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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a small book that wrestles with big, existential questions. I wouldn’t have picked it up on my own, but the prospect of reading it with a book club made it more appealing, and I’m glad I did, because it was made for conversation. It’s told entirely through a series of interviews about Athena, and we never hear her voice directly. This choice is deliberate and profoundly frustrating. As a reader, you’re forced to piece together her thoughts, motivations, and emotions based solely on how others perceive her. It’s an interesting and uncomfortable exercise in subjectivity and interpretation. Beyond its unconventional structure, it explores themes of femininity, spirituality, self-actualization, influence, and the patriarchy. I didn’t like any of the characters, nor did I enjoy being denied Athena’s perspective. It made the reading experience feel deliberately opaque. I craved more detail, more depth, and a stronger resolution. Our book club had a rich, sprawling conversation about how little is made explicit, and how we had different conclusions based on the same fragmented accounts. This isn’t a book I’d recommend for a solitary reading experience, but it shines as a communal one. If you enjoy novels that withhold certainty and invite debate, this is worth exploring with company.
Oh God this book was so weird and boring. That's why it took so long for me to get through this. I think it's one of Paulo Coelho's worst books.
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
How could you not like this book? How could you read this book and wonder what the plot is? Paulo Coelho is quickly climbing up the ladder of my favorite authors and The Witch of Portobello definitely did not disappoint. Get ready for interviews, emotions and a woman finding her purpose. I hope whoever reads this review gives this book the chance it deserves.
This book took a lot of effort... to be read. I disliked that my digital version did not have actual page numbers and it felt like eternity reading this. I am starting to believe that the only good thing Paulo Coelho wrote is [b:The Alchemist|22715913|The Alchemist's Daughter|Mary Lawrence|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1409514716s/22715913.jpg|42243160]. I tried to dismiss this notion and give his other works benefit of the doubt, but time after time I ended up disappointed. I cannot dismiss his effort in writing this book but the content just does not shine through words. I am sure there are people who liked this book but it is jut not my cup of tea.
Simple Summary with possible major SPOILERS:
Sherine (aka Sheerene aka Hagia Sophia) goes to search for something that she feels is missing from her daily life. She is a mother to a young boy and she gets a divorce and she goes on trips around the world. (Did I mention she was adopted?) She searches for her roots and discovers that she is a gypsy-witch. At no point of this book does the author refer to her culture as Romani. (Maybe once? He keeps calling her "gypsy" which is a derogatory term.) I think the book would have worked much better if he had focused on the cultural aspect rather than just mere dancing into the spirit world. I understand how the author wanted the audience to know that the characters came to a realization that they are all connected to the spiritual being Athena called "the Mother". The book confused me towards the end where Athena becomes sort of multiple personality person rather than just sometimes possessed by other beings. Athena has gotten quite a cult following with her dance parties. However, she "got out" of that lifestyle once her message was spread but that message was widely misunderstood because she was bound to meet and influence a wide variety of people. For someone who kept looking for something "more" but got out once the going got though... it would have made more sense if Athena really died a death related to her message.
Simple Summary with possible major SPOILERS:
Sherine (aka Sheerene aka Hagia Sophia) goes to search for something that she feels is missing from her daily life. She is a mother to a young boy and she gets a divorce and she goes on trips around the world. (Did I mention she was adopted?) She searches for her roots and discovers that she is a gypsy-witch. At no point of this book does the author refer to her culture as Romani. (Maybe once? He keeps calling her "gypsy" which is a derogatory term.) I think the book would have worked much better if he had focused on the cultural aspect rather than just mere dancing into the spirit world. I understand how the author wanted the audience to know that the characters came to a realization that they are all connected to the spiritual being Athena called "the Mother". The book confused me towards the end where Athena becomes sort of multiple personality person rather than just sometimes possessed by other beings. Athena has gotten quite a cult following with her dance parties. However, she "got out" of that lifestyle once her message was spread but that message was widely misunderstood because she was bound to meet and influence a wide variety of people. For someone who kept looking for something "more" but got out once the going got though... it would have made more sense if Athena really died a death related to her message.
It was engaging, put together very well. Coelho has once again risen my interest to read more and more of his books.
I loved The Alchemist so I wanted to love this one, a story about a powerful female protagonist. Unfortunately, I found her to be less mysterious and intriguing and instead a bit of a jerk. I personally didn’t connect with her and felt like she hid behind a false mystique without any real substance to her.
I quite reading this book. I'm sorry- but it was boring! I was disappointed- because the Alchemist was amazing. But I just couldn't get into a story about an adopted girl whose real mother is a gypsy and therefore she's... a witch?? Or something.
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated