tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656468.post111100393136412051..comments2024-03-28T13:18:28.238+00:00Comments on Grumpy Old Bookman: Carlos Ruiz Zafon: The Shadow of the WindMichael Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11338398159818400930noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656468.post-42447180627872217422016-11-23T16:04:44.354+00:002016-11-23T16:04:44.354+00:00I so agree with the comment of Ani. I happen to no...I so agree with the comment of Ani. I happen to not like this book, either (and I am reading it in Spanish).People who did not like the book also have the right to share their view on the internet. It's incredible the number of comments like "what, you dare to not like this book? You must be jealous, because it is a masterpiece!". Well, you think it's a masterpiece, and good for you. But this is just a novel, and some other people may not like it. Get over it!Johannenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656468.post-70285551042571837512015-12-03T12:43:33.405+00:002015-12-03T12:43:33.405+00:00Art is SUBJECTIVE. Someone should be allowed to di...Art is SUBJECTIVE. Someone should be allowed to dislike, even hate, a piece of art without being subjected to personal attacks and the accusations of being a 'useless joke' or of being 'pompous' or 'jealous'. <br /><br />He is not suggesting that you are wrong if you enjoyed the book or that there is a fault in you for liking it. If you find beauty or something to connect with in CRZ's work, that's wonderful. I didn't. Neither or us should be belittled because of our opinion. Aninoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656468.post-19919084071557727502010-07-14T18:56:52.742+01:002010-07-14T18:56:52.742+01:00Quite easily the worst book review I've ever r...Quite easily the worst book review I've ever read. This just proves that any useless joke can make a blog to feel important. <br /><br />Good job having nothing valid to say.Jaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656468.post-23260874436616948782009-03-24T06:32:00.000+00:002009-03-24T06:32:00.000+00:00I also loved the book - my husband, who has never ...I also loved the book - my husband, who has never even heard of Richard and Judy, bought it for me for Christmas in 2005. I devoured the book on holiday in Mauritius so it has lovely mixed memories for me when O think of it. Just discovered that his next book to be translated into English "The Angels Game", which is also set in Barcelona and revisits many of the places first introduced in Shadow is to be published later this year. I, for one, cannot wait!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656468.post-81670286777608314452009-02-03T16:43:00.000+00:002009-02-03T16:43:00.000+00:00I loved the book's haunting beauty. On a purely c...I loved the book's haunting beauty. On a purely cosmetic note, I would recommend picking up the hardcover Subterranean Press edition. It includes a nice little secret. If you turn the dusk jacket around, it becomes the THE SHADOW OF THE WIND by Julien Carax, printed to look exactly as it is described in the novel. It even looks aged and worn!Uncle Mugworthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05381694247187990582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656468.post-80728580747509910712008-04-16T00:05:00.000+01:002008-04-16T00:05:00.000+01:00Even though I did get the sense that it was writte...Even though I did get the sense that it was written by someone without much experience, overall I felt that the book was amazing. I was so engrossed in it that I read it straight through in one sitting. I love how everything is woven together in the end. I can't believe that anyone would criticize this book, though, because it has such an incredible plot line.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656468.post-19475802732421108582008-04-04T17:50:00.000+01:002008-04-04T17:50:00.000+01:00the reviewer is absolutely correct in noting Zafon...the reviewer is absolutely correct in noting Zafon's disjointedness, sloppiness and the overall bloat in this novel. Zafon is not without raw talent, but unless his future efforts are leaner and organized more harmonically, his readers will lament that his occasionally clever ideas are not realized more skillfully. A credible first novel, but Zafon needs to tighten up his prose and limit the boring discursions if he wants his novels to unfold with momentum and clarity.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656468.post-46018030155001042172008-04-02T23:36:00.000+01:002008-04-02T23:36:00.000+01:00Did you even read the book? Not well structured? ...Did you even read the book? Not well structured? It was written so well it was almost poetic! What planet are you from? I can't wait to see what Zafon comes up with next.