Book Rec of the Day 3/16/2007

The Shadow of the Wind is a word-of-mouth darling among avid readers. It appeals to book lovers in part because it is about books—one volume in particular that a rare-book dealer in 1950s Barcelona finds and that acts as gateway to an adrenaline-pumping mystery. Gothic atmosphere and eccentric characters in a ripping good plot lead to a book that is compelling and easy to recommend to friends.

THE SHADOW OF THE WIND, by Carlos Ruiz Zafón (Penguin, 2005)