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The Spy

by Paulo Coelho (Goodreads Author), Zoë Perry (Translator)

3.38 · Rating Details · 13,303 Ratings · 1,444 Reviews

In his new novel, Paulo Coelho, best-selling author of The Alchemist and Adultery, brings to life one of history's most enigmatic women: Mata Hari.

HER ONLY CRIME WAS TO BE AN INDEPENDENT WOMAN

When Mata Hari arrived in Paris she was penniless. Within months she was the most celebrated woman in the city.

As a dancer, she shocked and delighted audiences; as a courtesan, she ...more

Hardcover, 208 pages

Published November 22nd 2016 by Knopf (first published September 2016)

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Dec 18, 2016 Natalie rated it really liked it

Shelves: diverse-reads, library

“I am a woman who was born at the wrong time and nothing can be done to fix this. I don’t know if the future will remember me, but if it does, may it never see me as a victim, but as someone who moved forward with courage, fearlessly paying the price she had to pay.”

I picked this one up randomly at the library at the very last second, after spending over half an hour looking for the perfect read. And I’m pleased to say that Paulo Coelho impressed me and then some.

The Spy has brilliant starting ...more

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Dec 06, 2016 Tonstant Weader rated it it was ok

Shelves: historical-novel

Mata Hari really deserves better than she has been getting in the literary department. First there was Mata Hari’s Last Dance by Michelle Moran that made her inexplicably obtuse and naive considering her accomplishments. Now Paulo Coelho gives us The Spy which seems to be nothing more than a contrivance for some New Age aphorisms. He sees her as someone who was an emancipated woman, that freedom was her crime, but ignores the reality that made her “free”.

The real Mata Hari is more interesting. M Mata Hari really deserves better than she has been getting in the literary department. First there was Mata Hari’s Last Dance by Michelle Moran that made her inexplicably obtuse and naive considering her accomplishments. Now Paulo Coelho gives us The Spy which seems to be nothing more than a contrivance for some New Age aphorisms. He sees her as someone who was an emancipated woman, that freedom was her crime, but ignores the reality that made her “free”.

The real Mata Hari is more interesting. Margaretha Zelle MacLeod was a brave woman who fled sexual abuse and rape by a school headmaster by marrying a man she met by answering an ad. She moved with her husband to Indonesia and discovered that she went from the frying pan to the fire.

He was an abusive man whose gave her syphilis and nearly killed her on more than one occasion. His syphilis likely infected their two children. Their son died, and their daughter, Non, survived. They alleged that a nanny poisoned the children, but historians think it was a cover story as no one was charged. They divorced and she got custody but he refused to pay child support and she eventually gave her daughter back to her ex-husband because he could afford to care for her. Coelho reveals the abuse and the cheating, but ignores that she tried many “respectable” careers for women, trying to support herself and her daughter, before becoming Mata Hari. She did not leave her daughter lightly or ever forget her. She wrote to his cousin confessing that she slept with men for money, “Don’t think that I’m bad at heart, I have done it only out of poverty.”

From this desperation, she forged a career as a dancer and as woman who slept with men for money and favors. Coelho presents her as a libertine, a free-love free spirit, emancipated. She was not. In reality, she wrote, “My own husband has given me a distaste for matters sexual such as I cannot forget,” That of course is not in this book because it contradicts his story of a free woman. Reality was more complicated, a woman who did not so much choose her profession as accept it, and once accepting it, pursued it to the heights of fame and celebrity. To me it seems that using men for fame, wealth, and power came from rage at how they had used her, not vanity and greed. If greed were her motivation, she would not have tried many other occupations first.

It’s been ninety-nine years since Mata Hari was executed. As confidential documents have been declassified, the evidence make clear she was innocent, convicted as a scapegoat for military failures. World War I was a bloodbath, a war of attrition that slaughtered 60% of the men of a generation. Those who made the decisions could not pay, but a foreigner, a prostitute, a nude dancer, she could pay, and pay with her life. Her story is dramatic and oh-so-very moral. A woman transgresses and climbs high but then is brought low, punished for her transgressions, punished for being independent and greedy and vain and for sleeping around. The story of Mata Hari is pure slut-shaming.

Unless the story is real and tells the truth about where she came from, what her motivations were, and how determinedly she dragged herself up from poverty and desperation. Coelho does not do that at all. He makes it sound like she did it easily, she goes to Paris, meets the right people and she’s rich. She never misses her daughter or agonizes over her loss. She’s shallow and stupid, meeting Freud and Stravinsky and others and forgetting their first names, a name dropper who can’t remember the name…pathetic.