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656468.post-31564567752139403312008-04-02T03:18:00.000+01:002008-04-02T03:18:00.000+01:00Just finished reading this novel and absolutely lo...Just finished reading this novel and absolutely loved it. I started working at a school 3 weeks ago and saw it just sitting on a shelf in the classroom that I spend most of the day. Two days later, a co-worker of mine offered the book to me saying no one was interested in it. To say it is simply about a book about a book is insufficient. At times, there were so many stories going on within the book I felt a bit overwhelmed but enthralled. I started reading it during breaks at work, a few pages here and there but quickly found it was not enough. I found myself delving into "Don Carols'" work as soon as I stepped in from work and couldn't put it down until my eyelids forced me to. I plan on reading it many more times and plan to recommend it to everyone I know. I have to say I was surprised to find out that this was is first adult novel.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656468.post-39917089648516334202008-03-23T14:03:00.000+00:002008-03-23T14:03:00.000+00:00"Grumpy" is an apt description of the critic...I a..."Grumpy" is an apt description of the critic...I absolutely loved this book ..read it years ago when I worked at an independent bookshop in Vermont..I was there for 18 years so I did(and still do) a lot of reading...it ranks in my personal top 10 reads and I hand-sold it to many of my customers back then..I am still waiting, with great anticipation, for the next book of his..this book came to the forefront of my mind this past week as I was reading Geraldine Brooks' PEOPLE OF THE BOOK..I say "it is all about protecting the book" ..protect the books = protect the peopleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656468.post-3226845708996753872008-03-16T19:55:00.000+00:002008-03-16T19:55:00.000+00:00Those who cannot write, criticize. Given Michael's...Those who cannot write, criticize. Given Michael's poorly written and badly constructed critique, he is clearly jealous.<BR/><BR/>This book was the most enjoyable of the last 20 I've read. I laughed, I cried, I was gripped. And if you an attention span longer than Michael's - or even a gnat on amphetamines - you will too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656468.post-81926695512562558582008-02-06T13:15:00.000+00:002008-02-06T13:15:00.000+00:00I loved it too! I think I read somewhere that 'Sh...I loved it too! I think I read somewhere that 'Shadow of the Wind' is to be the first part of a trilogy? or at least one of 3 books set in Barcelona _ does anyone know any more? Since reading this book 2 years ago, I have been eagerly awaiting Zafon's next work, but it just never arrives and there is nothin on his website indicating what is coming next or whenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656468.post-23614063016257577392008-01-10T22:33:00.000+00:002008-01-10T22:33:00.000+00:00I found this book to be one of the best I had read...I found this book to be one of the best I had read in years, couldn't put it down. I love Barcelona, and I felt like the city was another one of the characters. I cannot wait for his next book.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07388591121197804181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656468.post-29339863618541392612008-01-04T05:46:00.000+00:002008-01-04T05:46:00.000+00:00It's obvious that you read it in English. In Spani...It's obvious that you read it in English. In Spanish, its original language, it is the most amazing book you'll ever read.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656468.post-62446533570841828562007-12-18T19:52:00.000+00:002007-12-18T19:52:00.000+00:00I have to disagree with the negative comments. I f...I have to disagree with the negative comments. I found it intriguing, a little tense and wonderfully poetic. I found nothing to be slow or tedious and I read a great deal of fiction- from Literary classics to Modern thrillers. It's a good story and I hope he comes out with another very soon.<BR/>TessaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656468.post-23497739984274121512007-12-02T17:03:00.000+00:002007-12-02T17:03:00.000+00:00As others, I was completely absorbed by this book....As others, I was completely absorbed by this book. I love long books. Perhaps Europeans love it because they have a different approach to life than the North American drive for the immediate gratification, but instead enjoy the slow savouring of a well-developed and thought out story. I am certainly one to skip pages of drawn out description when an author has poorly written a section of literature, and then has to directly tell the reader what she/he needs to know. However, I was definitely not skipping here. I enjoyed every line, and even reread turns of phrase that just captured me. Mr Zafon, we await your next work with baited breath...