The Witch of Portobello (Hardcover) by Paulo Coelho - Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists

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03/09/08

Raych rated it:

I always wished that Paulo Coehlo was my uncle so that I could call him ‘Papa Coelho’ and sit at his knee while he smoked his pipe. I think that he would be delightfully eccentric, and given to saying things like ‘Suffering, if confronted without fear, is the great passport to freedom.’ So, true, Papa Coelho. So true.
If he was my uncle, though, I might not tell him that I thought The Alchemist was tripe, and that most of his books carry too much philosophizing and not enough n...more I always wished that Paulo Coehlo was my uncle so that I could call him ‘Papa Coelho’ and sit at his knee while he smoked his pipe. I think that he would be delightfully eccentric, and given to saying things like ‘Suffering, if confronted without fear, is the great passport to freedom.’ So, true, Papa Coelho. So true.
If he was my uncle, though, I might not tell him that I thought The Alchemist was tripe, and that most of his books carry too much philosophizing and not enough narrative. But in The Witch of Portobello, he achieves what others have tried so hard to do and failed so miserably at (I’m looking at you, Marilynne Robinson). There was such a fine balance between story and lesson that I was never bored by the one nor overwhelmed by the other.
The narrator of the story tells us right off that he’s not going to try to write a straight-up biography, but that in the interests of objectivity (of a sort), he’s just going to put down verbatim the interviews he conducted on the subject of the alleged ‘witch.’ From the journalist who fell in love with her to the woman who felt betrayed by her, from birth mother to adoptive mother, from teacher to student, are all given a chance to tell how Athena, born Sherine and sometimes called Hagia Sofia, messed them over. Each one recounts how she waltzed into their lives with that restless spirit and those grey eyes, and began throwing around the carefully-arranged furniture (metaphorically speaking). And then she died.
Even though I kind of rolled my eyes for the first few pages and though, ‘Damn, another one of these,’ and even though nothing really happened in the way of a plot (Athena travelled here, learned this lesson in this way, travelled there, learned that lesson), I found myself sucked in. I would be on the Stairmaster, book in hand, and look down to realize that I’d climbed twenty floors without noticing. There was something strangely compelling about Athena, and being told her story from everyone’s perspective but hers made her into this mysterious goddess figure, a myth that she simultaneously upheld and debunked at every turn.
I’m usually very much not in to books that try to refine my soul (it has been suggested that this is because I lack said soul), particularly because the message usually gets in the way of the medium. But somehow with this book I found myself yelling, ‘Yes! Yes! I will dance against the rhythm, dammit!’ and casting off the shackles of this dark world (ok, really I just tapped my finger against my lip, murmured, ‘Interesting,’ and promised myself I’d think more deeply about it later, but you get the gist).
In short, though the dialogue stumbled at times and each of the narrators spoke with pretty much the same voice, this book was a pleasure to read…which means I didn’t suffer…which means I don’t have my passport to freedom! Oh, Papa Coelho, if only you were here now. I’m so confused.
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10/30/07

Julia Henderson rated it:

This book *really* made me think about who I am and where I am going, and who I want to be as a woman, a wife, a soon-to-be-mother, a daughter, and a human.

I didn't always like Paulo Coehlo's work. I tried to read The Alchemist in college and the novel just didn't do it for me. But a friend recommended Veronika Decides to Die to me while a loved one was in the hospital for depression and I was struggling to understand what might be happening in there, and ever since, Coehlo has been ...more

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03/23/08

Mykle rated it:

bookshelves: feeding-to-a-giant-squid

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in March, 2008

recommended to Mykle by: Portland International Airport
recommends it for: Mega-church enthusiasts.

Trapped for hours in an airport with nothing to read, my wife was further victimized by this remarkably bad book, one of five books available for sale in Portland International Airport at 2am.

You can turn to any page and find a really hackneyed phrase. Kahil Gibrain's psuedo-religious drivel was at least poetic and brief by comparison The story is supposed to be the voices of different people, but the catholic priest, the lebanese mother, the 65-year old restaurant owner, are all...more

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12/15/08

Brandon rated it:

Read in December, 2008

I bought this book in Cabo for a few pesos and later found it was being given away FREE, so my expectations were somewhat tempered and let me just say Coelho does not disappoint. Ahem.

