From a batch of books given to me by a co-worker to register and release. I read another copy of this book more than eight years ago and had this to say about it:

It is 1945, and as Barcelona, Spain and Europe emerge from war, Daniel, the son of a book seller finds himself enthralled by a novel by an unkown author named Julián Carax. He wants to read more, but as he begins to look for more books by Carax, he finds that someone has been hunting down and burning every copy of Carax's work. As Daniel continues his search, he finds himself drawn into an old and dark mystery of love and betrayal. In the end, he learns the disturbing truth about Carax and his circle of friends and rescues Carax's literary legacy from the ashes.

Set during and around the period of the Spanish civil war, we are immersed in the Barcelona of that period with its class and political struggles and the far reaching consequences they had in the lives of those that lived in that time and place. As Daniel struggles to understand his place in the world, he also finds himself working to find out about Carax's life at the same age. The parallel love stories that develop in the two timelines reflect each other and form a framework that allows Daniel to learn lessons from Carax's life that he can apply to his own. Along the way, we meet an array of colorful characters that bring the story to life and present a vibrant sense of time and place to the setting. Gorgeous imagery combine with a deftly woven mystery to draw in the reader and keep him or her enchanted until the very end.

This book is available on the Book Exchange shelf in the pantry in room 9C68 of the Knox Building (USPTO employees and authorized visitors only - this area is not open to the general public).