The Shadow of the Wind-Week 2, Post B

It seems that all the younger characters in this novel somehow come to find a mentor with whom they become very closely attached to. First, Daniel finds Clara and immediately begins spending large amounts of time with her. He is enamored of her and looks up to her in many ways. There is a point in the story when all Daniel can talk about is Clara. Personally, I found the relationship unhealthy and strange. It upset me that Daniel wouldn’t face reality that he was never going to get this woman, who is twice his age, to fall in love with him. I wouldn’t have minded the relationship had Daniel not been so insistent on spending every waking hour with her. For the period of time that Daniel kept in touch with Clara, he allowed himself and his best friend Tomas to become completely estranged. I was quite surprised that Tomas accepted Daniel back into his life so quickly and without explanation. Speaking of Tomas, he also finds himself a mentor. Fermin, the new bookseller at the Semperes’ bookstore makes a connection with Tomas over their common interest of inventions. They create a strong bond rather quickly and Fermin even decides he care so much about Tomas that he is going to help in get rid of his stammer, which could hold him back from impressing fellow inventors in the future. I do hope that Fermin does not create a pattern of gravely disappointing Tomas as Clara disappointed Daniel. If a pattern is created, there’s only so much time before another mentor is discovered that consumes another child’s life.