The Shadow of the Wind (The Cemetery of Forgotten Books #1 of 4) [B0484]

2005 Penguin PB in nice condition; translated from the original Spanish. The New York Times bestseller "The Shadow of the Wind is ultimately a love letter to literature, intended for readers as passionate about storytelling as its young hero." -Entertainment Weekly. "One gorgeous read." -Stephen King

Barcelona, 1945: A city slowly heals in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, and Daniel, an antiquarian book dealer's son who mourns the loss of his mother, finds solace in a mysterious book entitled The Shadow of the Wind, by one Julián Carax. But when he sets out to find the author's other works, he makes a shocking discovery: someone has been systematically destroying every copy of every book Carax has written. In fact, Daniel may have the last of Carax's books in existence. Soon Daniel's seemingly innocent quest opens a door into one of Barcelona's darkest secrets--an epic story of murder, madness, and doomed love.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "Now THAT was a good book. You forget how well written and immersive books can be until you read something like this. So witty, so funny, so heart wrenching. All of the intertwining factors and parallels were wonderful. A pleasure to read honestly"; "I'd absolutely recommend this book. It's for anyone looking to be surprised by the magic of everyday life. For someone who might be sitting on a train, in a bar, or on their couch, wanting a story that gently stirs something inside. Zafón doesn't just tell a good story - he reminds us that good stories can find us in the middle of life itself."; "A cool book about loving books. Intrigue and mystery abounds!!"