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

Rating: - This is not Paulo Coelho's best effort
I am a big fan of Paulo Coelho's work. I believe time will show him to be an important writer.

I first discovered him with "Veronica Decides to Die" on an airplane flight. It made me want to rush out and do something wonderful with my life, and I've recommended it to friends. Several of his titles are permanent parts of my library.

That said, however, I was frankly disappointed by "The Zahir." I don't believe there's the moment of transformation for any main character which we've come to expect from Paulo Coelho. I don't believe there's an adequate exploration of the conflict that gets his tale going in the first place. Things just seem to meander from one place to another until the story fills enough pages to call it a day. I sincerely believe a first time author would have found it difficult to get this published.

Buy the rest of Paulo Coelho's books. Loan them to friends. Keep them in your library so you can read them again and again. But if you really want to read this one, check it out from the public library so that you can return it when you're done.

---

Rating: - The Zahir: An Extraordinary Revelation
The Alchemist, Eleven Minutes and By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept are magnificent stories, but undoubtedly, The Zahir is Coelho's most profound novel to date. This beautiful story explores the significance of life through the transformation of the book's narrator, a self-consumed author obsessed with finding his missing wife. The narrator guides the reader through his poignant exploration of mysticism and love. This brilliant book is infinitely enjoyable. It will metamorphose the psyche, altering our society's paradigmatic perspective on matters of the heart. The Zahir is an exceptional tale and its essence resonates within my consciousness every day.

---

Rating: - If your heart is open ...
We often get rapped up in our busy lives, obsessed with work and responsibilities. We search for meaning in our every days and fail to clearly understand what it is that we should really strive for, what makes us happy, do we love or co-exist.... In our search process we close our eyes to reality, we get afraid to hear the truth, we are opinionated and smart, and we can figure this out even if takes a life time. And suddenly our whole world goes bust...only to make us realize that we knew the truth all along, that our might and wisdom is within us.

This is a very inspirational, spiritual, wise and psychologically challenging novel. If your heart is open and your soul seeks the truth, absorb yourself in it.

---

Rating: - Very confusing and leading nowhere
I was expecting a good story and theme after I had read Alchemist by the same author.
I have not understood what the author wants to say and how did he find love at the end and about losing his personnel history thing (sometime I don't understand) when till the end he has been talking about only himself. It is nothing but juggling of words and phrases, which he knows very well. The reader will never come to know when the story stated and when it ended and why it ended or for that mater why it stated.

---

Rating: - enjoyable read
I enjoyed most of this book, though at times I am a bit confused and lost on his discussion of energy of love..etc. The alchemist is definitely easier to follow.

I have read two of his other books - the Alchemist, which i think is over rated, and 11 Minutes. I agree with the last two reviewers that he is in some way "proud" of himself. I felt at times in the Zahir that he is talking about himself - a successful writer who writes about love, life...etc.