On a positive note, Paulo Coelho has one of the great names in contemporary fiction, one that exudes a sort of exotic erudition, so one might say that only an author as magnificent as Coelho can draw the reader in and convince that reader he is purposefully fooling the reader into believing that this book...more

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07/30/07

Abby rated it:

Read in September, 2007

I really, really wanted to like this book. I've heard wonderful things about Coelho and was excited to try him out, I love topics that deal with witchcraft and things fantastical, and I'm a sucker for redheaded heroines.

But ...

I found this novel and its ideas on the nature of spirituality really preachy, pedantic and overblown. I was so annoyed by the middle of the book that I nearly it down, but the cover art convinced me to keep trying. Surely the artist must have ...more

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05/09/09

Izlinda rated it:

bookshelves: general-fiction-literature, religion-spirituality-paganism-astr

Read in May, 2009

I didn't finish this book... I feel kind of bad about that, especially as this was a gift, but the writing style and topic got on my nerves. It's about Athena and...well, it goes through people's interviews/written memoirs about her after her death. So we never know anything from the "primary source," if you will. The "voices" of a variety of characters sound all the same - a father, her ex-husband, her teacher, a journalist, her student, a man who taught her calligraphy, her...more

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08/27/08

miaaa rated it:

(review of isbn 0061338818)

bookshelves: ophelia-s-library, recommended-for-you

Read in September, 2008

recommended to miaaa by: Spamiola

This is the first Coelho book I've read since the translated-to-Indonesian version of The Fifth Mountain. I couldn't face another disappointment but a good friend of mine has taken all the effort to send me the English version of this which I then called 'the Witch book'.

Another friend once told me, don't judge the book by the cover but by the first line in the opening paragraph ... "Before these statements left my desk and followed the fate I eventually choose for them, I cons...more This is the first Coelho book I've read since the translated-to-Indonesian version of The Fifth Mountain. I couldn't face another disappointment but a good friend of mine has taken all the effort to send me the English version of this which I then called 'the Witch book'.

Another friend once told me, don't judge the book by the cover but by the first line in the opening paragraph ... "Before these statements left my desk and followed the fate I eventually choose for them, I considered using them as the basis for a traditional, painstakingly researched biography, recounting a true story...". It got me, and the rest is a history.

The story revolves around Athena, a restless young woman, from the eyes of people who know her, practice with her, witness her transformation, and build a world with her as the naval. Personally I can identify myself in some of her discussions with her protectors. When the Church denies her, I can feel my heart bleeding as well. This is not the first time I hear and see the Church, the men not the institution, failing me and many other people in the world. I dare to assume similar cases occur in other religions as well.

I think any woman can identify with Athena. After all, Athena is us (read: women) and I speak of her in the present tense because for her and her kins time does not exist, only space.

***

Ini buku Coelho pertama yang aku baca setelah terakhir kali mengalami kekecewaan dengan The Fifth Mountain versi Indonesia. Sejak itu rasanya takut membaca karya-karya Coelho namun seorang teman dengan susah payah mengirimkan versi Inggris buku ini. Dan memang layak untuk dibaca.

Seorang teman lain pernah berkata jangan pernah menilai buku dari sampulnya tapi dari kalimat pertama di paragraf pembuka ... "Before these statements left my desk and followed the fate I eventually choose for them, I considered using them as the basis for a traditional, painstakingly researched biography, recounting a true story...". Itu sudah cukup membuatku untuk terus membacanya.

Kisah di buku ini berkembang di sekitar Athena, seorang perempuan muda, dilihat dari sudut pandang orang-orang yang mengenalnya, menari bersamanya, menjadi saksi tansformasinya, dan ada yang menjadikannya pusat dari dunia mereka. Terkadang aku seperti melihat diriku dalam beberapa pembicaraan antara Athena dan para gurunya. Ketika Gereja menolaknya, aku juga bisa merasakan luka dan darah yang mengalir. Ini bukan pertamakalinya Gereja, orang bukan institusinya, mengecewakanku dan banyak orang lain di dunia.

