Books : By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept: A Novel of Forgiveness (P.S.)

Rating: - Classic Coelho
One thing you will hear over and over is that once you pick up one book by Coelho, you end up reading them all. I, like so many, started with the Alchemist and was just blown away. I approached this book, as I do all of Coelho's creations, with anticipation and VERY high expectations. Anyone capable of the writing the Alchemist has the potential for great things. My anticipation was justified by this poignant, and very touching book. This is Coelho at his best. An intensely personal tale that must be read and lived

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Rating: - ..sigh
Coelho is, hands down, my favorite author. After reading several of his novels, I couldn't wait to read this book. And I was not disappointed. Although there are countless formulas for writing love stories, somehow this book was different. I was captivated. Coelho has such an amazing way of expressing the character's feelings that you come to really know the characters in his stories.
All of Coelho's novels have themes, this one being 'forgivness'. At first, I didn't really grasp why, but after reading it, I think its a story about forgiving yourself.
Pilar (the main character in this story) takes you through a week that she spends with a childhood friend whom she hasnt seen in over a decade but happens to be in love with. During this week, Pilar experiences a huge 'ephinany' and begins to rediscover her faith. (I thought this novel focused a little to much on religion, but the concept of religion can be looked upon as a metaphor).
When I finished the book, I literally sighed with relief. I'm not sure why. Coelho's language brings you into a completely alternate world than your own and makes you actually feel the character's feelings.
READ THIS BOOK!!

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Rating: - LOVE IT!
I have this book since I am 16 years old. I've read it so many times and it always get me emotional... No matter what book they release, this is my FAVORITE BOOK EVER!

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Rating: - Poetic, Proseic, Imaginative, Spell Binding
Pilar grows-up becoming a lovely, strong independent woman! Her childhood friend has become some more handsome, charismatic spiritual leader, making use of his religion as a refuge from his raging inner conflicts. He is said to be one who is even able to heal persons!

This lovely crafted story begins like a poetic narrative until Pilar is introduced to the gripping surprise of her lover having become a Seminarian. His whole life has been turned into an adventure shaped by his studies and new committment! When the italicised poetry becomes more narrative, the story moves more quickly and has numerous fascinating twists and turns. "It's risky falling in love." Their love simply moves gradually into new adventures and amzing enw pictures of their interesting culture!

Although I had read early on THE ALCHEMIST by Coelho, this story grew more lovely and compelling the more I read. It is well-worth discovery as another winner by Paulo Coelho. In-spite of the reviews making far too much of its strong religion that Spanish flavor of Cathoicism is totally tempered by pictures of beautiful love-making!

As I discovered after reading other stories of Authur Golden, Memoirs Of A GEISHA and Rosamunde Pilcher, The Shell Seekers this story seemed to stay with me longer to become another model of poetic beauty and pictures an eternal love spanning this world and the one of the Great-Not-Yet! Gratefully from Retired Chaplain Fred W Hood

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Rating: - Book review
Excentlant book, a pretty fast read with lots of meaning.
I recomment Paulo Coelho as a writer one of my favourits