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The story of Daniel, a boy whose father introduces him to the Cemetery of Forgotten books. He becomes obsessed with a book by Julian Carax and the mystery behind why Carax and the books have disappeared.

We discussed this book in April 2012, but please add any more comments you might have here.

Just posted the podcast for Shadow of the Wind here:

Discussion question 1: What was the first book that ensnared your imagination?

Mine? "My Side of the Mountain"

Discussion question 2: When does coincidence turn into pre-ordained fate?

That's a hard question. For me, I think it becomes pre-ordained fate when there are a string of many coincidences. I can't say how many coincidences turn into pre-ordained fate, but how you're feeling about the situation may have a part in it as well.

just thought of something else. a coincidence is something that happen at random. with something pre-ordained, things happen to cause the person to go towards that goal.

Not sure I believe in either, LoL. Virginia talked about how even if coincidences happen, it's usually because you happened to be at that place at that time for a reason, which makes sense to me. That doesn't mean you didn't choose to be there though. Life's a series of choices. At any time, Daniel or Fermin could have said, "This is getting out of hand, I don't think we should keep going." And just about everyone told them to do that, too. They simply chose to follow their instinct in another direction.

I do think some people have better instincts than others, which can make things look like fate. Is that a skill you can develop, I wonder?

I don't think so. that seems like intuitive things. and those kinds of skills are usually hard to learn. like divination.

True instinct can not be taught, like gut instinct. However, sensory "instinct" - smell, sight, listen - these are skills that can be approved upon through INTENSE training. Though I don't think that is what you meant.

Tara wrote: "However, sensory "instinct" - smell, sight, listen - these are skills that can be approved upon through INTENSE training."

I agree. You can definitely improve upon certain skills, but it still won't compare to having the natural ability. Like Daniel apparently had.

so I happened to be listening to the podcast again and the word I wanted to use for Clara finally came to my mind. Nuria's motives were for love; Clara's motives were driven by vanity. vanity was the word I couldn't think of back then. just had to mention that.

Rurichan wrote: "so I happened to be listening to the podcast again and the word I wanted to use for Clara finally came to my mind. Nuria's motives were for love; Clara's motives were driven by vanity. vanity was t..."

Somehow I missed that you'd written this, but I completely agree with you. For all her "angelic" appearance, she's quite shallow.