Mereka yang membaca buku ini bisa mengidentifikasi diri mereka sebagai Athena sebab dia adalah kita (baca: perempuan).(less)

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08/19/08

Spamiola Kikita rated it:

Read in August, 2008

recommends it for: people willing to be spiritually penetrated

spiritual, mystical, and will absolutely take over your soul!
while reading this book, i felt inhibited by every feeling and gesture, and was possessed by Athena, the woman who is everything each and everyone of us want to be, but is afraid of becoming. The book certainly questions organized religions and brings back the idea of mother earth as the ultimate goddess. I have to, no, i MUST, type up this quote:

" We women, when we are searching for a meaning to our lives or for...more

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03/01/08

Claire Saldivar rated it:

Read in February, 2008

recommended to Claire by: Goodreads

I have mixed feelings about this particular Paulo Coehlo book. I have always liked his uncanny ability to address the everyday lessons in life through his superb storytelling, reflective symbolism and at the same time be able to touch my inner core and yet this book failed to do that for me. I could not comprehend the main character, Athena nor was she able to evoke feelings of understanding from me as a reader. I was surprised because in a way I have similarities to her. I was a single mother ...more I have mixed feelings about this particular Paulo Coehlo book. I have always liked his uncanny ability to address the everyday lessons in life through his superb storytelling, reflective symbolism and at the same time be able to touch my inner core and yet this book failed to do that for me. I could not comprehend the main character, Athena nor was she able to evoke feelings of understanding from me as a reader. I was surprised because in a way I have similarities to her. I was a single mother too at a young age, raised in a Catholic household, an immigrant, and an unmarried independent and hardworking woman trying to provide for two kids. I have adopted three years ago a 5 year old who came from an abusive family and I am a big practicioner of yoga and meditation and an Argentine Tango dancer and yet I failed to connect with her.

I have three problems the way the book was written. There was no continuity, consistency or clarification. First, Athena at nineteen claims to have led a life of suffering. She was adopted by her childless Lebanese parents at three months old and plucked from an orphanage in Romania. The book has made no reference of a hard life for her as an adoptive child but instead, she was provided with love, shelter, a family and a good education. Secondly, she claims to have missed the love of her real mother and is therefore carrying that blankness with her in her short years of living as an adult. She was three months old! How can you miss something you never had? As young as she was when she was adopted and the kind of love and caring that her adoptive parents has given her, it was not the love of a real mother that she missed. It should have been interpreted by Paolo Coehlo as curiousity and pure validation on her part and not the search of love from her real mother. Third, this is a love story and yet there was no reference whatsoever in the entire book of how the love came about between Athena and her supposedly Scotland Yard lover.

The book ended with the phrase "Love simply is" which suggests that it is the premise of the entire story and yet it failed to bring out a strong message of such a strong emotion. It made me even more confused. The storytelling was incomplete and the story were merely patches of someones indulgent and chaotic life. I do not like the character Athena, merely for the fact that she is being portrayed by the author as a woman who loves unconditionally and yet I see her as a selfish, ungrateful, immature mother and a lost creature. As for the other characters like Edda, Andrea and Ryan, they are merely puppets caught in this woman's sad tale of trying to find oneself through New Age philosophy and was never found.

And if you are going to quote one of the greatest poet of this lifetime (my favorite book and poet, The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran), please use it in the context of where I will feel the impact of such a love story otherwise it is an insult and a degradation of Kahlil Gibran's beautiful verses.(less)

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02/18/08

Stephanie rated it:

Read in March, 2008

Not what I thought it was going to be at all. To be honest, I thought the book was borderline creepy. Just that so many people could pledge themselves to a charismatic stranger, I find unnerving. I guess this work just addresses the quest that every human being makes during his or her lifetime to come in contact with spirituality; just in a weird, non-relatable way for me. All the characters just seemed so gullible. It's as though they were just all so spiritually lost, that they were grasp...more

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03/30/08

Matt rated it:

Read in March, 2008

recommends it for: no one.

This is not a novel -- it's a treatise. There is a character, Athena, that I never come to care about, and there is no plot. What IS there, you ask? Well, there's an explication of a belief system. That's it. That's what this is.

Most of the book is taken up in various people talking to each other in the kind of philosophical conversations that normal people almost never have. Whenever you see a chat starting, buckle up.

