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3.23 AVERAGE
3.23 AVERAGE
Original Review Here
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It’s hard reviewing a book based on reality, and The Spy was no exception. Mata defied the odds at letting society control her, but I couldn’t invest in her story.
The Spy opens with Mata’s execution. The first half of the book is Mata writing to her lawyer, telling the reader her story in this manner. We discover through her letter how she ended up in prison in the first place. The second half is a letter from her lawyer, explaining how everything got so out of control.
For the majority of the time, the novel does not read as a letter. But occasionally it will jump back to the person writing and why they are doing so – throwing the reader from the tale and jarring them while they figure out what is happening.
It was the inconsistency in the writing that meant I struggling reading this book.
When considering how Mata tried to be an independent woman in a time where the world didn’t accept that, she is a remarkable character.
Yet the way she is portrayed here makes her appear shallow and self-obsessed, that everything revolved around her and her talents rather than realising she was just a pawn.
The second half of The Spy reveals how corrupt the system was and how Mata didn’t stand a chance. This helped me empathise with her character, but by then I already considered her to be a naïve woman who didn’t think of the consequences of her actions other than getting money.
The setting and the events of The Spy interested me and I learnt about the time period from a different perspective. Within the opening pages, I felt I had learnt something new, but that feeling of discovery didn’t extend to the entire book.
The Spy isn’t a bad novel, not by any stretch of the imagination. I felt the writing didn’t do justice to what was surely an incredible tale of a woman defying society and taking control of her life, with consequences she had no way of seeing coming.
It’s a quick and easy read if you want something different though, and I’m glad to have read it.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It’s hard reviewing a book based on reality, and The Spy was no exception. Mata defied the odds at letting society control her, but I couldn’t invest in her story.
The Spy opens with Mata’s execution. The first half of the book is Mata writing to her lawyer, telling the reader her story in this manner. We discover through her letter how she ended up in prison in the first place. The second half is a letter from her lawyer, explaining how everything got so out of control.
For the majority of the time, the novel does not read as a letter. But occasionally it will jump back to the person writing and why they are doing so – throwing the reader from the tale and jarring them while they figure out what is happening.
It was the inconsistency in the writing that meant I struggling reading this book.
When considering how Mata tried to be an independent woman in a time where the world didn’t accept that, she is a remarkable character.
Yet the way she is portrayed here makes her appear shallow and self-obsessed, that everything revolved around her and her talents rather than realising she was just a pawn.
The second half of The Spy reveals how corrupt the system was and how Mata didn’t stand a chance. This helped me empathise with her character, but by then I already considered her to be a naïve woman who didn’t think of the consequences of her actions other than getting money.
The setting and the events of The Spy interested me and I learnt about the time period from a different perspective. Within the opening pages, I felt I had learnt something new, but that feeling of discovery didn’t extend to the entire book.
The Spy isn’t a bad novel, not by any stretch of the imagination. I felt the writing didn’t do justice to what was surely an incredible tale of a woman defying society and taking control of her life, with consequences she had no way of seeing coming.
It’s a quick and easy read if you want something different though, and I’m glad to have read it.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
For me, it is more interesting compare to most Paulo Coelho book (quiet bias, since I am already a fan of biographical history book) but there are a lot of biographical books that are written in more attractive than ‘The Spy’.
The way he described Indonesian-influenced dance is ridiculous. It might confuse reader as mix of Indian/Chinese/Indonesian (which is even more confusing because Indonesia has a lot of traditional dance depending on the province). Although he mentioned it clearly that she went to Java, none of his description about her style reflects Javanese.
Somewhat, Paulo Coelho fails to embody Matahari’s mind. Although the point of view is Matahari, I still can feel like someone else writing it.
The way he described Indonesian-influenced dance is ridiculous. It might confuse reader as mix of Indian/Chinese/Indonesian (which is even more confusing because Indonesia has a lot of traditional dance depending on the province). Although he mentioned it clearly that she went to Java, none of his description about her style reflects Javanese.
Somewhat, Paulo Coelho fails to embody Matahari’s mind. Although the point of view is Matahari, I still can feel like someone else writing it.
A great fictional recounting of Mata Hari. Paulo Coehlo focuses on themes of love, power, and the sexuality of women and how they intertwine. The story is mostly told through Hari's perspective in a letter to her daughter and the response by her failed lawyer. Coelho really emphasizes Hari's innocence and how her sins of love and pride led to her downfall but only did so because of her gender and embracing her sexuality. Coelho's writing always makes me meditate on my own life and learn from his vivid and flawed characters. Overall a great read.
TRIGGER WARNING: suicide and rape
TRIGGER WARNING: suicide and rape
I’m glad to have read this book. It wasn’t exactly the best read this year, but it was a good insight of the first World War. The writing was kind of boring and slow, however, I really liked Mata Hari. She seemed like a beautiful and strong woman. Her views on artists and life were really interesting. The book just shows the injustice and paranoia the world undergoes when hateful men are superior, and so people like Mata Hari can be a casualty in their crimes.
I adore Paulo Coelho's writing. I found it fascinating to know more about Mata Hari and I loved the epistolary style of this book.
I went into this book not knowing anything about Mata Hari. So after finishing it, I read up on her and I don’t feel this is a fair depiction of her life. Yes, it’s historical FICTION, but this honestly just felt like a male author who made her out to be an airhead who was so “slutty” she couldn’t even remember her partners names. He also made her out to be a terrible mother who just leaves child. That isn’t the case at all. This just felt like 200 pages of shaming a woman for having copious amounts of sex (which isn’t even totally accurate with how she lived her life). I’m only giving it two stars because I enjoyed the prologue. Otherwise it would be a one star.
An enjoyable read into an area I don’t really read and honestly I didn’t enjoy it as much as Cohelo’s other work.
"What kind of paradise was this, where nothing, absolutely nothing, interesting happened? I was not looking for happiness, but what the French called la vraie vie, a true life, with its moments of inexpressible beauty and deep depression, with its loyalties and betrayals, with its fears and moments of peace. "
Reviews tell me this wasn't the most historically accurate representation of Mata Hari's life, but it introduced me to her, so I say not so bad.
Paulo Coelho's writing is so poignant and relevant, and I'm definitely going to read more on Mata Hari now. And check out more of Coelho's books.
Reviews tell me this wasn't the most historically accurate representation of Mata Hari's life, but it introduced me to her, so I say not so bad.
Paulo Coelho's writing is so poignant and relevant, and I'm definitely going to read more on Mata Hari now. And check out more of Coelho's books.