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3.23 AVERAGE
3.23 AVERAGE
About Mata Hari, the infamous woman spy. I don't feel I got great insight into her.life, but the story is interesting.
This was an interesting experiment in historical fiction, but I ended up wishing I'd read either a straight non-fiction account of Mata Hari's life or an entirely fictionalized work based on a female spy of the era.
I really enjoyed this book. A lovely and tender look at a woman who was grossly misunderstood, and paid the ultimate price for it. The writing was simple and elegant, and really painted a picture of a complicated woman in an uncertain and fickle world. This book was a quick read, and I tore through it!
The story of Mata Hari always intrigued me; her only true crime was being a woman free from the constraints of marriage, in charge of her own career and unafraid of the consequences of her actions. I felt a deep connection with this non-spy as she narrated the story of her childhood, young motherhood and her freedom in Paris as a dancer. Coelho has a really insightful way of drudging up dark feelings from his characters, but I mostly felt empathy for Mata Hari, a woman too 21st century for her 20th century life.
After reading "The Alchemist" by the author, the thought of another work of his excited me.
I started reading this book with no idea about the prootogonist Ms.Mata Hari. I must say I lover her throughout the book. The fact that the book was written in the first person's opinion made me stay glued to the story even better.
This book is certainly a quick read one, but I couldn't finish it fast coz of various personal reasons.
Anyways I would highly recommend this book if you are into dark straight "no suger coating" kinda biographies.
If not? Then don't.
I started reading this book with no idea about the prootogonist Ms.Mata Hari. I must say I lover her throughout the book. The fact that the book was written in the first person's opinion made me stay glued to the story even better.
This book is certainly a quick read one, but I couldn't finish it fast coz of various personal reasons.
Anyways I would highly recommend this book if you are into dark straight "no suger coating" kinda biographies.
If not? Then don't.
*Closer to 2.5 stars.
I respect what this book was trying to do. I think the writing was decent enough, but ultimately, I found myself bored by a story about one of the most interesting personalities of the early 20th century. Clearly there's something wrong there.
I respect what this book was trying to do. I think the writing was decent enough, but ultimately, I found myself bored by a story about one of the most interesting personalities of the early 20th century. Clearly there's something wrong there.
I found the story confusing. I suppose this was to give us a feel for how Mata Hari experienced her life in a deluded and confused state. In that case, the effect was achieved. The only reason I completed the book was that it was short.
Although I did not like the book, I have to admit that the author did evoke powerful images and emotions. At the end there is a section where her lawyer explains things from his point of view. That was the part I especially disliked in that it seemed like such a long rant in a letter to a condemned woman whom he loves.
I'm left wondering if this is anything like the real story of this woman. It seems the intent was not so much to tell her story as to evoke some feeling about her choices and express an opinion about the outcome.
Although I did not like the book, I have to admit that the author did evoke powerful images and emotions. At the end there is a section where her lawyer explains things from his point of view. That was the part I especially disliked in that it seemed like such a long rant in a letter to a condemned woman whom he loves.
I'm left wondering if this is anything like the real story of this woman. It seems the intent was not so much to tell her story as to evoke some feeling about her choices and express an opinion about the outcome.