With her recently released letters that reveal her own thoughts about her career and her daughter, it seems inexcusable to me that she is still presented as a sexual libertine seeking fame and money, rather than the far more nuanced and complicated woman she really was. Worse, to have her struggle exploited as a vehicle for pabulum like “when we don’t know where life is taking us, we are never lost” or “an artist who desires very little and achieves it has failed in life”

Part One of the book is a letter written by Mata Hari to her lawyer and it does not feel authentic, but it is tolerable next to the histrionic letter written by her lawyer that makes up Part Two. It was only because the book is short, closer to a novella than a novel, and I was so close to finishing, that I kept reading through Part Two. Consider this gem when speaking of the injustice of her fate, “it will continue to happen until the end of time, or until man finds out he is not only what he thinks, but mostly what he feels. The body tires easily, but the spirit is always free and will help us get out, one day, from this infernal cycle of repeating the same mistakes every generation.”

I don’t recommend this book. It’s an inauthentic story by a writer who prefers to push his own philosophy rather than seek the real woman hiding behind the myth. It seems unjust that this woman who was abused her school, her husband, many men and her adopted country, used and betrayed and executed as a scapegoat continues to be exploited and abused by writers who deny her complexity and the very real grit and courage she had.

https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpre... ...more

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Mar 21, 2017 Ninoska Goris rated it did not like it

Shelves: leido-2017

Uno de mis libros favoritos de todos los tiempos es de Paulo Coelho, El Zahir. Por lo regular disfruto mucho de sus libros aunque no son de mis géneros favoritos y este libro sonaba muy interesante.

Estaba impaciente por leerlo y........no pude quedar más desilusionada: el libro es aburrido a más no poder; el que debió ser un personaje interesante es retratado aquí como una mujer interesada, superficial, mentirosa y egoísta con quien no conecté; y, aunque el libro es muy corto, me tomó mucho tie ...more

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Jan 08, 2017 Abrar Hani rated it did not like it · review of another edition

انا غالباً لا اضع توقعات لروايات كويلو فبعد تسع قراءات له اصبحت ادرك تماماً اين ستسير رواياته وكيف ستنتهي فهي غالباً تُختم بسعادةٍ وسلام بعد أن يدس كويلو خلالها كل ما يملك من نصائح ومواعظ ومحاولات مملة لرفع الروح المعنوية للقارئ .

مشكلتي مع كويلو ليست في روحانياته او تفاؤله المبالغ به ، مشكلتي مع النمطية التي تسود على رواياته ، وتكراره لنفسه في كل رواية وكأنه يعجز عن الخروج من الدائرة التي حصر نفسه بها لتبدو رواياته وكأنها منسوخة من بعضها رغم اختلاف الفكرة الاساسية .

لكن هذه المرة وضعت افكاراً مسب انا غالباً لا اضع توقعات لروايات كويلو فبعد تسع قراءات له اصبحت ادرك تماماً اين ستسير رواياته وكيف ستنتهي فهي غالباً تُختم بسعادةٍ وسلام بعد أن يدس كويلو خلالها كل ما يملك من نصائح ومواعظ ومحاولات مملة لرفع الروح المعنوية للقارئ .

مشكلتي مع كويلو ليست في روحانياته او تفاؤله المبالغ به ، مشكلتي مع النمطية التي تسود على رواياته ، وتكراره لنفسه في كل رواية وكأنه يعجز عن الخروج من الدائرة التي حصر نفسه بها لتبدو رواياته وكأنها منسوخة من بعضها رغم اختلاف الفكرة الاساسية .

لكن هذه المرة وضعت افكاراً مسبقة عن الرواية كونها مقتبسة من قصة حقيقة عن حياة الجاسوسة (ماتا هاري) وظننت أنني سأقرا عملاً بمستوى 11 دقيقة لكن للأسف بدا لي مختصر الويكيبيديا عن ماتا اكثر امتاعاً من الرواية نفسها .
الرواية ضعيفة وبلا تشويق ولا ادري ربما حياة ماتا اصلاً لا تحوي ذلك التشويق الذي قد يجعل القارئ يتعلق بقصتها ، او ربما من الافضل قراءة مقال او مشاهدة فيلم بدلاً من التعرف عليها من رواية .

لفت نظري أن معظم الروايات التي قرأتها لكويلو كانت الشخصية الرئيسية فيها امرأة ولهذا اظن أنه بحاجة ان يظهر نفسه بوجهٍ آخر لأنني اعتقد انه استنزف كل اوجه النساء اللاتي هو قادر على تصويرهن ..
ماريا ، فيرونيكا ، شانتال ، بريدا ، ليندا وحتى ماتا يبدين متشابهات بشكل او بآخر رغم اختلاف مصائرهن ، جميعهن يبحثن عن الحياة في المكان الخطأ وبالطريقة الخطأ .

اخيراً ارجو من الله ان يشفيني من لعنة القراءة لكويلو رغم أعترافي بضعف رواياته .
(يعني 10 روايات وما تجوزين منه يا ابرار -_-) ...more

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Nov 30, 2016 Jennifer rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, stand-alone-novel, retelling-reimagining, listened-to-audiobook, read-2016, translated

Mata Hari...was she a spy or wasn't she? Did she serve as a double agent for Germany and France throughout World War I or did a malicious allegation with zero evidence destroy her life? In this re-imagining based on nonfiction accounts, author Paulo Coelho says no. Her only crime was her choice to be an independent woman, exposing the world to feminism for the very first time, and for that she lost her life by firing squad.

