potophannah's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
3.5
allyem_reads's review against another edition
1.5
2.00 CAWPILE
Yikes.
I don’t know if it’s just because the Alchemist was so life changing for me, but every other book I’ve read by Paulo Coelho (and I’ve read a LOT, like a dozen books) just aren’t the same. It’s like they were written by two very different authors. This novel had zero flavor, I was so bored by everything! I never thought I’d give a Coelho book 1 star, but here we freaking are I guess.
Yikes.
I don’t know if it’s just because the Alchemist was so life changing for me, but every other book I’ve read by Paulo Coelho (and I’ve read a LOT, like a dozen books) just aren’t the same. It’s like they were written by two very different authors. This novel had zero flavor, I was so bored by everything! I never thought I’d give a Coelho book 1 star, but here we freaking are I guess.
mvlibrary's review against another edition
3.0
I fully thought this was a true story until I reached the LITERAL end like where the author talks about the book and there's a little interview included with how he came up with the differently elements etc.
Weirdly enough, even though I now know it is completely fictional, I still kind of feel like it was a true story? Regardless, the main character was gripping, Athena is plugged into the beating heart of the universe and Paulo Coelho is such a spectacular writer I honestly believed everything Athena said in this book??? Like, I thought it was a true story, and there was a few times where I looked away from the page and honestly asked myself if this is what it felt like right before you join a cult.
The structure of the book was also unique and it made the flow of reading faster in my opinion.
Overall, I enjoyed this read, it definitely lit a fire under my ass and got me thinking about some 'big picture' stuff, which is always something I look for in my reading. I wrote a few passages down and used them as reflection prompts, which honestly I find works with all of Paulo Coelho's writing that I've encountered so far.
3/5 because I read it right after Sally Rooney and this book was focused on exploring an idea (the female face of God), and although I like idea-driven books, I definitely am more delighted by character/emotion/human-relationship centered writing.
Weirdly enough, even though I now know it is completely fictional, I still kind of feel like it was a true story? Regardless, the main character was gripping, Athena is plugged into the beating heart of the universe and Paulo Coelho is such a spectacular writer I honestly believed everything Athena said in this book??? Like, I thought it was a true story, and there was a few times where I looked away from the page and honestly asked myself if this is what it felt like right before you join a cult.
The structure of the book was also unique and it made the flow of reading faster in my opinion.
Overall, I enjoyed this read, it definitely lit a fire under my ass and got me thinking about some 'big picture' stuff, which is always something I look for in my reading. I wrote a few passages down and used them as reflection prompts, which honestly I find works with all of Paulo Coelho's writing that I've encountered so far.
3/5 because I read it right after Sally Rooney and this book was focused on exploring an idea (the female face of God), and although I like idea-driven books, I definitely am more delighted by character/emotion/human-relationship centered writing.
hana83's review
4.0
An interesting story. Again, as with most of Coelho's stories, this story takes a unique perspective. I really liked the way Coelho organized the novel by using interviews of people who have known the main character, Athena. The interviews give the reader different perspectives and make the story come together very well.
sonea_moon's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
qomareads's review against another edition
3.0
I think is a fine story until Anthena meet Edda. Maybe that's the biggest mistake in her life. Am I just way too emotional? No! I think i'm going to love this book until she took a path that seems so absurd, why can't she just stay to live her life just the way it is. Obviously Paulo Coelho always insert the element of religion and not to forget the element of christianity in most of his books. This book is about who is Anthena in different opinions by people who have encountered her existence.
leavingsealevel's review
2.0
I just do not *get* Paolo Coelho. And I keep trying to read his books, because several dear friends think he's amazing and think he will change my life and etc. I have enough respect for *them* that I may try a third book one of these days, and then call it good.
This book is super new-agey (as was the other Coelho book I read, [b:Brida|68591|Brida|Paulo Coelho|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170693819s/68591.jpg|3252430]. Except!! The characters are constantly poking fun at new-age stuff, and writing things off as "new-agey." Thus demonstrating that they are different. This is kind of like how hipsters mock hipsteryness, thus showing that they are not hipsters, when ACTUALLY THEY ARE. That is a sort of irony that I do not get, when understanding/interacting with hipsters requires such skills of me. I think I may also not be able to do it when it comes to Paolo Coelho. I don't understand if it's ironic or not, and if it *is* ironic, I don't understand the irony.
I read the whole thing, then I abandoned it in a hostel in 5 Terre. I tried to give it to some Australian backpackers, but they wouldn't take it.
This book is super new-agey (as was the other Coelho book I read, [b:Brida|68591|Brida|Paulo Coelho|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170693819s/68591.jpg|3252430]. Except!! The characters are constantly poking fun at new-age stuff, and writing things off as "new-agey." Thus demonstrating that they are different. This is kind of like how hipsters mock hipsteryness, thus showing that they are not hipsters, when ACTUALLY THEY ARE. That is a sort of irony that I do not get, when understanding/interacting with hipsters requires such skills of me. I think I may also not be able to do it when it comes to Paolo Coelho. I don't understand if it's ironic or not, and if it *is* ironic, I don't understand the irony.
I read the whole thing, then I abandoned it in a hostel in 5 Terre. I tried to give it to some Australian backpackers, but they wouldn't take it.
g_jain22's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5