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breadandmushrooms's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
nanaisha's review
4.0
as usual, paulo's writing never fails. but this book made me think and ask myself a very important question. what if you didn't have the means to be a good person?
rebcamuse's review
4.0
Once again, Coelho deftly uses his gifts as a storyteller to delve into the meat of the human condition. This “novel of temptation” is in the same vein as Coelho’s The Alchemist, wherein he uses a simple narrative technique to approach some very difficult questions.
Although one might think it would be impossible to explore good vs. evil without a certain amount of rhetoric, Coelho’s approach is fresh and does not resort to the usual cliches. The heroine does not shine and the villain is a victim of circumstance. In the two characters we see both sides of ourselves.
The book reads like a morality play in that the town of Viscos is Everytown and the Stranger is Everyman. Coelho has brought on the renaissance of the parable as an art form and should be commended on his ability to explore truth without grandstanding. This is a book that should humble even the most saintly of readers.
Although one might think it would be impossible to explore good vs. evil without a certain amount of rhetoric, Coelho’s approach is fresh and does not resort to the usual cliches. The heroine does not shine and the villain is a victim of circumstance. In the two characters we see both sides of ourselves.
The book reads like a morality play in that the town of Viscos is Everytown and the Stranger is Everyman. Coelho has brought on the renaissance of the parable as an art form and should be commended on his ability to explore truth without grandstanding. This is a book that should humble even the most saintly of readers.
chellereadsrd's review against another edition
1.0
Este fue el primer libro de Coelho que leí. Lamento decir que no me gustó para nada el libro. No estoy segura si era porque tenía altas expectativas de este libro, pues siempre me habían hablado maravillas de Coelho y sus libros. Sin embargo, no me gustó la forma de Coelho escribir y la historia me la encontré aburrida. En ocasiones quería simplemente dejar de leer el libro, pero quería terminarlo para por lo menos confirmar si realmente no me gustaba.
Al terminar este libro, traté de leer [b:A orillas del rio Piedra me sente y llore / Maktub / El alquimista|11635691|A orillas del rio Piedra me sente y llore / Maktub / El alquimista|Paulo Coelho|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|43346013], pero no llegué ni a las 30 páginas de este libro.
Al terminar este libro, traté de leer [b:A orillas del rio Piedra me sente y llore / Maktub / El alquimista|11635691|A orillas del rio Piedra me sente y llore / Maktub / El alquimista|Paulo Coelho|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|43346013], pero no llegué ni a las 30 páginas de este libro.
il_lit_er_ate's review
3.75
This novel explores the concept of good and evil? Are human naturally evil? The brain gears were constantly turning with this one. Coelho's writing always seems to have me think beyond the story and create my own ideas to these questions. A book thay gets me thinking is always a good sign.
kaitlyn_reads_alot's review
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
misfitmoxie's review
4.0
I'm one of those people who does not frighten easily, but when people refer to Hitler as a monster I feel real and true fear. To dehumanize him is to separate him from humanity and therefore the door for it happening again is not just open but torn off.
The Devil & Miss Prym attempts to put that door back on it's hinges and hopefully get it a good ways shut by demonstrating that with the right motivation we all have the capacity for good as well as for evil. It's what we choose - both in what we choose to focus on in the world, to see around us, and in what we actions we choose to make.
One of Coelho's characters comes to understand that, "The story of one person is the story of all humanity." Therefore, Mother Theresa is within all of us. So is Hitler. We must exert control over our ourselves and choose well.
On a broader spectrum, if we ill treat another we are doing harm to all humanity and to ourselves. What a great responsibility - what a great honor. While we mightn't be able to control all that happens in our lives, we can control how we respond and indeed, how we see the world around us.
The Devil & Miss Prym is a really well-told fable-like story that vividly shows us simply and solidly that our destiny, the fulfillment of our lives, is in our hands. Choose well, for yourself and for us all.
The Devil & Miss Prym attempts to put that door back on it's hinges and hopefully get it a good ways shut by demonstrating that with the right motivation we all have the capacity for good as well as for evil. It's what we choose - both in what we choose to focus on in the world, to see around us, and in what we actions we choose to make.
One of Coelho's characters comes to understand that, "The story of one person is the story of all humanity." Therefore, Mother Theresa is within all of us. So is Hitler. We must exert control over our ourselves and choose well.
On a broader spectrum, if we ill treat another we are doing harm to all humanity and to ourselves. What a great responsibility - what a great honor. While we mightn't be able to control all that happens in our lives, we can control how we respond and indeed, how we see the world around us.
The Devil & Miss Prym is a really well-told fable-like story that vividly shows us simply and solidly that our destiny, the fulfillment of our lives, is in our hands. Choose well, for yourself and for us all.
dizzybell06's review
3.0
This book was not as good as the Alchemist, but I enjoyed it for the most part.
welllovedspines's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0