As Mata Hari waited for execution, one of her last requests was for a pen and paper to write letters. Over the past two decades, Germany, Holland, and the U.K.’s MI5 released their files on Mata Hari which provided tons of insight and information into her life. Mr. Coelho combined information from these letters, a researched timeline, along with creative liberties to write a first-person account of Mata Hari's life starting from about age sixteen.

I loved Mr. Coelho's summarized portrayal of this amazing woman. I wish this novel was longer because I wanted to know her much more. However, I highly respect that Mr. Coelho didn't just make stuff up to fill the pages. I'd like to think that The Spy is as fact-based as possible and if the book feels too short it's because you can't write what you don't know. Fairly recently, I read another re-imagining about nonfiction characters where the opposite was done and I have lost all respect for that particular author. The Spy is the first book I have ever read by Paulo Coelho and I look forward to exploring his other work. But most importantly, I look forward to doing my own research about the amazing Mata Hari. If you enjoy stories about strong women who push the boundaries for our gender, then do some research for yourself...and consider checking out The Spy!

My favorite quote:
"The Greeks have a word full of contradictory meanings: metanoia. Sometimes it means repentance, contrition, confession of sins, the promise not to repeat what we did wrong. At other times it means going beyond what we know to stand face to face with the unknown without recollection or memory, without understanding how it will be to take the next step. We are bound to our lives, to our pasts, to the laws of what we consider right or wrong, and suddenly everything changes. We walk the street without fear and greet out neighbors. But moments later they are no longer our neighbors. They put up fences and barbed wire so we can no longer see things as they were before. So it will be with me. With the Germans. With men who decided to find it easier to let an innocent woman die than to recognize their own mistakes. It is a shame that what happens today already happened yesterday and will happen again tomorrow. It will continue to happen until the end of time or until man finds out he is not only what he things but mostly what he feels. The body tires easily but the spirit is always free and will help us get out one day from this infernal cycle of repeating the same mistakes every generation. Although thoughts always remain the same, there is something stronger, and this is called love." ...more

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Feb 23, 2017 Obied Alahmed rated it it was ok · review of another edition

لا بأس .. ولكن من يقرأ الخيميائي أولا لا يستمتع بالجاسوسة

مع أنهما لباولو كويللو إلا أن الفرق واضح بين المزاجين

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Jan 29, 2017 Hussain Hamadi rated it did not like it · review of another edition

رواية مخيبة للامال وكثيرة الفوضوية في الاحداث تجعلك تتمنى الانتهاء منها ولو لم أكن قد أعلنت بأنني ساقراءها لتركتها جانبا منذ لحضة ما قرأت سطرا او سطرين منها

عندما يقوم باولو بتمجيدالعهر لا تتوقع ان تقرا شيء يستحق ان يذكر

مراجعة الرواية عند الدقيقة 6:55 في الرابط

https://youtu.be/kVTEHz4itmw

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Dec 13, 2016 Rebbie rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2016

This book reminds me that I shouldn't read historical fiction novels that are based on specific people, rather than a general time period. I'm too critical, and no doubt I expect too much from authors who are brave enough to take on the daunting task of getting inside another person's mind.

I'm of the belief that if you dare to feel that you have the insight into someone else's inner workings and what makes them tick, you better make damn sure that your instinct of human nature is sharp and on po This book reminds me that I shouldn't read historical fiction novels that are based on specific people, rather than a general time period. I'm too critical, and no doubt I expect too much from authors who are brave enough to take on the daunting task of getting inside another person's mind.

I'm of the belief that if you dare to feel that you have the insight into someone else's inner workings and what makes them tick, you better make damn sure that your instinct of human nature is sharp and on point. Otherwise, you have exactly what happened with this story.

Coelho allowed his personal political feelings of feminism to cast a shadow over the book, which undermines the integrity of Mata Hari's true story. Regardless of how he feels, a modicum of extra research would have enlightened him to the fact that Mata Hari was a prostitute out of sheer necessity; it was either that or starve to death.

It was NOT to explore some raging undercurrent of sexual desire that she felt entitled to explore at the expense of her daughter's safety. How Coelho fails to see how this would actually make MH seem less sympathetic truly boggles the mind.

She also didn't leave her daughter with a violently abusive man so easily, especially to chase some pipe dream (at the time) of female liberation and equality. These very specific frame of thoughts were not actively investigated with such gusto until decades later, when women had the emotional support of other women, just so they could avoid the exact situation MH was in: prostitution, because there were precious few other choices for a woman.

To think otherwise is nothing more than a slap in the face to all of the women and children who have been adversely effected by the lack of options for women to leave an abusive husband, and earn the income it takes to provide for their children well enough to escape severe poverty.

