Paulo Coelho- What do we think?

I have tried three books by Coelho; The Zahir, Eleven Minutes and The Alchemist. The first one I couldn't bring myself to complete due to the dull nature of the book. Eleven Minutes I did find interesting enough to complete but I couldn't brign myself to appreciate it as a wonderful literary piece. It was okay, nothing more. In fact the narrator by putting up stereotypes (a woman's psychology is like this, a man does this in a particular situation blah blah) I found quite annoying at places.

As far as The Alchemist is concerned, I wouldn't call it a really bad book for the mere reason that it kept me occupied at places. But I would have to call it bad seeing the over-used ideas it contains. I found a particular resemblance with A Wizard of Earthsea too, a book I recently re-read.

So overall, I don't see anything very special in Coelho's philosophies.

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Originally Posted by Antiquarian

I found it sweet and containing much depth, sort of in the manner of Chekhov.

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I will have to disagree with you here. I don't think Chekhov's description, the emotional extent of his works and the way they show misery, despair, and how beautifully his stories are written (I don't know about the plays as haven't read them) can be compared to Pailo Coelho's writing.

I read The Alchemist, By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept, Eleven Minutes and Veronika Decides to Die. Eleven Minutes was disappointing. It just kept being so naive and I really don't understand why was the book labeled "erotic". Also, prostitution seems to be too nicely described in the book - like being a prostitute is actually nice and easy job. I nerver tried it, but I doubt it. The Alchemist and Veronika Decides to Die were good to pass time, but nothing new or spectacular for me.

After an online friend persuaded me to buy one of his books, I picked the most famous one "The Alchemist". I really think that Coelho is greatly overrated. His books are merely fables woven in a certain plot. Yet, this plot is not that intersting or keep you reading. His language, though I only read the English version, is too simple with no such sentences or phrases that make you think . However, literature is a matter of taste. Not necessarily to have a writer liked by everyone.

I haven't read any of the works cited, but I did read something called "The Witch of Portobello," which was offered by the publisher in a free online edition. What I am going to say is the equivalent of looking a gift horse in the mouth but here goes:
I found the main character to be completely improbable. We are told early in the novel that she is not wealthy yet gets to travel all over the globe by sheer luck. Secondly, the philosophy driving her works as a kind of parapsychologist or guru (whatever the feminine form of guru is) is completely specious, a hodgepodge of Eastern philosophy and Christianity mixed with Gypsy folklore; at best, it is a rehash of the New Age claptrap that characterized best sellers of the 1970s such as The Celestine Prophecy. Finally, I want to be fair, as the text was an English translation of his prose from a different language BUT -- there was nothing remotely literary or artistic about his writing. I don't know why I wasted my limited computer time on this piece of commercial junk.

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Originally Posted by Antiquarian

I feel exactly the same way about Dan Brown's terrible work and dreadful prose. My elementary school niece and nephews can write better than Brown. I wonder why inferior authors usually become so popular? Marketing, I guess. And Khaled Hosseini. Oh, my. What a dreadful writer he is, yet his books sell and sell and sell. I think he's even worse than Dan Brown. No, I know he is. He's just the most dreadful writer I can think of right now. Khaled Hosseini, that is.

Coelho's works will never be "great literature," that's for sure, but I can't say it's a shame they were published. I can say that about Dan Brown and Khaled Hosseini, especially Hosseini.

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Well. There's a small difference between Coelho and Brown. Coelho is using this stupid childish sentences without capturing the reader's attention. On the other hand, Brown, I read the Arabic translation, is using such a technique that keeps you read till the end. He has the skill of using suspense in the right way. However, to be honest, once you read one of his works and try to read the other, you won't be the same. His second work will be less interesting. Moreover, a second reading of his works won't be done except by silly people. Both won't make it into the "Great Writers".



I know nothing about this Hosseini.

Khaled Hosseini...that would be the author of Kite Runner,right?I've heard of this book and remembered the name of the author,but don't really know about it.It's a popular one,though,as far as I know.

And I agree with you Antiquarian,it all comes down to marketing these days.Dan Brown is successful because he found the right measure for controversy - he is by no means a good writer,but religion sells,the same way sex does.

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Originally Posted by Antiquarian

Thank you, Amalia. I won't rush to read it. Thank you very much for giving me your impression of the book. I have so much I need and want to read, I can't waste time on something that is "iffy." :)

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You're welcome!!:)

I have read most of Coelho's books: the fifth mountain, eleven minutes, by the Piedra river I sit and cry, The Zahir, the Witch of Portobello, Veronika decides to die, The demon and Miss Prym.
I liked Veronika decides to die. I liked the philosophy of life conveyed in it, and I have learned some interesting things from it, the Zahir and The Fifth Mountain were good too.
I hated The Witch of Portobello because, the ideas were more about mysticism and the female face/side of God stuff like that, I mean it was incomprehensible, at least to me and of no importance.
When it comes to judge whether his writing is literary or not. I may say, it's average, it's not that great.

He is overrated,after all.I liked "The Alchemist",it was not so bad but I was a kid when I read it so while my mind evolved,my point of view made progress to and I find that book rather childish now.I also read "The Zahir" which was a total farce and my opinion on Coelho changed,I can't say for good but however...Not advisable as an author.There are many better writers these days,even geniuses.The epoch of literature is not over yet(oh,I regretfully say that "yet",I hope it will become "never" one day)...