Books : The Zahir: A Novel of Obsession (P.S.)

Rating: - Disappointingly Vague
I have enjoyed other novels by Paulo Coelho and was eagerly anticipating this one. I'm sorry to say I was disappointed. The premise of the book seemed intriguing, and the story posed some interesting questions but the writing just never grabbed me and pulled me in. Turning page after page I kept thinking, there has to be more, but the story never delivers. The characters are boring and unlikeable, although it takes place all over the world you never get a good sense of the surroundings and on a spiritual level, the story never gives us that "AHA" moment. It was like anticipating the release of a movie and finding out it's better as a rental.

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Rating: - A nice novel to read... an excellent one to make you think
I didnt know if I was reading Paulo's personal story or my personal story. I think what is great about Paulo's novels is that it gives me time to stop in the middle of this busy life, and think about myself, my past and future. Therefore I recommend this for you.

One star less than perfect, because it could have been better.

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Rating: - Mixture of all feelings and emotions....

The book is very good, I have found it very interesting, it wasn't like eleven minutes, more of the exploration of the body, soul and love.. it wasn't like the fifth mountain, mixed between spirituality, religion and a bit of love.. it had it all..
he wrote in this book about love, marriage, life, sex.. how he saw marriage, how his love was possessive and obsessive, how he realized that for the first time in his life, he loves someone more than himself.. which ofcourse happens to many of us through out our lives.
some parts of the book weren't as thrilling, specially the parts with Mikhail, it was more of weird things happening, but I believe it does exist. fact is there are many things in life we never saw, and Paulo has mentioned in his book, his experiences, his encounters, his search for his love.
unfortunatly I hated the fact that his wife ended up being pregnant, I did not like her personality, I couldn't get my self to realize how she left the place,and the type of life she adopted was very unexpected..

To me, this book made me realize how beautiful it is to hold on to your love no matter what happens.

I recommend this book, for readers who would like to explore more things in life thro reading, and who wants to know how the journy of love should be like..

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Rating: - A Wonderful Exploration of Freedom and Knowingness in a Relationship
I had never read any of Coelho's novels until it was presented to me recently. I have to admit, I didn't like the character and found his obsession with himself annoying...but then the wisdom and wonder began and Coelho pulled me in to a world filled with the explorations of what it truly means to "know" someone that you love and to know the parts of yourself that need nourishment too. It proved that we can do this together as a couple if there is enough love and commitment and a desire to let the other be free.

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Rating: - Disappointing ...to say the least!
I am a great admirer of Coelho's other works but this one was an utter disappointment.There was nothing obsessive except the idea of obsessiveness. I became so bored that half way through the book I almost decided not to finish it. Reading "11 Minutes" after "The Zahir" will surely not only cheer you up, but also make you wonder if the author was the same one who wrote both novels.