I couldn't have been more disappointed, as I li...more

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02/25/09

Joje rated it:

Read in February, 2009

I will put this into a category of fictionalized essay, if asked, where things are demonstrated through characters. The characters are all right, because deepened by the narrative method. If it had only been the journalist or Athena then I'd agree with those who place it in the preaching or treatise zone. I think I will again agree with the average of all the comments I skimmed on Goodreads. That it had me thinking about several things I had touched on in my thinking and considering them in new ...more

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03/22/08

Caroline rated it:

Read in March, 2008

recommends it for: few

Major disappointment. I've enjoyed Paulo Coelho's work before, but this is a very weak novel. I admit that I am easily creeped out by the kind of leaky spirituality that this book revolves around, but beyond that, the writing for female characters is god-awful and the mystic quest that the protagonist is on is laughable. The mystery of the compiler of all the separate accounts, once revealed, escaped being predictable by being stupid. A phoned-in, whimper of a book.

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01/03/09

jill rated it:

(review of isbn 0061338818)

bookshelves: found-on-a-plane

Read in January, 2009

Preachy new age-y bullshit, with a distinct undertone of "I'm idealizing feminine qualities, so I can't possibly be sexist" sexism. Seriously, one of his characters lists four female archetypes that women supposedly follow, and although he calls them the witch, the virgin, the martyr and the saint, it's just that quote about how all roles for actresses are hookers, victims or doormats, with "bitch" thrown in for variety. The use of various narrators is one of my favorite na...more

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01/16/09

Lynn rated it:

Read in January, 2009

I literally could not put this book down. While I'm a book lover and devour many books, I consider this one to be a very special treat.

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07/11/08

Jamie rated it:

Read in July, 2008

So different, and yet the same: this book appealed to me in the way of The Secret History, A Shadow of the Wind and a handful of others. Which is to say, I stayed up late reading it, I woke up early. I took actual lunch breaks and ate while reading while scribbling in my book, dog-earing pages and thinking of all the people I needed to give my copy to once I finished. Of course, I can't--it might make me blush for anyone to see the underlined passages in a fiction book, even if it is touching...more So different, and yet the same: this book appealed to me in the way of The Secret History, A Shadow of the Wind and a handful of others. Which is to say, I stayed up late reading it, I woke up early. I took actual lunch breaks and ate while reading while scribbling in my book, dog-earing pages and thinking of all the people I needed to give my copy to once I finished. Of course, I can't--it might make me blush for anyone to see the underlined passages in a fiction book, even if it is touching on religion, spirituality and self-awareness...
I read The Alchemist a few years ago, right before a move. Encouraging and well-timed, I remember walking about on a parking garage roof in the Soma talking to my Dad on the telephone, rehashing the plots and spoils of this novel. I loved it, the simplicity, the way it read with the disciplined, carefully spaced austerity of the Bible—it was a very satisfying, uplifting read. And, because it was a work of fiction, I could take it seriously. It provided, like a really complex wine or something akin, time to simply THINK it over.
Here was a book of fiction, yet with profound thoughts and complicated ideas BROCHING spirituality, a topic I certainly dwell on consistently, yet, despite my ability to talk rather incessantly, is rarely an issue I bring to the fore ground of any conversations. It’s too important and differently interpreted by too many people. And, it’s nice to know that even I can be discreet about something…
However, while the Alchemist was as uplifting and an ultimately helpful tool for me, giving strength and courage to be optimistic, personally spiritualized, etc.: it was, always, a book I liked and little more. I remembered it in a few job interviews, or when moving became particularly stressful, underlined a handful of passages for my boyfriend and suggested he read it (he didn’t). The way to succeed personally is to keep getting up. Good advice.
But The Witch of Portobello…was something different. Not since Wally Lamb’s She’s Come Undone, for one, have I been so impressed with a male ablity to write for the female brain. Paulo Coelho is fifty-nine years old, but I have to say, I have a bit of a crush. He marvels at women, their built-in-intuition and self-awareness. In fact, his adoration and respect for women, completely evident throughout this novel, truly made me proud to be one. I can’t remember ever feeling that way before—proud due to the interpretations of man. All to frequently it’s questions like, “are you on your period?” that nearly drive me to commit mass murder—the simple implication that my opinions are null and void to a serge in hormones? On the contarary, Coelho suggests what I’ve often thought: it’s precisely those differences that make women important, “witch-like” (used in the positive sense), intuitive, thoughtful. Coelho suggests this is the gift of The Mother, whatever God there is, etc.
Fiction or not, in a world bombarded with body image, terrible role models (for the love of god, is it THAT strange Angelina has so many kids? Didn’t Mia Farrow do it twenty years ago? How quickly we forget)—and, in lieu of this novel, I began to think, because it was implied—in a world full of so many distractions, perhaps this is directly accountable as a reason for our (women’s) confusion and lack of self-awareness?
This novel also plays mightily on the relationships of women (and women and men, women and mothers, women and children…etc.). One mentor relationship spawns between two women who “love one another” but do not like each other personally. The idea is incredible to me, one, because to admit I do not value someone is particularly difficult for me personally, and two, because it is so very “final.”
These testaments to not “liking” each other come from two very enlightened women—both are in a place to respect their opinions, rather than drag them around to the point of rot. They’ve already taken the time to contemplate everything about themselves; therefore, they can make personal choices much more quickly than the average.
And, through it all, Coelho manages to thread the historical sinews that keep me coming back for more, much like The Secret History. Athena, Gaia, Dionysus, ritual, dance, Saint Sarah de Kahli, Gypsies and Transylvania. He even manages to squeeze the Ukraine and radiation. Honestly, I can only speak from my personal interests, but I’m a huge sucker for historical accounts of…not even powerful women, but really admirable women. This novel really provided an alternative reality, because, I find that if you’re not overtly religious, we fall back on religions “fanaticism.” Joan of Arc can’t be blessed by God if I’m not totally sure there is a god, so she must just be nuts, Sylvia Plath’s life and work are over-shadowed by her death and the love “triangle” surrounding it…and so on and so forth. I didn’t really like the character of Athena that much—truth be told. Unable to completely remove me from me, I knew that she would grate on me, that if I knew her personally I would try to out speak her, shine her, charisma her—but God, wasn’t it nice to just, sit back and read about the hardships of someone else’s path to personal discover? Even if it is some one so…intense I might not want to pal around with them, but can just…use their example, even if fictional, as an opportunity to trust my instincts?
In short, this book was more than a book for me, even though I know that’s all it was—a work of fiction. But, for me, it meant something and provided example and structure, sort of a bit of a “teacher” and “protector” in the pages of a book.
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06/25/08

Amy McHugh rated it:

Read in June, 2008

Picked up this book at SFO before boarding my plane to Hawaii. Seemed like a total accident, given I had never heard of it and wasn't planning to buy it. But having read it, I acknowledge this as an example of the belief "there are no accidents."

From early childhood, I have been keenly aware of an accessible spiritual world, but lacked the encourgement or guidance to foster my ability to contact that world.

While the underlying message of this book is exploring t...more Picked up this book at SFO before boarding my plane to Hawaii. Seemed like a total accident, given I had never heard of it and wasn't planning to buy it. But having read it, I acknowledge this as an example of the belief "there are no accidents."

From early childhood, I have been keenly aware of an accessible spiritual world, but lacked the encourgement or guidance to foster my ability to contact that world.

While the underlying message of this book is exploring the answer to the question "What is Love?" (answer: Love IS.), I found the exploration of the feminine side of divinity, of God to be refreshing and timely in my own life. We have all heard stories of women in particular who possess "abilities." I call it intuition. But why can't we accept these things as natural and beautiful? And why can't we encourage girls and women to strenghten their abilities to serve mankind? And why does dogma seek to destroy the credibility of these gifts?

I have always had a very strong spiritual sense, rooted in the Catholic teachings, as this is how I was raised. I genuinely find comfort in the rituals of the religion, but find myself very at odds with the "Church" and it's doctrine as defined by mortal men over the centuries.

These rigid and exclusionary "rules" were written by men, many of whom were imperfect, fearful, vengeful, ruthless, dishonest, power-hungry, etc. I find so many of the "rules" to be in direct conflict with Jesus' teachings, with passages from the Bible (which we also must remember was a) written by mortal men to the best of their recollection and b) was assembled by a group of men later on who cherry-picked gospels to support the doctrine they personally crafted.)

But in general, we know Jesus was an amazing man who lived his life to include all people, not to exclude them. He generally traveled in the lowest of circles, reaching out to the poorest, sickest, most deranged souls in need of a lift up. Most of all, he never judged others. And I have found the Catholic Church and it's devoted followers to be some of the most judgemental people. Sad.

The Catholic Church has let me down, really let me down on several important ocassions. The last straw being when several Catholic churches/priests refused to marry me and my fiancee at my Mother's (devoted Catholic) bedside a few days before she passed away, their reason being that we had not completed the six-month marriage instruction (which by the way, was something constructed by the local arch diocese recently and is not something that was dictated by God)--the priests admitted a fear of backlash within their own hierarchy should our marriage ever be dissolved. Basically, they were afraid for their own personal position within the Church.

