New York : Penguin, 2005, c2004.
486 p. ; 22 cm.
I first read Shadow of the Wind about 8 or 9 years ago on the recommendation of an exchange student from Argentina. He said it was his favorite book and had changed his life. Well, how can a high school librarian not want to read a book with that kind of intro? I really liked it - a lot - back then, and have since occasionally recommended it to students. Recently a student who reads a lot was asking about a recommendation for a book with a lot of mystery and plot and good writing. I almost forgot about Shadow of the Wind, but then recalled it and suggested it to him.
Well, it had been a long time since I had read it and I thought, maybe it hasn't aged so well, or maybe it's not as good as I remember - and so I decided to read it again. I was not disappointed.
If you look on Goodreads, you will find a lot of extremely positive reviews and a few cranky dismissals of the book. I'm going to have to weigh-in on the side of those who love the book. Yes, the book is a bit melodramatic, yes it is almost overly-romantic, yes it is highly stylized, but (and this is crucial) the book is all those things because it is a passionate homage to the love of literature, the love of justice and compassion, and the love of romantic love. It also is beautifully written.
It's not a perfect novel, but it is both a delightful and haunting read. Set in the moral, social and physical wreckage of post Civil War Spain, Ruiz Zafon makes Barcelona a character itself, as the varied heroes of the novel reveal their passionate and complex ways of surviving and being humane in fascist Spain.
If you are someone who loves reading, or literary writing, or an exploration of the passion of love, then you will certainly love Shadow of the Wind. Not every young adult will find it to be their favorite novel, or the one that changes their life, but some will and will thank you for recommending it.
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