And that's why I gave it 2 stars, even though it was painful for me to do so. His heart might have been in the right place, but his agenda should've been left out of this story. This is the wrong platform to use for it, especially as it does not apply here. However, I do love Paulo Coelho, and I look forward to reading more of his books.

...more

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Nov 19, 2016 Aditi rated it liked it

Shelves: my-reviews, historical-fiction, penguin-books, france, family, friends, paris, biograpghy, germany

“Death is nothing, nor life either, for that matter. To die, to sleep, to pass into nothingness, what does it matter? Everything is an illusion.”

----Mata Hari

Paulo Coelho, the international bestselling author, pens a gripping and part fictional tale on the life of a legendary dancer cum falsely accused as a spy, Mata Hari in his new novel, The Spy that opens with the execution of this exotic and talented dancer by the French, but then the author spins a riveting autobiographical account of th ...more

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Dec 01, 2016 Lina Ahmad rated it liked it · review of another edition

لا شيء جديد في ادب باولو ! العاهرة الشريفة
ها هو باولو من جديد يحول مفهوم الزنا والعهر الى مهنة الشرف ، أشياء بنظره تستحق الاحترام وما وراء اللجوء الى هذا العالم الكثير من الجرأة والثقة .

احداث الرواية حقيقية ، فتدور خلال الحرب العالمية الاولى ببطلتها (ماتا هاري) ، جل ما فعلته في حياتها كان عبارة عن هز جسدها بفظاعة والتعري من دون لمسة فن واحد أو ايحاء!
هي مجرد امراة فاتنة وجميلة تتعرى في العلن تحت ذريعة فنية ما لم افهمها . بحق السماء يا باولو اين الفن بهذا ؟

أعدمت ماتا هاري رميا بالرصاص ، فاتهمت باس ...more

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Jan 18, 2017 Terri Jacobson rated it liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction

This short novel by Paul Coelho tells the story of the famous spy, Mata Hari. It opens with her execution by firing squad and then she tells what happened via a letter written to the man who defended her. The book has interesting ideas, particularly in questioning how much of what happened to her was because she was a strong and independent woman. But the story left me wanting more. I never felt a true emotional connection to Mata Hari. The book has piqued my interest in her, and I may pursue a ...more

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Sep 16, 2016 Maria rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: own, leituras-2016, romance-hist-rico-poca, paulo-coelho

Opinião em breve no blogue

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Mar 19, 2017 Jill Croce-McGill rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction

HER ONLY CRIME WAS TO BE AN INDEPENDENT WOMAN

Margaretha Zelle, aka Mata Hari, was a famous "exotic" dancer who shocked and dazzled audiences; as a prostitute, she entertained the most richest and powerful men.

But unfortunately this lifestyle also brought her under suspicion. In 1917, Mata Hari was arrested in Paris, and accused of espionage. She then was put on trial and executed for treason, and in all likelihood was innocent.

Mata Hari would be considered a feminist hero in today's world, a wo ...more

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Mar 03, 2017 Terri rated it liked it

Shelves: bio-general, french-setting, tales-spies, bio-spies

I was disappointed in this book considering that the Brazilian author is Paulo Coelho, which is why I wanted to read it. My knowledge of the dancer and famous spy, Mati Hari, is still scarce after reading the book. I felt that the author "phoned it in" and it felt superficial and thin. Mati Hari was a Dutch exotic dancer and mistress to powerful men (both French and German) who was convicted of being a spy for the Germans in World War 1. She was found guilty and shot to death by a firing squad ...more

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Jan 05, 2017 غزل أدم rated it did not like it · review of another edition

اللقاء الثالث مع باولو كويلو ويبدو أنه سيكون الأخير
فالقاء الثانى كان عام 2015 لذا شاءت الصدفة أن يكون
اللقاء الثالث عام 2017 مع ماتا هارى الذى سيشهد هذا العام الذكرى 100 على أعدامها
وبالحديث عن الرواية فكانت أشبه بمجموعة مقالات بقلم ماتا هارى فى أول جزئين
ومحاميها فى الجزء الأخير فالشخصيات والأماكن والحبكة فى الرواية باهتة مع وجود قفزات هائلة تجعلك تشعر أنك تقرأ ملخص

الأمر الثانى هو معاناة باولو كاويلو من خلط واضح بين المصطلحات فمفهوما الحرية
والأستقلال ليس لهما أى علاقة بالتدنى الأخلاقى والعرى بال ...more

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Nov 17, 2016 Louise Wilson rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Mata Hari was penniless when she arrived in Paris. Soon she is one of the most elegant women in the city.

Paranoia consumed a country at war and Mata Hari's lifestyle comes under suspicion. in 1917 she was arrested and accused of espionage.