Here was a chance for the Church to do something really beautiful for my whole family, most especially my Mother, and they shut us out. Just like the people at the Inn who shut the door on Mary & Joseph when they needed a place to stay for Christ's birth. This is not a Church of love or compassion. It is a Church of fear, judgement, and exclusion.

We chose to marry in a Unitarian Church, one with a strong Gay following. Our priest was a memeber of the White Robed Monks of St. Benedict, a wonderful group of priests, many former Roman Catholic priests, who have decided to continue their ministry of the Old Dutch Cathlolic practices, while being able to marry and have families. Theirs is a ministry of inclusion. They do not discrimiate against anyone. They include everyone, as Jesus would. They offer Communion to all people, regardless of religion or status (e.g. have you had confession this week?). Our wedding could not have been truer to who we are. We crafted a ceremony with traditional Cathlolic rituals and prayers, but were also sure to include all of our friends of varying religions, backgrounds, and lifestyles. And I was thankful we didn't go down the typical path of lying about who we are(e.g. pre-marital sex, living with my fiancee, etc) to get married in a Church that believes these things to be sinful and unacceptable. Why would I want to be part of a Church who would judge me like that? Seems pretty hypocrtical to me. And while I am the first to admit I am a flawed and imperfect person, I have always been honest. About everything, and perhaps to a fault. But I don't lie. Ever.

I struggle with the disappointment and hurt I have felt at the hands of the Church. I don't know if I will ever be able to understand it and fully embrace the Church again. Yet I want my children baptized Catholic. I suppose I feel that eventually the Church will see the error of their ways.

I digress. Paulo Coelho has a similar perspective and that perspective is woven throughout his writing. I can't wait to read his other books. There is a lot of room for growth thinking about these things. I look forward to my evolution.

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03/11/08

Kartix rated it:

recommended to Kartix by: Goodreads

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

This is a story of a woman named Sherine Kali, an adopted daughter of Shamira Kali, who eventually known as, Athena. She was born from a gypsy woman in Transylvania, broght up by a Lebanese family which then, due to the country malaise fled to London. She was educated in a modern way but nevertheless she was very religious and always seek spiritual enlightment.

Married in the age of 19 and has a son named Viorel, Athena’s journey was told by others who came in contact with her, her ...more This is a story of a woman named Sherine Kali, an adopted daughter of Shamira Kali, who eventually known as, Athena. She was born from a gypsy woman in Transylvania, broght up by a Lebanese family which then, due to the country malaise fled to London. She was educated in a modern way but nevertheless she was very religious and always seek spiritual enlightment.

Married in the age of 19 and has a son named Viorel, Athena’s journey was told by others who came in contact with her, her adoptive mother, Shamira; her spiritual guru, Edda; her ex-husband, Lukas; her prodigy, Andrea; a reporter who is in love with her, Hernon, and those who is related to these characters.

What I love about this book is the way Cuelho told the story. We always see Athena from different naration, thus we know that we cannot be sure of who Athena is really like since these description is really depends on how each narrator perceive Athena. Therefore, as you read the book, you will also develop your own opinion about Athena.

She was never physically descibed in this book, except that she has gray eyes and beautiful breasts. We are allowed to build our own Athena throughout the story. I see Athena as a modern woman. She was in fact worked in a bank, then in real estate business (She actually handed her business card to the person who offered her the real estate job, it is very modern, is it? I know I did that in daily basis), she moves from various big cities around the world, she actually wealthy enough to have a bank account to support her and her son for 3 years, and as in my imagination, will have that sophisticated look of an exotic business woman.

I personally do not like the character Heron, since I believe that Athena deserves that Scotland Yard dude (which in the end proved to be existed in spite of Heron’s doubt, haha!). I find my self jeaolous of Athena’s adventure, her quest towards spiritual enlightment, and also the fact that she can have a month off from her work. I mean, who in these days have the luxuty of doing so?
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03/10/08

Amang Suramang rated it:

(review of isbn 0061338818)

bookshelves: world-literature

Read in April, 2008

recommends it for: those who seek the truth

I need a whole month to finish this amazing story about a Lebanese woman named herself Athena -- a name that she found better than her early name Sherine Khalil. The more time give me more time to understand about the New Ageism, the paganism, the spiritual movements in 1960 till 1970 just as a background knowledge to help me understand this novel.

