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3.23 AVERAGE
3.23 AVERAGE
Was pleasantly surprised at how fast paced this book was. Coelho’s writing style especially kept me engaged and I thoroughly enjoyed learning of Mata Hari’s perspective.
A shameful peek into men's own brutalities, and an assurance of women's bravery against it all. Honest and revengeful
This was an ARC from Penguin Random House. Overall it was an interesting look into Mata Hari last couple of years before her execution, starting with a letter she wrote the night before. I would have like to know more about her earlier years, her marriage and early life in Paris. I don't know if it is because this is translated from Portuguese but i found that it didn't flow as well as I had hoped.
I tiny, super quick historical fiction account of Mata Hari's last goodbyes before her execution as a spy in 1917. Through a letter from her to her lawyer and then another from her lawyer to her, we learn snippets of who Mata Hari was and how she lived her life. Despite the insistence of many reviewers that this is a dedication to a great feminist, born before her time, I got much more of a 'beware the follies of fame' feel out of it.
A surface intro to Mata Hari with a bit of Coelho wisdom thrown in.
A surface intro to Mata Hari with a bit of Coelho wisdom thrown in.
I've always been curious: what was the deal with Mata Hari? From this book I think I can say she was a tabloid celebrity somewhere between Madonna and Lindsey Lohan who inadvertently made herself a target during a dangerous and miserable war.
It was not really the Coelho ytype of book I'm used to, but it was a quick read and quite an interesting story. It's based on a true story but is indeed fiction (and clearly stated on the cover of the book). Some reviewers forgot that little fact and gave poor reviews expecting the true story or a sort of autobiography. Worth investing a few hours into. :)
Finally a solid read! This one was short enough where I started this morning and was able to finish it this afternoon. Fascinating story of Mata Hari. Basically, the woman was executed for being considered a double agent but on such flimsy evidence that her execution was seemingly to save the asses and protect the reputation of the powerful men she slept with. A woman that once again rang that tired old bell "I was born at the wrong time." When will it ever be the right time for women to be born? Mata Hari was persecuted for having the gall to want to live a free and independent life. This was an interesting story told in letters - ones by Mata Hari and her lawyer that failed to get clemency for her.
Did you know the custom was to cut the head off and hand it over to government representatives? Her head was kept in the Anatomy Museum in Paris until one day in 2000 (!!) they discovered it had been stolen.
Did you know the custom was to cut the head off and hand it over to government representatives? Her head was kept in the Anatomy Museum in Paris until one day in 2000 (!!) they discovered it had been stolen.
This is the second book I've read about Mata Hari this year. Her story is interesting, tragic, and beautifully told by Paulo Coelho in this novel. I don't think we will ever know the whole truth, since all sources seem to agree that Mata Hari was a liar--but all sources also agree that they had no evidence to convict her. Coelho paints her as an innocent, independent woman who was manipulated by powerful men...perhaps a little extreme? Maybe not. But I will say it's a theme that resonated strongly with me amidst current events.