The book is told from Mata Hari's final letter. A woman who dared to break the conventions of her time and paid the price for it. Even facing the firing squad she never lost her dignity.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Random House UK, Cornerstone and the autho ...more

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Jun 19, 2017 Pechi rated it liked it

With this quick evening read, I acquaint myself with Paulo Coelho.

Coelho being one of the most popular authors alive and his books selling in millions, I was a bit skeptical while approaching this book. But all the skepticism evaporated as soon as I began reading the first chapter. All popular books needn't necessarily be bad! Lesson learnt.

Clear prose with interwoven philosophies dictates the life of Mata Hari - who turns out not to be a spy at all but a rather free-spirited woman born a cent ...more

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Jan 01, 2017 Elena rated it it was amazing

4.5

My goal for 2017: Read all of his books.

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Nov 29, 2016 Jderu Marius rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Mi-a placut, dar este scrisa superficial. Este a doua carte de Coelho dupa Alchimistul pe care o citesc. Mi-au atras atentia cateva citate pe care vreau sa le mentionez aici: "oare nu vom putea vedea niciodata chipul iubirii? ... iubirea este un act de credinta fata de altcineva, iar chipul ei trebuie sa fie intotdeauna acoperit de mister. Fiecare moment trebuie trait cu pasiune si emotie, fiindca, daca incercam sa-l descifram si sa-l intelegem, magia dispare. Urmam caile sinuoase si luminoase a ...more

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Dec 17, 2016 Husain Ismaeel rated it liked it · review of another edition

باولو من الكتاب المفضلين لدي بل هو من جعلني أقبل على قراءة الروايات ومنه بدأت قراءة الروايات وكل رواياته محببة لدي لكن هذه الرواية الأخيرة له لم تأت بالإبداع المتوقع منه إذ هو لجأ إلى قصة حقيقية حدثت في الزمن الغابر وأضاف لها نكهاته ولفتاته لكني لم أعجب بالرواية كعمل فني بقدر اهتمامي بقصة بطلة الرواية لذلك أعطيته ثلاثة من خمسة نجوم

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Jan 11, 2017 Zãhrãã rated it did not like it · review of another edition

رواية مملة جدا
تكاد تكون اسوء ماكتب كويلو

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Nov 16, 2016 Tonkica rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: moja-polica-pročitano

Voljela bih vise detalja u svim aspektima price. No, sigurno cu potraziti jos koju knjigu koja govori o glavnoj junakinji.

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Apr 18, 2017 শুভঙ্কর শুভ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

পাওলো কোয়েলহোর লেখা ধরন কাবযিক। সেদিক থেকে দয সপাই বইটা একটু ভিনন। তবে লেখনীতে ঠিকই কাবযিকতার ছুঁয়া ছিল। বইটা যাকে নিয়ে লেখা সে আর কেউ নয়, পরথম বিশবযুদধের এক আলোচিত নারী- মাতা হারি। নগন পায়ে পযারিসের পথে হাটা, তারপর রাতারাতি আলোচিত হয়ে ওঠা।

নৃতযশৈলীর জাদুময়তায় জয় করে নেয় আপামর দরশক-শরোতার মন; আবার বারবনিতা রুপে বশ করে নেয় সমাজের সবচাইতে কষমতাধর বিততশালীদের হৃদয়ও।

যুদধ-বিদধসথ দেশে চারদিকে চাপা আতঙক বিরাজমান। এমন এক সময়ে মাতা হারির জাঁকজমকপূরণ জীবন সবার চোখে সনদেহের কারণ হয়ে দাঁড়ায়। ১৯১৭ সালে, গুপতচ পাওলো কোয়েলহোর লেখা ধরন কাব্যিক। সেদিক থেকে দ্য স্পাই বইটা একটু ভিন্ন। তবে লেখনীতে ঠিকই কাব্যিকতার ছুঁয়া ছিল। বইটা যাকে নিয়ে লেখা সে আর কেউ নয়, প্রথম বিশ্বযুদ্ধের এক আলোচিত নারী- মাতা হারি। নগ্ন পায়ে প্যারিসের পথে হাটা, তারপর রাতারাতি আলোচিত হয়ে ওঠা।

নৃত্যশৈলীর জাদুময়তায় জয় করে নেয় আপামর দর্শক-শ্রোতার মন; আবার বারবনিতা রুপে বশ করে নেয় সমাজের সবচাইতে ক্ষমতাধর বিত্তশালীদের হৃদয়ও।

যুদ্ধ-বিদ্ধস্থ দেশে চারদিকে চাপা আতঙ্ক বিরাজমান। এমন এক সময়ে মাতা হারির জাঁকজমকপূর্ণ জীবন সবার চোখে সন্দেহের কারণ হয়ে দাঁড়ায়। ১৯১৭ সালে, গুপ্তচরবৃত্তির অভিযোগে তারই হোটেল রুম থেকে গ্রেফতার করা হয় মাতা হারিকে।

