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3.23 AVERAGE
3.23 AVERAGE
A new look at the story of Mata Hari, told from her fictional perspective through a long letter she writes to her lawyer before her execution (not a spoiler, you know this from the start). I was surprised to discover a woman who was probably not the celebrated spy she was supposed to have been, but simply a woman who refused to accept the fate usually meant for women at that time. After being raped at 16 at her school, and married off to an older and brutal army man who took her away to a place she knew nothing about, she manages to re-invent herself, and builds a new life as an exotic dancer. But as we all know, nothing comes without a price, and she paid for her wish to be free by having to rely on the financial favors of important and rich men, turning herself into a high-level prostitute in the end. Almost every man in her life has betrayed her, and the biggest betrayal of all led to her tragic and too-early death. Coelho is not one of my favorite authors, and I usually cannot abide by his tendency for cheap spiritualism. But there is none of that here, and I think he does a good job writing from a woman's perspective. It's quite a feminist book, in a way, which I can appreciate coming from a male author. It is also a quick and absorbing read, with such a great true story in its base.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape
I loved this book.
I love the way Coelho writes; it is so easy to follow.
He did explain at the start that some of the story had been rearranged and after reading it, it just made me want to learn more about this lady.
This book is not called 'The Life And History Of Mata Hari', so I would never have expected it to be 100% factual and accurate. Instead it was an insightful read about a woman who wanted to stand on her own two feet, a woman who leaves a life of abuse to spend her time living a destiny that she set for herself.
In many ways we can see that this sort of life is still common in the world we see today; not the espionage and the death penalty, but the struggles of women in abusive relationships. Whilst on the surface it looks like huge amounts of progress is being made, this is a fight that has been ongoing for a long time and will probably continue for many years to come.
Furthermore, I think many readers will to relate to Mata Hari in respect of her feelings towards love; i know that I did.
I love the way Coelho writes; it is so easy to follow.
He did explain at the start that some of the story had been rearranged and after reading it, it just made me want to learn more about this lady.
This book is not called 'The Life And History Of Mata Hari', so I would never have expected it to be 100% factual and accurate. Instead it was an insightful read about a woman who wanted to stand on her own two feet, a woman who leaves a life of abuse to spend her time living a destiny that she set for herself.
In many ways we can see that this sort of life is still common in the world we see today; not the espionage and the death penalty, but the struggles of women in abusive relationships. Whilst on the surface it looks like huge amounts of progress is being made, this is a fight that has been ongoing for a long time and will probably continue for many years to come.
Furthermore, I think many readers will to relate to Mata Hari in respect of her feelings towards love; i know that I did.
Važno je za početak napomenuti kako se knjiga o Mata Hari sastoji od tri dijela. Prva dva su zanimljiva, fantastično napisana, a treći onda kao hladan tuš zezne sve.
Mata Hari bila je i ostala legenda. Njezin život, potom i smrti dignuli su je i dali joj više-manje zasluženo mjesto u povijesti. Bila je prekrasna, bila je zavodnica u burnom vremenu koje se nije moglo nositi samo sa sobom, a kamoli sa ženom koja je prkosila samim svojim bivanjem. Upravo njezina perspektiva je zanimljiva, bogata emocijama, te se čitatelj može lako poistovjetiti s njom upijajući njezin lik iz Coelhovog pera. Moram priznati kako me njezina perspektiva podsjetila na stil pisanja Slavenke Drakulić koju obožavam i ne mogu ne požaliti što Coelho nije stao na tome.
Naime, perspektiva njezina odvjetnika koja je cijeli treći dio je istovremena osuda Mate Hari kroz prizmu malograđavštine koja si to nikada neće priznati i slavljenje njezina lika uzdizanje na mitsku razinu koja je bespotrebna. Najgore od svega, dosadna je. Jednolična. Nakon bogatstva lika i djela legende perspektiva njezina odvjetnika je ekvivalentna piljenju u zid. Niti ima koristi, a bome nije ni zabavno.
Mata Hari bila je i ostala legenda. Njezin život, potom i smrti dignuli su je i dali joj više-manje zasluženo mjesto u povijesti. Bila je prekrasna, bila je zavodnica u burnom vremenu koje se nije moglo nositi samo sa sobom, a kamoli sa ženom koja je prkosila samim svojim bivanjem. Upravo njezina perspektiva je zanimljiva, bogata emocijama, te se čitatelj može lako poistovjetiti s njom upijajući njezin lik iz Coelhovog pera. Moram priznati kako me njezina perspektiva podsjetila na stil pisanja Slavenke Drakulić koju obožavam i ne mogu ne požaliti što Coelho nije stao na tome.
Naime, perspektiva njezina odvjetnika koja je cijeli treći dio je istovremena osuda Mate Hari kroz prizmu malograđavštine koja si to nikada neće priznati i slavljenje njezina lika uzdizanje na mitsku razinu koja je bespotrebna. Najgore od svega, dosadna je. Jednolična. Nakon bogatstva lika i djela legende perspektiva njezina odvjetnika je ekvivalentna piljenju u zid. Niti ima koristi, a bome nije ni zabavno.
Ich weiß jetzt schon, dass dieses Buch ein Jahreshighlight 2018 wird !
Not the biggest fan. Received this book as a holiday present last December and finally managed to read it. I was interested in the premise and I love learning about new characters who played important roles in history but I did not find myself enjoying the character/presentation of Mata Hari. The author did well in his endeavors but the book has rendered me disinterested in researching her further. This presentation of the woman cast her as selfish, unloving, and childish. I have no sympathy for the woman within this book. It is difficult, though, to cover what seems to be such a convoluted and reasoning-rich life within so few pages. Perhaps this is because so little information is available about her, but the book was fairly flat and I had to push myself through it.
The only reason I even finished this book is because it’s so short. Had it been any longer, I would have not finished. I found this to be boring. Mata Hari’s story is so interesting and I feel as though this story didn’t do her justice at all.
I often call Paulo Coelho one of my favorite authors. And while this book did not disappoint, I didn't walk away feeling changed, as I did with "Witch" and "The Alchemist." Perhaps I keep reaching to recreate that first magickal experience of reading love with this word magician. But I haven't gotten back there since I read those two books.
The Spy is important in that it sheds further light on the countless and, most often, faceless women who have been condemned throughout history for simply being themselves. I honor the intent, especially in the times I now face myself in as an independent, shameless, free woman in the United States.
But I didn't fall in love with this book, no matter how much I wish I had.
The Spy is important in that it sheds further light on the countless and, most often, faceless women who have been condemned throughout history for simply being themselves. I honor the intent, especially in the times I now face myself in as an independent, shameless, free woman in the United States.
But I didn't fall in love with this book, no matter how much I wish I had.
Liked the format. I had trouble relating to her as a character.