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710ap's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
jesslolsen's review against another edition
3.0
I should have known better than to expect a standard storyline, don't be fooled by the blurb on the back cover - this book is not a conventional love story.
At first I struggled with the plot - if someone went missing without a trace and the police were called in to take away the husband as a suspect, then surely that would not be the end of the discussion. Wouldn't an investigation have to go on? And wouldn't there be a way to find her - credit cards, passports tracing etc. And I found it hard that it took 2 years for the narrator to get motivated to find where she went - surely he couldn't be that shallow??
You never find out the name of the narrator and I wonder how much of the story and characters are based around Paulo Coelho's life.
For me personally, I found the conversations about love and life happiness between the characters interesting and thought provoking, and while some struck a cord with me, others did not as much.
I really found the metaphor for the writing process interesting on page 69, and also the railway tracks defining a marriage on page 136.
If you a fan of other Paulo Coelho novels then you will also enjoy this one - but if you haven't read any of his other books, then relax, don't fight it, and let the story take you on a journey.
At first I struggled with the plot - if someone went missing without a trace and the police were called in to take away the husband as a suspect, then surely that would not be the end of the discussion. Wouldn't an investigation have to go on? And wouldn't there be a way to find her - credit cards, passports tracing etc. And I found it hard that it took 2 years for the narrator to get motivated to find where she went - surely he couldn't be that shallow??
You never find out the name of the narrator and I wonder how much of the story and characters are based around Paulo Coelho's life.
For me personally, I found the conversations about love and life happiness between the characters interesting and thought provoking, and while some struck a cord with me, others did not as much.
I really found the metaphor for the writing process interesting on page 69, and also the railway tracks defining a marriage on page 136.
If you a fan of other Paulo Coelho novels then you will also enjoy this one - but if you haven't read any of his other books, then relax, don't fight it, and let the story take you on a journey.
_sushmita_7's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Some aspects of the book did intrigue me but overall I found the book quite wierd.
I think I'm not quite equipped enough to understand what message the author has tried to send.
i did not understand why the author chose to reveal that the wife was pregnant with someone else's child 🤷🏻♀️
Like that whole fact did not make sense to me
I think I'm not quite equipped enough to understand what message the author has tried to send.
Like that whole fact did not make sense to me
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and War
mirjam04's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
suzukabunny's review against another edition
2.0
Honestly, this book is as unimpressive as Aleph. Still think that The Winner Stands Alone is Coelho's best book
eugenia_lv's review against another edition
5.0
I think this book is incredible! And understand it only can person, who experienced Zahir in their life. Read it more than once and it every time lights up something new
ahoratiu's review against another edition
5.0
A complex book!
From love to mystery, you can find it all in this book.
From love to mystery, you can find it all in this book.
theesotericcamel's review against another edition
3.0
This was my first Coelho book and I have to admit that it was enjoyable, if a little simplistically written. The book clearly aims to inspire its readers with an emotional and spiritual message. This message seems to be about finding a way to really live one's life truthfully, and about finding happiness in unexpected places. I can see why it is a popular read. His style is unadorned and his story is uncomplicated, making the plot ans characters easy to follow, and lending itself well to translations into other languages.
I myself had a hard time relating to the characters who were either really rich and glamourous (and unhappy) or poor, confrontational, and purposely living on the fringes. There were no everyman characters. (Indeed, we're all supposed to always have the power to choose our circumstances apparently.) Despite this, It was clear that the message was meant to be universal, applicable to anyone. And the message was a positive one that tugged on the heartstrings. But It is hard to swallow coming from a character who has the financial means to just get up and go whenever and wherever he wants.
The main character, although he is never named, was also clearly based on Paolo Coelho himself too. The parallels were obvious even though I had never read a book by him before. It was interesting to see that despite Coelho's reputation for writing inspirational works, he presented himself (or rather the character in this story anyway) as being materialistic and egotistical. In short, as just another celebrity... That is, until he manages to complete his transformative journey.
Also, despite the description on the back of the book mentioning a journey through many countries, we barely get any description of the locales. The international author character goes to these places as a matter of course. His job takes him there. The journey described in the book was more of an internal one, where the author reevaluates his values to discover what is truly important. But that doesn't sound as exciting, nor will it help to sell the book.
I myself had a hard time relating to the characters who were either really rich and glamourous (and unhappy) or poor, confrontational, and purposely living on the fringes. There were no everyman characters. (Indeed, we're all supposed to always have the power to choose our circumstances apparently.) Despite this, It was clear that the message was meant to be universal, applicable to anyone. And the message was a positive one that tugged on the heartstrings. But It is hard to swallow coming from a character who has the financial means to just get up and go whenever and wherever he wants.
The main character, although he is never named, was also clearly based on Paolo Coelho himself too. The parallels were obvious even though I had never read a book by him before. It was interesting to see that despite Coelho's reputation for writing inspirational works, he presented himself (or rather the character in this story anyway) as being materialistic and egotistical. In short, as just another celebrity... That is, until he manages to complete his transformative journey.
Also, despite the description on the back of the book mentioning a journey through many countries, we barely get any description of the locales. The international author character goes to these places as a matter of course. His job takes him there. The journey described in the book was more of an internal one, where the author reevaluates his values to discover what is truly important. But that doesn't sound as exciting, nor will it help to sell the book.