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.

The Shadow of the Wind-Week 2, Post A

A major difference in terms of society that I have noticed in The Shadow of the Wind is the formality in the way the adults address younger people. Typically, an older person will use more informal language when referring to a younger person (say, teens or early 20s). There is an older man in the novel named Fermin and he works for the Semperes' book store. When introduced to Daniel's best friend Tomas Alguilar, he uses formal language towards him. Fermin doesn't use this language just upon meeting Tomas, but he continually uses it as time goes on.

"After that they became engrossed in an unintelligable discussion about arcane mathematics, which was Dutch to me. From day on, Fermin always addressed him with formal usted or called him 'doctor,' and pretended not notice the boy's stammer." (95-96)

The other reason for this formality could be that Tomas has proven himself to be as intelligent as Fermin which provides for interesting discussion between the two. Fermin could be impressed by Tomas's knowledge of inventions that he decides to refer to him as an equal rather than a younger person.