The Shadow of the WindThe Shadow of the Wind
Score Modern
What it's about
Barcelona, 1945: Daniel, son of an antiquarian bookseller and still mourning his mother, finds comfort in a mysterious novel called The Shadow of the Wind, by Julián Carax. When he tries to find Carax's other books, he discovers that someone has been systematically destroying every copy, and his may be the last.
Why it's worth reading
It's an international bestseller and a favorite of book lovers around the world: a gothic mystery about the power of books.
You'll love it if you liked
The Name of the Rose
Rebecca
The Thirteenth TaleGood to know
It's the first of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series and stands alone. It's atmospheric and twisty.
By the numbers
- Readers85 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller37 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #67 of the 116 historical novels we rank
- #97 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #487 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #932 of the 2,816 books we rank
Reads as
Dark, Epic, Gripping
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Quick answers
Is The Shadow of the Wind worth reading?
Yes. It's an international bestseller and a favorite of book lovers around the world: a gothic mystery about the power of books. It ranks #932 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 73.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Shadow of the Wind about?
Barcelona, 1945: Daniel, son of an antiquarian bookseller and still mourning his mother, finds comfort in a mysterious novel called The Shadow of the Wind, by Julián Carax. When he tries to find Carax's other books, he discovers that someone has been systematically destroying every copy, and his may be the last.
How long does it take to read The Shadow of the Wind?
About 12 hours (487 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Shadow of the Wind?
If you liked it, try The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier or The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield.