'The Shadow of the Wind' by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Very Very Very rarely does one come across such fiction - refined, melodious, so close you can almost smell it. This piece is the work of a genius and something that will stay etched in your mind and its memories will haunt you for a long long time after you've put the book down. In a world full of ordinary works, this one is right up there with the giants.

And considering the fact that I am referring to the English Translation (translated by Lucia Graves) of the original work in Spanish - 'La sombra del viento', I can just imagine how rich the original must be if the translation is this good. You almost feel as if you are living with the characters, feeling their pain, almost wanting to comfort them in their moments of trial.

If you like romantic thrillers that expand our appreciation of the limits of literary exploration, this is an unbeatable page-turner. Pick this up and I can guarantee you won't put it down until you've made yourself an inalienable part of the plot. And this will stay with you for life.

Rate - ***************** 5 Stars are not good enough