কিন্তু আদৌতেও কি সে গুপ্তচর ছিল কিনা সেটা এখন শুধুই ইতিহাসের কাঁটা ঘুড়ির মতো হাওয়ায় ভাসা একটা প্রশ্ন হয়ে দাঁড়িয়েছে। হয়তো পুরুষ শাসিত সমাজে একজন নারীর স্বাধীনচেতা হয়ে চলাফেরা করাটাই তার জন্য কাল হয়ে দাঁড়িয়েছিল। হয়তোবা তাই-ই, এমনটা তো এখনও দেখা যায়।

লেখক সত্যকে তার কল্পনার সাথে মিশিয়ে তৈরি করেছেন এক অনবদ্য কাহিনী। পাঠক হারিয়ে যাবে এর গহীনে। যেমনটা আমি হারিয়েছিলাম। তবে একটা দিক, মাতা হারির ওই সময়ের বর্তমানটা যেমন তুলে ধরেছেন তেমনটা তার অতীত নিয়ে স্পষ্ট কিছু নেই। এটাই একটু কমতি লেগেছে। আর চাইলেই বইটা হয়ত আরেকটু বড় করা যেত এই ঘাটতিটা কমিয়ে।

অনুবাদ নিয়ে কিছু বলার নেই। ছোট বলে পড়ি পড়ি করেও পড়া হয় নাই। আজ এক বসায় শেষ। কোয়েলহোর কাব্যিক লেখনীর আবেশ চমৎকার ভাবে ফুটিয়ে তুলেছেন। অনুবাদকের প্রতি প্রীতি রইল। ...more

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Mar 06, 2017 সালমান হক rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: bangla, 2017-reads

শাহরুখ খানের মুখে পাওলো কোয়েলহো এর এই বইটা ধরে রাখতে দেখে আগরহ হয়েছিল ভীষণ। খোঁজ নিয়ে জানতে পারি, ওলনদাজ নরতকী / গুপতচর(?) মাতা হারি'র জীবন নিয়ে রচিত এই উপনযাস। এর আগে কখনো মাতা হারির নাম শুনিনি, কিনতু গুগল করে যতটুকু জানলাম বেশ ইনটেরেসটিং মনে হয়েছিল।
অনেকখানি রিসারচ আর কিছুটা কলপনাশকতির মিশেলে রচিত হয়েছে "দয সপাই"। মাতা হারির জীবনের নাটকীয় উতথান পতনের গলপই লেখক বুনেছেন কাবযিক ঢঙে। কিনতু বইটা শেষ করে জানার আগরহটা মিটলো না, মনে হলো বরফ চূড়ার কেবল ওপর ওপর দিয়েই হেঁটে গেলেন লেখক। মাতা হারির কযারেক শাহরুখ খানের মুখে পাওলো কোয়েলহো এর এই বইটা ধরে রাখতে দেখে আগ্রহ হয়েছিল ভীষণ। খোঁজ নিয়ে জানতে পারি, ওলন্দাজ নর্তকী / গুপ্তচর(?) মাতা হারি'র জীবন নিয়ে রচিত এই উপন্যাস। এর আগে কখনো মাতা হারির নাম শুনিনি, কিন্তু গুগল করে যতটুকু জানলাম বেশ ইন্টেরেস্টিং মনে হয়েছিল।
অনেকখানি রিসার্চ আর কিছুটা কল্পনাশক্তির মিশেলে রচিত হয়েছে "দ্য স্পাই"। মাতা হারির জীবনের নাটকীয় উত্থান পতনের গল্পই লেখক বুনেছেন কাব্যিক ঢঙে। কিন্তু বইটা শেষ করে জানার আগ্রহটা মিটলো না, মনে হলো বরফ চূড়ার কেবল ওপর ওপর দিয়েই হেঁটে গেলেন লেখক। মাতা হারির ক্যারেক্টার ডেভেলপমেন্টও একটু হতাশাজনক, পাঠকদের কাছ থেকে কেমন যেন একটা দূরত্ব বজায় ছিল সবসময়। জানি না, এমনটাই চেয়েছিলেন কিনা লেখক, কিন্তু মিশতে পারিনি। তবে শেষ করার পর একটা আবেশ ধরে রেখেছিল বেশ খানিকটা সময়।
এবার আসি অনুবাদ প্রসংগে, এক কথায়- দুর্দান্ত। এর চেয়ে বেটার হতে পারতো না, রাফি ভাইকে সাধুবাদ জানাই। এরকম ভাষাশৈলীর একটা বইকে উপযুক্ত কাব্যিকতা আর গাম্ভীর্য বজায় রেখে অনুবাদ চাট্টিখানি কথা নয়। দারুণ! ...more

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Feb 23, 2017 Alison rated it really liked it

4.5 STARS.
Now this, this is a feminist type read I can get behind. Based on true events and a very much real woman (who I am most definitely going to be researching further), this was an incredible read about a woman who did what she wanted with her body and strived for a different life and was essential executed because of it. It's more complicated than that, and this is from her letter in jail, but I was intrigued and enlightened and would highly recommend this.

