The Zahir in Paulo Coelho

Sep 16, 2012 Aman Arora rated it liked it

Again Mr. Coelho had put forwarded a great work of philosophy in his novel THE ZAHIR that made me to think on various areas of life.

The story focuses on a husband searching for the true meaning of life and love to get back her wife, but in ended with a big question mark making me to find out the answers of my questions myself only.

The concept of "acomodador" was really nice. After reading his third novel it focused me to think that still "PAGANISM" is there and Mr Coelho is a real Pagan. The mea ...more

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May 11, 2012 Jenn rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-owned-books

The Zahir is one of those books that is different for everyone who reads it. What a reader takes from the story is based on the reader and what they need or are seeking at the time. The Zahir is a book about a journey one must take to not only enhance the love in their lives, but to learn how to allow that love to flow throughout life and not be squashed by life. The book itself tells us that Zahir in the Arabic is something that captures our thoughts, both mind and spirit. It is something that The Zahir is one of those books that is different for everyone who reads it. What a reader takes from the story is based on the reader and what they need or are seeking at the time. The Zahir is a book about a journey one must take to not only enhance the love in their lives, but to learn how to allow that love to flow throughout life and not be squashed by life. The book itself tells us that Zahir in the Arabic is something that captures our thoughts, both mind and spirit. It is something that demands and commands our full attention; nothing satisfies our thoughts like the Zahir. For the narrator of the novel, the Zahir is a woman, his wife to be exact.
When his wife mysteriously disappears the narrator becomes obsessed with what could have happened, was she kidnapped, did she leave him for another man, or worse did she die somewhere. Each day the narrator plays scenarios over in his mind until one day at a book signing a young man tells him Ester is fine and doing well. Who is this man? Could he be her lover, the man she left the narrator for? As the story progress we find out more about Mikihal and his relationship to Ester. The narrator learns of the origin of Ester’s disappearance, he struggles to learn what he needs to learn, to understand what she wanted, needed him to understand. When the time is right for him to find her once more he sets out on a pilgrimage of sorts to reach his destination and begin to show the love of his life, the love she deserves.

Paulo Coelho is a remarkable storyteller and doesn’t disappoint with The Zahir. He transforms his readers while he transforms his characters. Throughout the novel you see not only the narrator changing but also the characters around him. He discovers the true energy and how to let it flow through his life. He learns how to eliminate all the things that distract him and take value and importance away from love in a marriage. He discovers why is past was filled with failed relationships and why Ester was filled with sadness. One point I found interesting in the novel was Coelho’s way of tying all the characters together with one simple piece of bloodstained fabric. It seemed as if Ester was leaving the narrator a trail to follow in order to find her.

Throughout the novel the narrator journeys to various parts of Paris and other cities, Paulo’s descriptions of each destination brings the reader into the novel. Seems as if you are looking at the fountain the narrator walks across or the hills of the steppes. Through the journey of the narrator the reader feels compelled to think and reflect on their our relationship and how the distractions of daily life can interrupt love from flowing and in time destroy that love and causing each person to reflect sadness rather than happiness. Important conversations become what Coelho called “wait til tomorrow”, something that can wait until tomorrow, but never comes.

Even though The Zahir may not be one of Coelho's better novels, it is still a novel that inspires and moves the readers. Definitely a must read novel. ...more

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Aug 19, 2012 Dimple rated it really liked it

Paulo Coelho has been one of my favorite authors' because of his SIMPLE WORDS HIDDEN WITH DEEP MEANINGS-which forces us to sit and ponder over it!

This novel starts with a husband in search of his, abruptly disappeared,beloved wife and which destines him to a totally different world and different persons who help him discover not only his wife but a new world of love, happiness and new life!

This whole journey actually made me go through the true meaning of love and marriage-when you have achieved ...more

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Aug 26, 2012 Sarah Al-Otaibi rated it really liked it

This book start from the end to the beginning, from the end of a love between a couple to the beginning of their love reborn.
the book tell a story of a writer who woke up one day and didn't find his wife she is simply gone ! and in order to get his wife back he had to discover himself first. you should read it to know what he have been through.

one of Paulo Coelho few books that i actually believe in and totally agree with his point. ...more

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