"After a while it occurred to me that between the covers of each of those books lay a boundless universe waiting to be discovered, while beyond those walls, in the outside world, people allowed life to pass by in afternoons of football and radio soaps, content to do little more than gaze at their navels. It might have been that notion, or just chance, or its more flamboyant relative, destiny, but at that precise moment I knew I had already chosen the book I was going to adopt, or that was going to adopt me. "
Carlos Ruiz Zafon, The Shadow of the Wind
Gothic mystery is not usually the description I am drawn to when looking for a book to pick up. When I hear gothic mystery I think of, and mistakenly so, the recently bestselling vampire novels. I am an eclectic reader though, and while using a bit of time, between appointments, in a favorite nearby bookshop, I found myself drawn to a book in the window.
I picked it up, read the synopsis, and author's bio. There were those words "gothic mystery". Translated from Spanish to English and the second in a series, I just didn't think it was what I was looking for.
I browsed "everyone's favorite" shelf, checked out what local book groups were reading and slowly worked my way along the wall stacked with fiction to fulfill every bibliophile's desire. I continued the hunt, touching, looking for a favorite author; waiting for a title to jump off the shelves and into my hands.
There was Wilke Collins's The Woman in White staring at me, a rather dark mystery I enjoyed, but not really a favorite. I moved on.
Charles Dickens was nearby, an author I found as a teenager and still enjoy visiting time and again. Great Expectations, A Christmas Carol and Bleak House, all a bit dark, gothic and sinister.
Nearby quietly sat Daphne duMaurier's Rebecca, a favorite. I removed it from the shelf's grasp and held it as if greeting an old friend. The words gothic, mystery and romance began swimming in my head, but these are classics I fought back. Other titles began asking to be remembered, Emily Bronte's Wurthering Heights and Charlotte's Jane Eyre.
My browsing time was running out. If I was going to leave with a book (and I never leave empty handed) I would need to make a decision quickly. I arrived at the last shelf of fiction, scanning near the bottom, there it was again, squeezed between a the end of the "Y's", but before the last "Z". I suspect it had been expecting me from the moment I returned its identical twin back in the shop window.
I picked it up and rushed to make my purchase.
"Add it to my baker's dozen", please."
Throughout each of these novels, Zafon masterfully transports us down the dark and often sinister streets of early 20th century Barcelona building his multi-layered stories within the story along the way. At times you may feel you should be taking notes to keep up with both events and characters. The endings are perfection!
With each book closing at around 500, and a little more, pages, you might want to save opening these for a cold snowy weekend when you have nothing else to do. I promise... once Mr. Zafon pulls you in, you will not be able to escape until you read the last word. And, if you enjoyed one, you will immediately rush out to find a second. This is a series, but both of these novels can stand on their own.
Some reviewers give higher marks to The Shadow of the Wind.
I equally enjoyed both. I was probably slightly liberal giving both four stars; when a book holds my attention to the point I am standing at the stove stirring tomato sauce all the while reading feverishly to find out what happens next, gets my four stars.
There is a third book in the series
The Prisoner of Heaven.
I may need to pace myself!
Thanks to all the authors of my past who reminded
me, yes they are classics, and gothic mysteries; so many of my favorites.
Have you read either of these titles?
I would love to hear your thoughts.
Happy Reading!
*****
Thank you all for your kind "feel better" wishes.
I am feeling much better.
