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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
I loved this book. Coehlo's writing is beautiful. This book is written as a biography told from the perspective of people who knew Athena. It is about the sacred feminine and Mother Nature. Listening to that still small voice that is within each of us.
Not as good as the Alchemist. I compare the two because it was supposed to be one of those books where after you read it, you reflect on how it made you feel. For 175+ pages I felt utterly confused. The ending had some profound quotes on love and such, but it took too long to get to that point. I still love Coelho, but this is not one of my favorites.
The narrative structure of this book is interesting, but, unfortunately, that is the only positive thing I have to say about this book. The main character is repeatedly described as entrancing and charismatic, but I could not develop any attachment to her. The worst part was the spiritual psychobabble, continuously hitting the reader over the head.
An interesting tale- told from the perspectives of all who knew the "witch". Insightful and contemplative like all of Coelho's works, although not as exceptional a story as some of his other works.
Smart, eloquent, and told in classic story-telling fashion, but ultimately not his best and also not particularly exceptional a story.
Smart, eloquent, and told in classic story-telling fashion, but ultimately not his best and also not particularly exceptional a story.
Better than The Alchemist, not nearly as wonderful as Eleven Minutes. I find I am still learning to navigate Coelho's special brand of story-telling. While I am inherently drawn to the mystical/spiritual qualities of his novels, when they do not distinctly resonate with me, I find them a little more difficult to digest. At the start I was drawn to the story of a woman learning (and accepting) who she is, as she finds her way in the world. I did not particularly like Athena, nor could I identify with her quite the way I had wished. In truth, I was hopeful that this work would have been a bit cathartic and therapeutic.
One weakness of the book was that thought old in an almost epistolary format (interviews, not letters), there are several narrators. I did not find their voices to be distinct; this was a shame and would have added another dimension of depth and fullness to the story.
That being said, the narratives moved along well and I found myself engaged regardless. I enjoyed the character of Heron and I thought his story with Athena held the most interest for me. In addition, the exploration of spirituality from a non-paternalistic view was very interesting.
One weakness of the book was that thought old in an almost epistolary format (interviews, not letters), there are several narrators. I did not find their voices to be distinct; this was a shame and would have added another dimension of depth and fullness to the story.
That being said, the narratives moved along well and I found myself engaged regardless. I enjoyed the character of Heron and I thought his story with Athena held the most interest for me. In addition, the exploration of spirituality from a non-paternalistic view was very interesting.
This is such a wonderful work of fiction that reads very convincingly like it is non-fiction. It opened up my eyes to the greater mysteries in life and made me examine how I am choosing to live and who I want to be.
I couldn't put the book down. It is definitely worth the read!!
I couldn't put the book down. It is definitely worth the read!!