Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Carlos Ruiz Zafon is one of my heroes.

I’ve read almost everything he’s written that I’ve been able to find.

There is a part of me that loves exotic Gothic and cinematic noir storytelling. Zafon’s books read like movies I would desperately like to see, even knowing they would never do justice to his books.

The Shadow of the Wind was the first book of his that I read. I picked up the paperback version at the Denver International Airport and was obsessed with his storytelling before my flight landed.

I can’t even tell you where I flew on that trip; I can remember, with exquisite clarity, the Cemetary of Forgotten Books. I remember the mystery of Julian Carax and Daniel Sempere’s quest to find out what happened to his books.

I remember so much more.

Zafon wrote four novels and one collection of short stories in the same world, a collection called The Cemetary of Forgotten Books series. He also wrote a collection of young adult novels called the Niebla series.

I recommend all of these. If you like these, I also recommend Marina.

Apart from the exquisite feel of his books, I love how Zafon renders his characters. They jump off the page and live in my mind long after I’ve completed any given story.

Just mentioning these books makes me want to read them again, especially The Shadow of the Wind.