Quick Book Reviews Blog

The meaning of life is probably the oldest question we've been struggling with, one to which the majority of us don't expect to find an answer to, not any time soon at least. The lines of thought vary greatly why each and every one of us lives, ranging from the fulfilment of a unique destiny to complete meaninglessness and nihilism. Some of the greatest thinkers, however, never give up on the question and strive to uncover the essential element behind our reason for being... and thankfully, many of them happen to be authors, like the renowned Paulo Coelho.

Though most of Coelho's novels are rather well-appreciated by most people, Adultery is one of his more controversial ones, where it seems that people either love or hate it. The novel tells the story of Linda, an upper class housewife who seems to have it all: a promising career, a loving husband and wonderful children. However, she can never find true satisfaction in her idyllic life, and chooses to propel herself onto a rather daring adventure that may compromise the life she was already worked so hard to achieve.

It is July 14th, 1099 AD., and Jerusalem is about to face the crusaders who have surrounded the city and its gates. For those who don’t feel like brushing up on their history, the Jerusalem Siege of 1099 ended with a decisive victory in favor of the crusaders, who as you probably know, weren’t renowned for their mercy (to say the least). It is in this context that Manuscript Found in Accra by Paulo Coelho introduces us to The Copt, a mysterious Herald who appears out of nowhere, summons the folk of the city, and spends the next few nights speaking to and with them.

Paulo Coelho, even though he has started to publish books relatively late in his life, has become quite known for being willing to explore heavier and more controversial themes, and in Veronika Decides to Die he does so inspiring himself from his own life. The story starts off by presenting Veronika, a woman by all measures should be happy: she is young, beautiful, popular, has a lot of friends, a loving family, boyfriends, and a job that she actually kind of likes.

Paulo Coelho is one of today’s most unique and ambitious writers, tackling on the most complex and convoluted subjects he can find. I've already reviewed his masterpiece, The Alchemist , in which a man was taken on a tremendous journey of soul-searching and self-discovery. It seems these themes are quite close to Paulo's heart, as they can once again be seen in another one of his modern classics, The Fifth Mountain .

Eleven Minutes is considered by most people as being Paulo Coelho’s most controversial piece of writing, mainly because it is centered on a rather unusual type of protagonist, a young prostitute. While many people may have unsavory opinions of them, it is important to understand that many of them haven’t gotten into their lifestyle by their own choice… many are forced into it either by circumstances, or worse, people.

Updated on November 2, 2023 Short Summary Paulo Coelho may have used simple language and straightforward plot structures in his novels, but as is best exemplified through The Alchemist , what lay beneath his work was anything but simple and straightforward. In this all-time classic, we follow the story of the young Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd who, following a dream he had, wanders off to the Egyptian pyramids in search of great treasure.