We learned that the life of flight attendant you met at Transylvania was the trigger for writing The Witch of Portobello. From the impression you received from her, which part was deeply reflected to Athena?
In October 2005, I met in Transylvania a roman stewardess that told me how she had been adopted by an Austrian family and about her gypsy roots. She was merely the starting point of the novel. From this meeting I started to wave the threads of a story that for a long time I wanted to tell: the feminine side of God. The character of Athena was the Ariadne’s thread in my novel’s labyrinth.
I am happy you chosed that character as being from Transylvania,the land where I also live.I think I have few common traits with that woman.I am not acusing anyone,but only I am sorry many people think romanians are bad and gipsy.This is not true.In your novel,the gipsy community is seen in an idealistic form.But the approach is very good in the whole,you are able to understand people even from very different countries.With magical powers of Athena you increase the myth of count Dracula,also from Transylvania?I think not.But I love that you see Athena an embodiment of the godess Sofia ,known as the godess of wisdom.And I appreciate you mentioned in your book my favourite romanian writer,Mircea Eliade.Thanks a lot.Bye,Love you
I was always enchanted by the music and the violins, the nomadic life, the dancing, the fortune telling, the passions, the temperament of ROM.
In the book ‘Witch of Portobello’, which I read recently, there are so many gems of wisdom. The way of learning how to ‘write’, the meaning of the tempo, rhythm and pauses in music..
I know, as I have studied playing the piano, that it is much more difficult to play ADAGIO than ALLEGRO, because the mind… between the notes should be able to stay concentrate. The empty spaces.
So many things, you have taught us, Paulo Coelho.
LOVE,
THLMA
p.s. I was just closing the shutters and I looked at the sky. There was a beautiful full Moon, smiling..Have a nice evening
Empty spaces… all we have to do is acknowledge them for what they really are… not voids… but magnificent Gems… which hold so much wisdom for us… as long as our hearts remain open…
… Paulo’s ability to be able to discover a character, by simply living daily life… alive… is a true lesson indeed…
… walking in your footsteps… Love, Paul
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk2kfD5ZKls
LOVE,
THELMA
I’m reading this book at the moment. As someone who is adopted I always find it interesting to read about how others feel about themselves, whether they feel a need to know their birth parents (which I never did for some reason). A strange thing also is that I am very similar to my Spanish grandmother who in actual fact I am have no blood ties to. In 1985 I lived with her family who live very close to Santiago. I felt a strong bond to them and though I don’t believe in past lives, I felt as though I had met these people before. They knew me inside out. I was at home there.
Kathleen xxoo
Dear Paul from Austria, I have just read your above comment. There was something wrong with the Electricity Authority in Limassol, today. Thank you for the explanation of the ,,PAUSES.
Once I went to a concert of a pianist, friend of mine. He sat in front of the piano …..for a do not remember how many minutes and then he ..stood up and …bowed. It is a …famous composition to show that …silence is music, too.
LOVE,
Thelma