2015 - Book #1 - The Shadow of the Wind

"Every time a book changes hands, every time someone runs his eyes down its pages, its spirits grows and strengthens."

 By Carlos Ruiz Zafón

After receiving this book as a Christmas present, and my friend sitting next to me almost screaming in shock that I had not read this book, I was eager to start it and I had high hopes that this could be a once in a lifetime reading experience. Trapped in the Cemetery of Forgotten books I dived into a reader’s paradise.
 

A little boy follows his dad into the Cemetery of Forgotten books, a place I can only hope exist somewhere in real life. The little boy; whose name is David, can only choose one book that he will adopt and make sure it never disappear, that it will always stay alive. In the labyrinth of books, David finds his book; The Shadow of The Wind written by Julian Carax. It is now his duty to guard it.

Along the way, in the heart of Barcelona, David grows up helping his dad in his bookstore. One evening, a man in the shadows approaches him, trying to buy the book from David. This man reminds David of a character in LA SOMBRA DEL VIENTO, a character who turns out to be the devil. David tells the man he does not have it, but the man now threatens him to give him the book. Who is this man, and what does he want with the book? After this David rushes to protect his book. To protect it, he tries to find out as much as possible about the author. Who was Julian Carax and what was the truth behind his life and death? And why would anyone buy all of Carax books and put them on fire?

This is a brilliant book by Carlos Ruiz Zafón! I was captured from the beginning. Any book-lover would love this book and love the mystery that unfolds. A little by little the pieces falls together and in the end you will see the masterpiece this book really is. A great experience and a great start to the books I am going to read in 2015.