Helpful Score: 3
I read this after reading the Alchemist. Frankly, I preferred the Alchemist but I tend to like spiritual mystique so that is probably why. I liked this book, I would recommend it, Paul Cohelo does not let you down. The book was in international bestseller
Helpful Score: 1
I found this book to be tedious and tiresome. Several interesting characters and subplots are never fully realized because the protagonist is too occupied with contemplating his own remarkable genius.
Maybe it's just me. But I really don't see the big deal behind Paulo Coelho. I've now read three books by him (The Alchemist, Veronika Decides to Die, and now The Zahir), and I've disliked every one. Sorry Paulo. Three strikes and you're out. Way out.
The Zahir is all about a man (who I'm pretty sure is Coelho) who complains the whole time and can't figure out why his wife left him, when to the reader it's pretty obvious why.
Coelho explores various meanings of love and life, but the impact of these lessons is diminished significantly as they are repeated in various forms by various characters.
Please don't waste your time on The Zahir, or any other novel by Coelho. There's so much reading out there that is actually good.
The Zahir is all about a man (who I'm pretty sure is Coelho) who complains the whole time and can't figure out why his wife left him, when to the reader it's pretty obvious why.
Coelho explores various meanings of love and life, but the impact of these lessons is diminished significantly as they are repeated in various forms by various characters.
Please don't waste your time on The Zahir, or any other novel by Coelho. There's so much reading out there that is actually good.
A novel following a journey of a novelist in search of his wife, or rather of obsessing over why his wife left. But instead of finding her, he finds out things about himself.
This novel had a wonderfully strong start, but started to get very disconnected in the middle. Overall, it was such a joy and such an experience to read. After reading "The Alchemist," I had no interest in reading anymore of Coelho's work, but this novel inspires me to give his work another chance. Looking forward to more Coelho!
Three and a half out of five.
This novel had a wonderfully strong start, but started to get very disconnected in the middle. Overall, it was such a joy and such an experience to read. After reading "The Alchemist," I had no interest in reading anymore of Coelho's work, but this novel inspires me to give his work another chance. Looking forward to more Coelho!
Three and a half out of five.
I enjoyed this book and found it to be worth the read. The first work I read by this author was Brida, which I enjoyed as well. I have not yet read The Alchemist, so I can't relate or compare the two.
The love story was OK. But the author's insights into love and relationships were often right on, especially when discussing the internal struggle of commitment vs. freedom.
However, it was the author's perspective on the human condition and the acceptable society practices of today that best resonated with me. Why are some human differences and preferences considered taboo? Why are taboo things received so poorly among our culture? Why do humans have an internal desire to "fit in" and belong to a tribe?
If you've made it this far as to read the reviews, go ahead and read the book. If has a lot to offer; everyone will get something different to take away from it.
The love story was OK. But the author's insights into love and relationships were often right on, especially when discussing the internal struggle of commitment vs. freedom.
However, it was the author's perspective on the human condition and the acceptable society practices of today that best resonated with me. Why are some human differences and preferences considered taboo? Why are taboo things received so poorly among our culture? Why do humans have an internal desire to "fit in" and belong to a tribe?
If you've made it this far as to read the reviews, go ahead and read the book. If has a lot to offer; everyone will get something different to take away from it.
I've returned once again to one of my favorite authors to review his latest work. Paulo Coelho of international fame for The Alchemist, 11 Minutes and The Devil and Miss Prym, has released his latest The Zahir. According to the book, the Zahir in Arabic means present, visible, incapable of being unnoticed. It is something that grabs our thought, mind and spirit and demands our full attention. It is believed to lead to either Holiness or madness. In this book, the Zahir is a woman, an idea of a woman, a longing. Our main character sounds very familiar to our author; in fact our hero is a famous author now living in Paris, with his books being published in nearly every language. (which sounds like Mr. Coelho. This book is being published in 50 countries/languages this year alone. [...]) The author writes books that millions love, adore, and claim changes their lives. Yet he appears to have stopped living the type of deliberate life he writes about. He has settled into a complacent life.
Then one day his wife disappears. Over time she becomes his Zahir; he writes a book about love and for a while the Zahir fades. Then he meets the man he believes she had left with and the Zahir returns.
This is a wonderful story about becoming, and remembering who you were meant to be, not who you settled into. It will stir in you a passion to be more than you think you can be, and, to give more, and love more purely. Follow a man who goes in search of an estranged wife, only to find himself.
Then one day his wife disappears. Over time she becomes his Zahir; he writes a book about love and for a while the Zahir fades. Then he meets the man he believes she had left with and the Zahir returns.
This is a wonderful story about becoming, and remembering who you were meant to be, not who you settled into. It will stir in you a passion to be more than you think you can be, and, to give more, and love more purely. Follow a man who goes in search of an estranged wife, only to find himself.
Wonderful book! Have read it twice and will read again.
I found this book engaging up to about the halfway point, at which point it started becoming clear that the author's concept of love is seriously weird. He claims to be obsessively in love with his wife, who has apparently left him, while carrying on a relationship with a different woman who loves him, and yet also seems to be on the hunt for yet more sexual relationships.
Unfortunately, the narrator (and the author?) believes he is God's gift to women, which is why his wife's behavior troubles him so much. And yet he doesn't seem to have sufficient insight into his own troubles, so he ends up coming off as simply horribly self-absorbed.
Worse, he comes across as an author contemptuous of his public and of people who don't fit his bourgeouis standards of success - or who do. An odious man in ways I don't believe Coelho intended.
Disappointing, as I found "The Alchemist" quite enchanting. By the end of the book I was so revolted that I'm not sure I would ever read another book by this author.
Unfortunately, the narrator (and the author?) believes he is God's gift to women, which is why his wife's behavior troubles him so much. And yet he doesn't seem to have sufficient insight into his own troubles, so he ends up coming off as simply horribly self-absorbed.
Worse, he comes across as an author contemptuous of his public and of people who don't fit his bourgeouis standards of success - or who do. An odious man in ways I don't believe Coelho intended.
Disappointing, as I found "The Alchemist" quite enchanting. By the end of the book I was so revolted that I'm not sure I would ever read another book by this author.
International Best Seller about a novelist who lives in Paris and enjoys all the privileges mondy and celebrity bring. His wife of ten years, is a war correspondent who has disappeared along with a friend, Mikhail, who may or may not be her lovel. In his attempt to recaptue a lost love, the narrator discovers himself and brings meaning to his life. The book is haunting adn beautifully written
