Journal Entry 1 by cats-eye from Bishop Auckland, County Durham United Kingdom on Friday, March 17, 2006

Synopsis (from Amazon.co.uk):

Hidden in the heart of the old city of Barcelona is the 'cemetery of lost books', a labyrinthine library of obscure and forgotten titles that have long gone out of print. To this library, a man brings his 10-year-old son Daniel one cold morning in 1945. Daniel is allowed to choose one book from the shelves and pulls out 'La Sombra del Viento' by Julian Carax. But as he grows up, several people seem inordinately interested in his find. Then, one night, as he is wandering the old streets once more, Daniel is approached by a figure who reminds him of a character from La Sombra del Viento, a character who turns out to be the devil. This man is tracking down every last copy of Carax's work in order to burn them. What begins as a case of literary curiosity turns into a race to find out the truth behind the life and death of Julian Carax and to save those he left behind. A page-turning exploration of obsession in literature and love, and the places that obsession can lead.
 

Journal Entry 2 by cats-eye from Bishop Auckland, County Durham United Kingdom on Friday, May 05, 2006

Posted to Lizabeth86 via surface mail as part of a wishlist relay - enjoy! 

Journal Entry 3 by Lizabeth86 from Middletown, Connecticut USA on Sunday, June 18, 2006

Received yesterday. Thank Cats-eye for fulfilling my wish.

Reserved for Hoserlauren once I am finished reading it. 

Journal Entry 4 by Lizabeth86 from Middletown, Connecticut USA on Thursday, August 17, 2006

(I confess that I alternated between the book to the audio cassettes on my way back and forth to work)

This was an amazing piece of work. Although at times it got bogged down it was pretty much a page turner (or cassette flipper).

At the end of the book there is a discussion segment and one question says it all.

"The Shadow of the Wind has been described as "thriller, historical Fiction, occassional farce, existential mystery and passionate love story." How would you describe it?"

That is pretty much how I would describe it.

I am not one that quotes from poems or books but there was one particular quote that I thought would be great to quote from someday.

"God gives us life, but the world's landlord is the devil" (pg 442)

It is a very long book but once it over you wish it hadn't ended. I will miss Daniel and some of his very "unique and colorful" friends. 

Journal Entry 5 by HoserLauren from Toronto, Ontario Canada on Friday, January 26, 2007

I received this in the mail today. My mom has already read the book and she raves about it, so I'm interested in reading it.
Thanks for passing it along! :)