The Shadow Of The Wind- Carlos Ruiz Zafon

[poliphilo]

Why am I reading this?

Well I went round the house a couple of days ago picking up books that I fancied (or thought I ought to fancy) reading. It's a heterogenous bunch. Toni Morrison is in there and so is Malcolm Lowry. It's extraordinary how books accumulate. 

The Malcolm Lowry was a prize I won for writing a topical haiku for The Guardian, the Toni Morrison I bought in a fit of earnestness about five years ago, the Zafon was something Ailz bought (with her inherited nose for a questionable bargain) because it was in a stock clearance- two big fat novels for only £10!

Soooo- the Zafon came out top of the pile because it seemed to be the lightest.  It's a thriller and a romance and a comedy. Hugely ambitious and with way too much story. Question: why should I care about all these characters whose lives intertwine and who I have difficulty telling apart? Answer: Erm.....  Basically, I don't think our author is in control of his material. There's social realism and watered down Borges and plot, plot, plot and actually it's all pretty silly. As E.M. Forster once remarked, "Yes, o dear yes, the novel tells a story."

There are novelists who are all about story. And there are others- among them some of the best- who don't give a rat's fuck. And another lot- like my man Dickens- who care about story but aren't very good at it. I think Zafon is category three.  But he's a good writer and the preposterous story he's got to tell is really just an excuse for him to reflect on the history and marvels and utterly unique character of his home town.

And since his hometown happens to be Barcelona- which is one of the wonder cities of the world- I'm happy to go along with him.

I was in Barcelona for about three hours- yes, I know- a ridiculously short time- and it gave me a migraine and left an indelible impression. Barcelona is Roman, medieval, industrial and a port, has it's own hallucinogenic style of Art Nouveau and is the capital of a nation (Catalunya) that doesn't exist but ought to.  Reading this book makes me feel like I'm extending my stay. 

Comments

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

I started reading this book too, a couple of weeks ago, because it was meant to be the next book on the menu for the University book club I joined. But I had the exact same reaction as you - it was richly atmospheric, but I just couldn't bring myself to care about the characters or story.

In fact, it prompted me into making a decision which had been niggling anyway - since I read so slowly, and want to read my own choices as well as book group choices, I decided that I didn't have time in my life to read books I didn't care about, and have left the book group! Would that I had the leisure and energy to do both - but since I don't, something had to go.
Perhaps an unusually dramatic reaction to this book, but that's how it went for me!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I nearly gave up after the first couple of chapters- that whole Cemetery of Forgotten Books thing was so lame and so half-heartedly thought through, but I didn't- mainly because Ailz said it got better. And it does get better, but....

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Ah, well I didn't have an Ailz to keep me going! Not that I mind, though. Instead, I am now half-way through my Penguin 'blog a Classic' book, The House of the Seven Gables, and really enjoying it.

[ibid.livejournal.com]

I actually rather enjoyed the cemetary of forgotten books idea, but yes I agree that mos of the characters were totally underwhelming. It's as though he was so caught up in the idea he forgot character is the most important part of the thing.
I liked it and could see why some so many people drooled over it but it is so overrated.

[qatsi.livejournal.com]

I liked it, but I can see that it could be irritating at times - it certainly has enough fantastic and unreal twists in it. I don't think it would have grabbed my interest in at all the same way if I hadn't spent some time in Barcelona (in my case, a week). I like the idea that you are extending your stay.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I haven't read that- though I remember ny grandfather recommending it about 50 years ago.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

All the women (especially) seem to be the same woman.

The only fun character is the crazy tramp/bookshop assistant.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I like it enough to want to finish it. And there are lots of good things about it- For example I think he paints a very convincing picture of what it must be like to live in a capricious and not terribly efficient police state.

What a lovely place!

[jubal51394.livejournal.com]

If it weren't for your photos I might never see any of the world past the middle of Nowhere, Oklahoma. Thanks so much for sharing your travels with us.

Re: What a lovely place!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

My pleasure.

We're off to North Wales tomorrow for a couple of nights...

[sovay]

I was in Barcelona for about three hours- yes, I know- a ridiculously short time- and it gave me a migraine and left an indelible impression. Barcelona is Roman, medieval, industrial and a port, has it's own hallucinogenic style of Art Nouveau and is the capital of a nation (Catalunya) that doesn't exist but ought to.

I always love your photographs, but this is a particularly good text-accompaniment.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thanks

[ibid.livejournal.com]

Yeah he was a dude. I agree about the women and the boy was annoying.