by a Barcelona publishing house with a circulation of one million copies at once. His novel "The Prisoner of Heaven" became famous. It was written in 2011, immediately becoming the best-selling book in Latin America. In recent years, he wrote "Marina" and "Ghost Labyrinth".

Summary

Speaking of Carlos Ruiz Safon's Shadow of the Wind trilogy, most readers note that this is indeed a quality literary work. The novel is set in Barcelona in 1945. In the center of the story is the boy Daniel, who is 11 years old. He is the son of a second-hand book dealer who finds in the Cemetery of Forgotten Books (a mysterious specific institution) a novel called "The Shadow of the Wind", which was written by an unknown author, Julian Carax.

Daniel liked the book so much that he starts trying to find at least some information about its author. This turns out to be a difficult task, because almost nothing is known about the writer.

Looking for information about him, the protagonist of the novel falls in love with a blind girl named Clara, who at the same time is the daughtermillionaire. This is the first true love in Daniel's life, but later it turns out that it is not the only and not the strongest.

At the same time, a mysterious stranger appears on the streets of Barcelona, who actually hunts for copies of the same Carax novel, destroying and burning them. Daniel will have to figure out his motives, why he hates these books so much.

Telling a summary of the "Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz Safon, an important circumstance should be noted. The fact is that the fate of Daniel actually repeats in the most mystical way the story of Carax, which unfolded in the 1920-1930s. In reviews of the book "The Shadow of the Wind", readers admit that they are fascinated by this unique and invisible connection. The further the story unfolds, the more incredible similarities are revealed.

Protagonist Daniel has to overcome many obstacles in order to save his friends, as well as the love of his life. The situation is complicated by the fact that the events of the novel develop under the Franco regime. At the same time, judging by the reviews of the book "The Shadow of the Wind", the disadvantage of this work is that the authoritarian oppression is not felt at all, although by all logic it should play a big role. The reader, even without being a connoisseur of modern Spanish history, is surprised that Safon prefers to leave behind the scenes all sorts of social cataclysms that certainly took place at that time. At the same time, the characters of the novel are placed in a completely isolated world. Due to this, the author manages to create a kind of magical atmosphere of what is happening. Interesting,that Safon manages not to focus on the vile elements of life, physiology in his work is almost completely absent. He deliberately does not want to shock anyone, directing all the forces of his work to create a fascinating plot.

In reviews of "Shadow of the Wind", readers admit that, at times, they are simply amazed by the huge number of characters. With great difficulty, you have to make your way through Spanish surnames that are unusual for a Russian, as a result, at some moments you just get lost, not understanding what is happening at all, who is who.

The essence of the work

Reviews of "Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz Zafon fail to notice any deep metaphysical or philosophical ideas. Those who are deeply familiar with all the work of this author admit that his novel "Angel's Game" looks much more advantageous in this regard, although the ideas presented there do not appear in the most outstanding form.

Essentially, Shadow of the Wind is a detective story. Therefore, those who do not favor such a genre, around the middle of the work, may begin to be frankly bored. But if, nevertheless, they find the effort to continue reading, then they will face a dramatic and interesting ending. Under the detective, it is important to understand not a banal investigation of a crime, but a complex structure created by the author, in which there are a huge number of all kinds of secrets and mysteries.

In reviews of "The Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, readers admit that they are faced with a fascinatinga narrative from which, from a certain point, it is simply impossible to break away. In such a situation, you have to urgently put off all other things in order to immerse yourself in the text, find out how it all ends. In reviews of the book "The Shadow of the Wind" Safon is given such an ability to capture the reader's attention. At the same time, one does not have to call the text truly intellectual. Rather, it is intelligent, but not without a certain charm, it is worth noting a strong and well-composed composition.

If we talk about the character of the characters, they are not distinguished by a sufficiently deep study, but they can really and sincerely fall in love, just by imagining what difficult trials have fallen to their lot.

Unique atmosphere

In reviews of "Shadow of the Wind" by Safon, readers are sure to pay attention to the outstanding atmosphere created by the writer. The events of this work unfold in Barcelona, while the reader manages to really feel this city, immerse himself in its atmosphere. Even if you have never been to this city, you manage to feel its mood.

The writer makes an interesting decision, focusing on pure poetics in the descriptions. As a result, the image of Catalonia appears toy.

As a result, this novel turns out to be a kind of love story, even more than the novel "Angel's Game". All the issues that are considered in this novel are presented in the context of sublime love, while metaphysics, as it were, descends to earth. Moreover, this is a "love story", which can be quite respected, since it is really well and deeply written.

The novel gives food for thought, but not rich at all. But readers get a huge amount of really strong and vivid emotions. The complex and famously twisted plot is impressive; such a thorough work of the writer with the material is rare. The work is densely saturated with a variety of events, so you can guarantee that it will not leave anyone indifferent.

Knowing other works of Safon, one can expect mystical moods in this novel as well. But there is no obvious mysticism in it. But an original mystical atmosphere has been created, plunging into which you read the entire work with enthusiasm. This is a truly amazing state when you feel ghosts nearby, but looking back, you realize that they are not really there.

