“I was raised among books, making invisible friends in pages that seemed cast from dust and whose smell I carry on my hands to this day.”
Carlos Ruiz Zafón in Shadow of the Wind p. 10
If you are a book lover and you haven’t read Zafón’s beautifully poetic novel Shadow of the Wind, go order it from your local public library! (You’ll probably need to buy it, but I always like to start at the library, to be sure.). The story is set in Barcelona and the power of story is thematic. I read it just after I’d returned from visiting the city, and the images were impressed on my brain. Our apartment was near the key Cemetery of Forgotten Books, and as he describes streets, I could visualize them, having walked them only a few weeks earlier.
Have you read it? What did you think? Can you relate to this quote? Do you still carry your imaginary literary friends in your heart?
Barcelona from Mont Juic.
(Mom taking photo of kids taking photos. lol)
Shawn L. Bird 
Thank you very much for this recommendation. I just put it on my Amazon wish list.
I hope you enjoy it!
This is one of the most magical books I have ever read, and I recommend it to everyone I know.
me too 🙂
A wonderful book!
I did and I do!
One of my favorite novels of the last few decades.
I have always been in love with books. Not just the reading, which is central to my life, but the books themselves. Thanks for a wonderful recommendation. I do use the library a lot…I run out of room for more book purchases! 🙂
I must borrow this quote and I will also put the book on my Amazon Wish List.
You’ll enjoy it, Deborah. My daughter (who lived in Barcelona for a year) tells me there’s a series of books now. This is number one. It stands on its own.
I purchased and downloaded the book to my Kindle and Samsung Tablet about two hours ago. I’m looking forward to a great reading experience. I’m also a great fan of Gabriel García Márquez to whom Mr. Zafron has been compared.
Years ago when I was in the service (U.S. Army) I visited Spain for two weeks. Beautiful country. I plan to return one day hopefully for a longer time period, maybe a month. When I went to the Amazon website I did see a variety of books by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. Perhaps I will buy the series. Will let you know.
I have to say that I am not a fan of Marquez, whom I find tedious, but I love Zafon.
Absolutely love this quote. This is why I read books and not ebooks. The smell of the pages is a wonderful sense memory for me. Thanks for this post.
My pleasure. The book is fantastic, too. If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it!
I havent. It is now on my list.