This was the last selection of the year for the International Fiction Book Group of
The members liked the bare plot; however, they found the novel oppressive in some ways. There are words of wisdom. The morality aspect was beating down too much on the readers.
The novel takes place in about a week, a trend that Coelho had used in his most recent works.
Chantal, one of the younger ladies in the town, is seized with fear: “..She had just realized there were two things that prevent us from achieving our dreams: believing them to be impossible or seeing those dreams made possible by some sudden turn of the wheel of fortune, when you least expected it. For at that moment, all our fears suddenly surface: the fear of setting off along a road heading who knows where, the fear of life full of new challenges, the fear of losing forever everything that is familiar.
People want to change everything, and at the same time, want it all to remain the same.”This paragraph really spoke to me. I have recently made some decisions that seemed too hard to make just a year. I am glad to know that others go through the same crisis of new things.
And, while I start to implement steps to make my decision come true, I will follow, Berta’s husband’s advice. (He used to take hunters on trips; if they didn’t know how to shoot, he would make them shoot cans.) “Whenever you want to achieve something, keep your eyes open. Concentrate and make sure you know exactly what it is you want. No one can hit their target with their eyes closed.”
4 comments:
I didn't know he was one of your favorites! I've only read one of his books - Veronika Decides to Die, which I loved. I would like to read more -- what do you recommend?
I did not like The Alchemist, so I've taken him off my list. This one that you have reviewed, might redeem him.
What you share also struck a chord with me because I'm not so much a risk-taker. But I know this has to do with my fear. I'll give this book a try.
Matt, I hope that you like this book. I didn't enjoy it too much.
Iliana - I liked the following:
Zahir, 11 minutes, The Valkyries, The Alchemist, Pilgrimage, and Warrior of the Light.
But, I warn you. You must be in the right mood to read them. Some of them are very Catholic, others very philosophical.
I didn't like the plot for By the River Piedras I Sat Down and Wept.
=can someone please explain to me why she got to keep ALL the gold in the end? What??? The whole novel was about temptation, but ended in greed.
I really would like an explanation. Maybe I missed something?
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