In reviews of "The Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz Safon, readers admit that after such an experience, other works by this author will be read without hesitation. It is clearly seen that the writer does not stand still in his development, this is clear even from several of his books. He experiments with different styles and literary movements. Speaking about his work, one should definitely not blame Safon for dullness and monotony.

Characters

To understand the essence of the novel, let's dwell on its characters in more detail. In the center of the story is the main character, who is Daniel Sempere. He is the son of a booksellerworking on Santa Anna Street.

In 1945, he becomes the owner of a unique copy of the mysterious writer's novel, about which almost nothing can be learned. He tries to find him, even though he has to face great danger and risk to his life. As a result, the fate of himself turns out to be most directly and closely connected with the biography of this writer and the book itself, which has become his favorite.

Julian Carax should also be mentioned among the main characters. While still a boy, he fell in love with Penelope Aldaia. When he grew up, he turned into a talented writer who became the author of a fascinating novel. At the same time, his fate developed in such a way that he was doomed to oblivion and destruction. According to the existing version, he was the son of a hatter when he grew up, spent some time in Paris until the Civil War broke out there.

In the novel by Julian Carax, around which the main events of the work unfold, the devil is at work. he was bred under the pseudonym Lain Kuber. He is transported to reality from a fictional world, starting to actually pursue Daniel Sempere.

Gustavo Barcelo is the owner of a bookstore on Ferran Street, which looks more like a mysterious and mysterious cave. He turns out to be the unspoken leader of the second-hand bookshop, personifying its top. Barcelo was born in a small Spanish town, but at the same time claims to be a direct descendant of Lord Byron, is directly related to him. He is seriously interested in Daniel's book "Shadowwind".

An important place in the story is a talkative poor man named Fermin Romero de Torres. He claims to have been held captive in the basement of Montjuic for being a spy during the Civil War. According to his words, he was involved in high-class espionage and intelligence.

Among the main characters, it is also worth noting the senior police inspector Javier Fumero, who once upon a time was a mercenary. After the Civil War, he became one of the main torturers in the cellars of Montjuic.

Gothic romance

In the reviews of Carlos Ruiz Zafon's Shadow of the Wind, readers recognize that this is a unique example of a truly high-quality gothic novel. Such books are rarely encountered in our time, since their time is considered to have already completely passed. Such truly atmospheric things are now considered worth their weight in gold.

Modern authors have to find their own approach to writing such works, literally going in search of the philosopher's stone. Safon does not need to look for anything. He already knows the magic recipe for creating such works.

Recipe from the author

Answering the question of how to write a worthwhile mystical novel, Safon takes the ancient city as a basis, begins to lovingly describe its streets, where there was so much love and death. Then his recipe necessarily includes a secret that lurks in the darkest corners of the city. It could be a mysterious cemeteryan abandoned mansion that has a bad reputation, gloomy parks, which are illuminated by a bright moon at night, are great. In this dark setting, he then places a few unspoiled and romantic souls who are willing to go to great lengths for love.

Mixing the detective story with mysticism and drama, Safon demonstrates how he knows how to skillfully handle these components. At a certain moment, it becomes obvious that it is the drama that plays the main role, becoming a kind of solvent that absorbs everything else. In reviews of "Shadow of the Wind", readers admiringly admit that the book lacks the components that you traditionally expect from such a gothic work.

In Safon's novel there is a place for tragedy, which overcomes space and time, responding with a kind of echo even after several decades. At the same time, she breaks into the lives of the most ordinary people, suddenly starting to play a decisive role in their fate.

Characters

Fans of gothic texts admire the talent with which the author reveals the characters of the main characters, how he manages to come up with absolutely incredible characters. For example, the writer Julian, who hated his own works, the resilient inventor and joker Fermin, the honest and smart guy Daniel beyond his years. Finally, there is a place for baby Mikel with the eyes of a sage, a killer in the clothes of a servant of the Fumero law.

It is the depth of these images that makes the story so sincere and captivating. In fact, "The Shadow of the Wind" is a book within a book that is simply doomed.repeat your mistakes over and over again. A small volume, accidentally discovered by Daniel, unexpectedly enters his life, the characters of this already forgotten story by many begin to have a decisive meaning for the main character.

Lust, passion, devotion and hatred break into ordinary human life, completely changing it. All that remains for the heroes themselves is to try to get out of the whirlpool of events with the least shocks for themselves, making as few mistakes as possible.

The result is Fermin, who left behind the horror of the torture chambers in the dungeons of Montjuic.

Flaws

Objectively evaluating the work, we have to admit that it has enough shortcomings. The actions and deeds of most of the main characters are calculated in advance, the detective intrigue as a result turns out to be too straightforward, while some of the incredible coincidences that occur with the characters do not receive at least some logical and intelligible explanation.

Redeeming all these disadvantages is only the crystal purity of the characters that the writer manages to create. With the help of his protagonist, Daniel Safon, he himself gives a surprisingly accurate assessment of his work. In his opinion, this is a story about cursed books and the person who wrote them. One of the characters leaves the pages of the novel to tell of lost friendships and betrayals, hatreds, loves and dreams that dwell in the shadow of the wind.

It is possible that all this smacks of some cheap pathos and boulevardism, but all the same, it irresistibly pulls you to get acquainted with this novel.