The Shadow of the Wind
By Carlos Ruiz Zafón

My husband [the actor William H. Macy] gave me this novel for my birthday. It was a perfect gift except that I stayed up until 1 a.m. reading it—and when you have kids, that's tantamount to playing Russian roulette. Zafón created a story within a story—a complicated plot that involves an enthralling book and its unknown author. It's a thriller that grabs you by the throat and won't let you go.