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roxymaybe's review against another edition
2.0
1. can we please stop men from writing about beautiful and 'sexually liberated' women? they just can't seem to do it with any authenticity or nuance.
2. I'm almost impressed that Coelho could take such a brilliant and interesting true story and turn it into a book where NOTHING HAPPENS. things are hinted at, alluded to, and then? we just move on????
3. the best part was a bland retelling of an Oscar Wilde short story ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
4. at least it was short...
2. I'm almost impressed that Coelho could take such a brilliant and interesting true story and turn it into a book where NOTHING HAPPENS. things are hinted at, alluded to, and then? we just move on????
3. the best part was a bland retelling of an Oscar Wilde short story ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
4. at least it was short...
dilchh's review against another edition
3.0
I honestly didn't expect this to be such a short story indeed. It really cuts to the chase, and I surprisingly like it. I didn't have any problem, like I usually have when I read a Paulo Coelho book. This book is straight up interesting, because it left you with many questions and discussions, if not about women then about life and what one must pursue in life. I'm definitely surprised to enjoy it, although I would have liked it more had it been a little bit longer.
labunnywtf's review against another edition
2.0
This story would have been amazing if it were fiction, loosely based on the life of Mata Hari. I mean, that's what this is, but it's written as though it were the story of Mata Hari. An awful lot of historical liberties are taken, and that's coming from someone who knows very, very little about the real life woman.
I discovered while reading this that a lot of people don't know who Mata Hari is, down to the name. And this isn't a case of 'damn youngins not knowing history", these were people my age range and older who I had to spell the name out three times while they typed into their phones to see if they could just watch a movie to find out who she was.
This story is very beautifully written, but it feels exceptionally off. Mata Hari was villainized at a time where political distraction was needed desperately to take attention away from very real issues that were going on.
The real story of Mata Hari gets lost in here, but it's so poignant and relevant to the world 100 years after her death, and it's something that needs to be talked about, and this is not the book that will do it.
Read up on Mata Hari's life and death. If you want to read this, go ahead. It's a great jumping off point, like watching the movie before reading the book to find out how the story really happened. I cannot emphasize enough that the world she lived and died in is not even remotely far removed from our own.
I discovered while reading this that a lot of people don't know who Mata Hari is, down to the name. And this isn't a case of 'damn youngins not knowing history", these were people my age range and older who I had to spell the name out three times while they typed into their phones to see if they could just watch a movie to find out who she was.
This story is very beautifully written, but it feels exceptionally off. Mata Hari was villainized at a time where political distraction was needed desperately to take attention away from very real issues that were going on.
The real story of Mata Hari gets lost in here, but it's so poignant and relevant to the world 100 years after her death, and it's something that needs to be talked about, and this is not the book that will do it.
Read up on Mata Hari's life and death. If you want to read this, go ahead. It's a great jumping off point, like watching the movie before reading the book to find out how the story really happened. I cannot emphasize enough that the world she lived and died in is not even remotely far removed from our own.
kiminindy's review against another edition
4.0
I started out loving this book but it soon became a little disjointed. I realize that it is based off a letter she wrote prior to facing the firing squad. It makes me want to read more about Mata Hari.
groenetaart's review against another edition
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tallyhotel's review against another edition
4.0
This was a topic I knew absolutely nothing about, and went in completely blind. I'll admit that I thought she was from some exotic locale, which she actually encouraged.
The files surrounding this court case/execution will be unsealed this year (2017). It should be interesting!
The files surrounding this court case/execution will be unsealed this year (2017). It should be interesting!
teklagyorgy's review against another edition
4.0
A blogon: http://teklakonyvei.blogspot.hu/2016/11/paulo-coelho-kem.html
Ez a könyv egészen más, mint az átlag művei az írónak, szóval aki idegenkedik tőle, vagy nem szereti, az is bátran a kezébe veheti, mert nem nagyon találni benne mélyenszántó életbölcsességeket, ellenben Mata Hari életét remekül megismerheti az olvasó – aki kevés információ birtokában van a kurtizánról.
Ez a könyv egészen más, mint az átlag művei az írónak, szóval aki idegenkedik tőle, vagy nem szereti, az is bátran a kezébe veheti, mert nem nagyon találni benne mélyenszántó életbölcsességeket, ellenben Mata Hari életét remekül megismerheti az olvasó – aki kevés információ birtokában van a kurtizánról.
figsonrye's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0