Book Review: The Shadow Of The Wind

I just finished reading The Shadow Of The Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Some friends invited me to join their book club & this is the book they're currently reading. I bought a used copy on Amazon & started reading it last week. I had just finished The Pact by Jodi Picoult, so I had a hard time switching gears & getting into this book. The size of the book was a little daunting, weighing in at 487 pages. A few chapters in, I finally got into it & then I couldn't put it down. I have essentially spent every fee minute of this past week reading this book. It's one of those books with a lot of short chapters, which I like because you think, "just one more chapter" & next thing you know, you've read half the book. There's a blurb on the back cover that describes this book better than I can:

"Anyone who enjoys novels that are scary, erotic, touching, tragic & thrilling should rush right out to the nearest bookstore & pick up The Shadow Of The Wind. Really, you should."

-- Michael Dirda, The Washington Post

I loved this book. Loved! It reminded me of a book I read in NYC, The Alienist by Caleb Carr. I've recommended The Alienist to a lot of my friends over the years & they've all loved it. I think Shadow may be my new recommendation. Everyone should read this book.