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Nov 16, 2016 Dahiana rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Antes que todo, he de reconocer que esperaba este libro con ansias, para cuando me preguntaran qué estaba leyendo, responder con mucho carácter, LA ESPIA DE COELHO. ** INSERTAR AQUÍ CLOSE UP DE MIRADA DE MARIA PAULA EN LAZOS DE AMOR***.

La gran esperanza era que este libro fuese bueno o disfrutable. Lo mejor que puedo decir es que, fue corto.

Mata Hari pertenece a ese universo en el que habitan las leyendas, ése en el que mucha gente no sabe en detalle qué realmente pasó, lo que sí saben, es que ...more

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Jan 22, 2017 Paloma rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: best-sellers, suspenso, owned, reading-challenge-2017, reviewed-reseñados

Bueno, puedo ser juzgada por leer a Cohelo, pero sí hay algo que he aprendido es que en gustos se rompen géneros, ¿o no? Pues bien, recibí este libro como regalo, y si bien el escritor brasileño no es mi favorito, por el tema decidí darle una oportunidad, amen que necesitaba una lectura muuuy muuuy light. Y bueno, la realidad es que la cosa no funcionó: la historia es muy débil y los personajes muy superficialies. ¡Estamos hablando de Mata Hari, por Dios! Tanto de dónde sacar material, sentimien ...more

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Jan 30, 2017 Fuad Fidah rated it really liked it

the benefit of translation, one day is enough to finish the whole book :)

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Apr 19, 2017 Sayed Jawad Al Aali rated it really liked it · review of another edition

بعد قرائتي لروايته الشهيرة "الخيميائي"، حفزني باولو كوليو لأقرأ له أكثر، ووقع الاختيار هذه المرة على "الجاسوسة"، ضمن قراءة جماعية.

يعجبني كثيراً أسلوب كوليو السردي، أسلوب خفيف على المتلقي، وعميق في الوقت ذاته.
كانت الرواية بمثابة سيرة ذاتية لـ"الجاسوسة" "ماتا هاري" أو "مارجاريتا جِرترودا"، في موقع الدفاع عنها، وكيف أنها كانت أضحية حين كان الفرنسيون بحاجة "لأضحية" في زمن الحرب.
كانت الرواية على شكل رسائل، الأولى من "ماتا" والثانية من محاميها، كانتا بمثابة دليلاً قاطعاً على البراءة من "الجاسوسية".

وكع بعد قرائتي لروايته الشهيرة "الخيميائي"، حفزني باولو كوليو لأقرأ له أكثر، ووقع الاختيار هذه المرة على "الجاسوسة"، ضمن قراءة جماعية.

يعجبني كثيراً أسلوب كوليو السردي، أسلوب خفيف على المتلقي، وعميق في الوقت ذاته.
كانت الرواية بمثابة سيرة ذاتية لـ"الجاسوسة" "ماتا هاري" أو "مارجاريتا جِرترودا"، في موقع الدفاع عنها، وكيف أنها كانت أضحية حين كان الفرنسيون بحاجة "لأضحية" في زمن الحرب.
كانت الرواية على شكل رسائل، الأولى من "ماتا" والثانية من محاميها، كانتا بمثابة دليلاً قاطعاً على البراءة من "الجاسوسية".

وكعادة باولو كوليو، في أكثر المواضع بساطة، يتجلى عمق عميق، الكثير من الحكمة والمضامين الدينية، وكأنها من سماته المميزة له، التي تدل عليه كلما قرأت له نصاً.

لم تكن الرواية بجودة "الخيميائي"، لكنها لم تكن سيئة، وفتحت الضوء على شخصية جدلية، رافقها من الولادة وحتى الإعدام.

كيف بدأت معاناة الجسد في المدرسة، وكيف أصبح المنفى مهرباً عبر بوابة الزواج من جندي هولندي يعيش في المستعمرات الهولندية في آسيا، وتحديداً أندنوسيا، وكيف أصبح النعيم المفترض جحيماً، العودة لهولندا ثم التحول الكبير بالذهاب إلى باريس، حيث سطعت النجمة، التي كانت بجمالها الجذاب محط كل العيون، بدأت تحصد الرجال، من كل المواقع والمناصب، جنت آموالاً وعاشت حياة البذخ، وصولاً للنكسة بالذهاب لبرلين، بداية النهاية، من هنا خُطّ قدرها المحتم، "الجاسوسية" والطريق لمرمى "الإعدام". ...more