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656468.post-28691324013223542102007-11-30T22:14:00.000+00:002007-11-30T22:14:00.000+00:00as an avid reader, who especially likes novel appr...as an avid reader, who especially likes novel approaches to fiction (no pun intended, really), i thought hands down this was one of the most amazing, creative, ingenious novels i have ever read. it was truly a book-lovers' book. i read it a few years ago when it came to the states and have been recommending it to all of the true book lovers i know. i really can't understand how someone couldn't at least appreciate the complexity of the way the story weaves together and all of the characters. i was really surprised to see the original review was negative, but obviously if you're going to skip pages in the beginning you're not going to understand the rest, so you really don't have a lot of business critiquing the book as a whole.Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04983048515127914542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656468.post-87258260827727250852007-10-28T21:27:00.000+00:002007-10-28T21:27:00.000+00:00Joanne said.... This is a brilliant book which is ...Joanne said.... This is a brilliant book which is beautifully written. I cannot believe you would give this author such little credit for such a masterpiece first novel. I am honoured to have found this book and to have read this amazing story.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656468.post-84290157585317853182007-10-04T23:48:00.000+01:002007-10-04T23:48:00.000+01:00Although there were some parts of the book that I ...Although there were some parts of the book that I found a little slow, overall it is one of the best books I've ever read. Admittedly, I judge a great book not on it's literary value, but rather on how enjoyable it is to read and this was a very enjoyable read. I wholeheartedly recommend it.<BR/><BR/>I don't see how you can possibly adequately review a writer's work without reading the entire book. Don't skip pages and then expect people to take your review seriously. And, nothing personal, after reading your rambling, poorly written review (was it a review of "The Shadow of the Wind" or you going on about Richard & Judy's book club?) I seriously doubt your ability to review any real writer's work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656468.post-15314978368974850182007-09-15T16:55:00.000+01:002007-09-15T16:55:00.000+01:00I just picked this book up at a sale table today. ...I just picked this book up at a sale table today. Never heard of it or the author. Am only on page 32, but so far I LOVE IT.Francesca Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16240118158098699822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656468.post-88485169006578821692007-09-14T17:52:00.000+01:002007-09-14T17:52:00.000+01:00I loved Shadow of the Wind. It takes me completely...I loved Shadow of the Wind. It takes me completely out of my life and I become absorbed in the story. I've read it 4 or 5 fives and I always end up crying by the last few pages. I have made alot of people read it and they all end up falling in love with it too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656468.post-24823409258549828042007-07-14T05:50:00.000+01:002007-07-14T05:50:00.000+01:00I bought this book in a goodwill store, thinking n...I bought this book in a goodwill store, thinking not much of it, when i got out of jail my life was broken and the love of my life had left me. I read this book and viewed much of myself in the story. I laughed and cried and felt for the characters as if they were real. I love this book and hope others will read it and cannot wait until the zafon's next novel.To the critic I say I'm sorry you felt the you did maybe you should take on another hobby homie!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656468.post-73359089627145605992007-06-24T00:41:00.000+01:002007-06-24T00:41:00.000+01:00i was completely in lovewith this book when i read...i was completely in love<BR/>with this book when i read it<BR/>i havent yet met anyone who<BR/>has liked it!<BR/>my only regret was that it was<BR/>over, i would Love to read<BR/>Any of his books just so they remind me of shadow of the wind<BR/>the story was orginal and absorbing!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656468.post-67204217734427237912007-04-19T03:07:00.000+01:002007-04-19T03:07:00.000+01:00This is the best book I've read in the last five y...This is the best book I've read in the last five years, and one of my all time favorites to be shared---which I have done at every opportunity---and to be re-read. My entire family ---Americans, Germans, Hungarians---has read it, and none of us could put it down. Very sad when it was all finished...The style is fresh, the story engrossing, with characters that snare the reader. I can not wait until Zafon's next book---the reviewer for this blog-review site clearly enjoys pontificating, but fails miserably in his assessment of Shadow of the Wind.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656468.post-1176403176422851252007-04-12T19:39:00.000+01:002007-04-12T19:39:00.000+01:00Sounds like the reviewer has a chip on his shoulde...Sounds like the reviewer has a chip on his shoulder - writer's envy, maybe? <BR/><BR/>I thought it was a hugely entertaining book. To those who find it "swampy", "not well structered" or "not sticking to a genre" - lighten up, people!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com