Surely I agree with Athena (or Paulo Coelho himself), that in order to understand ourself, we should follow our own path. The path that is...more

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03/10/08

Matt rated it:

Read in March, 2008

recommends it for: magical/spiritual readers

Themes of supernatural witches have circulated since humans developed the ability of story telling. Paulo Coehlo’s recent novel ‘The Witch of Portobello’ carries on the tradition of a female entity in a modern story revolving around the character Sherine or Athena Khalil.
This Athena, the name she chose for herself after a saint, comes from mysterious origins, and traveled widely. One wealthy Lebanese married couple, who are unable to produce their own children, went to Transylvania...more Themes of supernatural witches have circulated since humans developed the ability of story telling. Paulo Coehlo’s recent novel ‘The Witch of Portobello’ carries on the tradition of a female entity in a modern story revolving around the character Sherine or Athena Khalil.
This Athena, the name she chose for herself after a saint, comes from mysterious origins, and traveled widely. One wealthy Lebanese married couple, who are unable to produce their own children, went to Transylvania in order to adopt a child. The woman, Samira Khalil, chooses a girl, and the adoptive agency tries to persuade her against her choice, stating the baby is illegitimate gypsy off spring, and therefore not to be trusted. Mrs. Khalil persists and they take the child back to Lebanon. As Athena grows the wars of Lebanon start, and the family moved to London. As a twenty year old single mother Athena, successful at her work, travels to Dubai, and then to Romania to seek her birth mother. She returns to London with her power.
This power of Athena was noticed as a child with her religious fever. Throughout the novel Athena’s spirituality grows. As a single mother she moves into an apartment, and notices the landlord’s loud music. At first complaining she goes to the landlord, and gets introduced to a dance ritual that connects the participants to their inner self. The landlord, who fled Poland during World War II, carried on this folklore, and became a teacher to a few. Athena took this knowledge and showed it to her co-workers at a bank. As a result productivity at her work increases immensely and she gets promoted. Her promotion takes her to Dubai. There she meets another teacher, this one of calligraphy and Islamic philosophy. This man shows Athena his art with the message of the blank spaces between words, and if you fill those spaces you know your personal meaning. Athena’s last teacher was her ‘protector’ that lived in Scotland, who showed her how to connect to ‘The Great Mother.’ Then about two thirds of the way through the novel, Athena goes from being taught to being the teacher.
Multiple narrations are the vehicle Coelho used for this novel. Athena had a huge effect on the journalist, Heron Ryan, and years after her apparent death he decides to compile her story. For this, he finds Athena’s adoptive mother, the landlord with his dance, Athena’s boss at the bank, the calligraphy teacher in Dubai, Athena’s mother in Romania, Athena’s protector, Athena’s pupil, and others. This journalist compiled statements from these characters about Athena. Another contemporary author, Louise Erdrich, uses multiple narratives in some of her novels as well. The effect can be gratifying for the reader. Imagine a popular sporting event watched nationwide, and ten separate viewers see the same thing but because of personal qualities experience it differently.
Through these multiple narratives the story climaxes to where Athena holds group heeling events that change everything. From a trance driven state that connects Athena to ‘The Great Mother’ she points to people in a crowd and tells of their ailments. One became aware of his cancer in time, and others became aware of their problems. This unorthodox approach enraged organized religion. Up to this point Athena continued to search to fill her blank spaces or void, and she does fill them which results in her being too powerful. Controversy ensues, death threats get made, and near the end her murder becomes news. Then in the final segment a new narrator states how she is alive and the murder staged which seems far fetched but clever enough because of the one making the statement.
As for my opinion on this novel, I enjoyed most of the ride. The writing is clear, early on a narrator makes a statement of the archetypes of supernatural women which are The Virgin, The Martyr, the Saint, and the Witch. Each type gets explained in one clear sentence or two, and the idea is conveyed acutely to the reader. All of the philosophy and religious references are stated in laymen terms, instead of convoluted. On the negative side, I hoped that Athena would be more evil, early it states of her murder, and this made me want to read some demonic content, but her intentions are too good.
Overall, I felt this was a strong novel and utterly different from ‘The Alchemist’ enticing me to read more of Coelho’s novels.
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