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Dec 04, 2016 Richard rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I was fortunate to read "Mata Hari: The Controversial Life and Legacy of World War I's Most Famous Spy" by Charles River Editors, a title almost as long as the book. It gave me a thorough review of a woman everyone feels they know.
I was therefore excited to get the chance to read "the Spy by the accomplished author Paulo Coelho. I was delighted with this book that seeks to tell the story from Mata Hari's point of view and later with an apology from her counsel. It is clear that even all these y I was fortunate to read "Mata Hari: The Controversial Life and Legacy of World War I's Most Famous Spy" by Charles River Editors, a title almost as long as the book. It gave me a thorough review of a woman everyone feels they know.
I was therefore excited to get the chance to read "the Spy by the accomplished author Paulo Coelho. I was delighted with this book that seeks to tell the story from Mata Hari's point of view and later with an apology from her counsel. It is clear that even all these years after the event she is deemed a spy when the book raises so many issues.
I liked the idea that she was a woman out of her time; I thought it was interesting to read of some of the famous people she met and the comparison with the treatment of Oscar Wilde. It seems shocking to believe he has been revised justifiably in modern times but a woman who sought pleasure and fame is still seen in a notorious light.
There is something to be said that at a time when the war was going so badly for the French her arrest, trial and execution were a distraction. Certainly more recent conspiracy theories can accept a political explanation. It would be good if some statement were made to acknowledge the lack of evidence within the next couple of years before the 100th anniversary of her death sentence.
The story is so worth reading from a social and historical perspective. As a woman Mata Hari had few options other than a life of toil and drudgery due to family debt that scuppered her ambition. the impact of her treatment in terms of sexual abuse can not be discounted either in forging the person she became. In re-inventing herself she tapped into the freedoms associated with this period of history and became more than a husband's wife. In a different time she may have been a courtesan but her sexual freedom and exploitation of men were insufficient to be accused and left to die.
A stimulating read; not racy and with sexual content but a honest reflection of a imperfect woman beautifully reworked in the imagings of a great writer but based on facts and to my mind a nation's disgrace. Unfortunately her life was untimely ended when countless young men were being slaughtered daily. ...more

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About Paulo Coelho

The Brazilian author PAULO COELHO was born in 1947 in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Before dedicating his life completely to literature, he worked as theatre director and actor, lyricist and journalist. In 1986, PAULO COELHO did the pilgrimage to Saint James of Compostella, an experience later to be documented in his book The Pilgrimage. In the following year, COELHO published The Alchemist. Slow in The Brazilian author PAULO COELHO was born in 1947 in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Before dedicating his life completely to literature, he worked as theatre director and actor, lyricist and journalist. In 1986, PAULO COELHO did the pilgrimage to Saint James of Compostella, an experience later to be documented in his book The Pilgrimage. In the following year, COELHO published The Alchemist. Slow initial sales convinced his first publisher to drop the novel, but it went on to become one of the best selling Brazilian books of all time. Other titles include Brida (1990), The Valkyries (1992), By the river Piedra I sat Down and Wept (1994), the collection of his best columns published in the Brazilian newspaper Folha de São Paulo entitle Maktub (1994), the compilation of texts Phrases (1995), The Fifth Mountain (1996), Manual of a Warrior of Light (1997), Veronika decides to die (1998), The Devil and Miss Prym (2000), the compilation of traditional tales in Stories for parents, children and grandchildren (2001), Eleven Minutes (2003), The Zahir (2005), The Witch of Portobello (2006) and Winner Stands Alone (to be released in 2009). During the months of March, April, May and June 2006, Paulo Coelho traveled to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his pilgrimage to Saint James of Compostella in 1986. He also held surprise book signings - announced one day in advance - in some cities along the way, to have a chance to meet his readers. In ninety days of pilgrimage the author traveled around the globe and took the famous Transiberrian train that took him to Vladivostok. During this experience Paulo Coelho launched his blog Walking the Path - The Pilgrimage in order to share with his readers his impressions. Since this first blog Paulo Coelho has expanded his presence in the internet with his daily blogs in Wordpress, Myspace & Facebook. He is equally present in media sharing sites such as Youtube and Flickr, offering on a regular basis not only texts but also videos and pictures to his readers. From this intensive interest and use of the Internet sprang his bold new project: The Experimental Witch where he invites his readers to adapt to the screen his book The Witch of Portobello. Indeed Paulo Coelho is a firm believer of Internet as a new media and is the first Best-selling author to actively support online free distribution of his work. ...more

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Quotes from The Spy

“Love is an act of faith & its face should always be covered in mystery. Every moment should be lived with feeling & emotion because if we try to decipher it & understand it, the magic disappears.” — 23 likes

“These seeds will always be tulips, even if at the moment you cannot tell them apart from other flowers. They will never turn into roses or sunflowers, no matter how much they might desire to. And if they try to deny their own existence, they will live life bitter and die.” — 9 likes

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BBCode	[url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30686326-the-spy?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1466584793l/30686326.jpg[/img][/url] [url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30686326-the-spy?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Spy by Paulo Coelho[/url]

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Preview — The Spy by Paulo Coelho

The Spy

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new topicDiscuss This Book

Genres

About Paulo Coelho

Books by Paulo Coelho

Share This Book

Share on your website

Trivia About The Spy

Quotes from The Spy

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Discuss This Book