The Shadow of the Wind

Second catchup review.

People love this book, and sure it was a really easy read with the story rolling out, satisfying all the loose ends. I readily admit this type of book is probably not for me - this type of book just doesn't provide me with any satisfaction.

The characters are all largely what is expected - good guys and bad guys, all with back stories and all who wrap together. The setting was excellently described - Barcelona with an edgy almost gothic face - for me probably the highlight. The plot was offered twists and turns as layers of information were added, and it was here that the biggest issue I had came to light. When characters along the way told their ‘story' it was not only their story but provided information, but information that this character just would not have had - the personal thoughts and secret actions of other characters. This didn't happen just once, which might have been overlooked, but several times. Maybe this was not supposed to be information the protagonist received, just the reader? In that case, when resolving a tangled mystery like this is seems wrong that the reader operates with different information than the protagonist. Maybe it is just me.

Secondary issues, there were just too many coincidences for me. Things fell into place due to them, and it was all just a bit easy for the protagonist to step his way through the complex background. I know it took nine years for Daniel to resolve it all, but mystery-wise, too easy. I especially disliked the story being wrapped up by the receipt of a long letter which just tied it all up...

I also thought that the prose was a bit over the top. Yes the setting was 1940s and 50s, but it was a bit overwritten for my simple tastes. The more I read the more I was convinced it was going to turn into some sort of awful parable like The Alchemist, God help me. Thankfully it never came to that.

Last gripe - the Cemetery of Forgotten Books. I wanted to understand what this was, why it was and how it came to be. It is introduced on page 3, but given no real explanation. I know there are several other books in the series but this needed improving for me. In fact, the Cemetery of Forgotten Books was not even necessary in this story. Daniel could have just a well found the Carex book in his father shop for all the relevance there was.

As I say, other readers love this book, and I see all the 5 star reviews in my friends and following, but while I found it an easy and fast paced read, there was too much to annoy me on the way. I have another book of this series in my shelf, and I might give it a go to see if CRZ up's his game, but not in a hurry.

For me, with my unpopular opinion, this reached 2.5 stars, rounded down.