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bueno, no sé si esto llegará porque estoy en una página extranjera que está en una página española, y es que no hay manera de entender para quién no sepa inglés. Cuando elijo el idioma español, pues como que traduce bastante mal y no entiendo. En realidad escribo por el último artículo que habéis publicado, el de los adolescentes que van a una fiesta muy bien preparados, las chicas muy monas y los hombres muy sabios, pero resulta que ya son mayores y hay un tal bravucón que les hacía la vida imposible en el colegio… bueno no me he enterado de nada. Por si me lo podían explicar. Gracias´.
Estáis en el viaje interior, por ahí es por dónde accedo a esta página. ¿otra forma mejor de hacernos llegar a los españoles?.
Respected paulo,
I am a great fan of yours.In all your books you have something to say me and the whole world.Recently, i read winner stands alone and found many truths in it.Truly speaking your books have helped me a lot in my life.I am happy to have you as my mentor and want you to write many more books so that it can be of guidance to me all through my life.
Thank you.
i just finished reading the book a few minutes ago.
i must say that the image you gave to love and sacrifice made me think about how the whole idea has started in you to write that book.
you always talk about love like a relief but i’ve never seen you say it that way.
it is indeed a different perspective, but for me, it was just if someone told me: “that’s life, it doesn’t follow a plan. it does what it has to do. No more, no less.”
for me, love lived in Igor, Ewa, Jasmine and Hamid, but life made it what it became, shape it thru a long and hard process (that not only can be related to the superclass life, but everyone’s life). some of them dead, alive and walking dead.
one thing i truly appreciated is the vanity that never left gabriela. It made her day, shaped her dreams and left her to disappointment at the end (when no body will call the next morning…)
it is one caracter that make you think about the moves you made each day and how we have to look for this vanity and pull it off what we do.
I love your work and the way you do it. it’s because it’s from the heart that all this love navigates thru it.
Keep the good work.
Peace & Love.
Dear Paolo,
I am reading the book now and I absolutely love it! Though sometimes I have a feeling that it is a bit weird to think of you as the author of it..it is so different from the your books (and I read lots of them in different languages). Why have you decided so write such a different, and I would also say pragmatic book on a very trendy topic, that is being exploited by many writers?
Will be back to reading!
All the best!!
Dear Paulo,
“Winner stands alone” is my favorite novel and the BEST Book. Narrative style is very effective and impressive.Once you start reading the novel, till the end you cannot leave it. All the characters are superb and very touching to heart. Kudos to you Sir. When is your next Book releasing. Waiting eagerly for new title.
Reguards,
V.BALA.
Dear Paulo,
“Winner stands alone” is among my favorite novels. The narrative style is very effective. Reading the novel gives the feel that one is actually seeing the narrated scenes.
ReguardS,
Beans.
Dear Paolo,
I´ve read several of your books. Love them a lot, been inspired plus all that stuff you hear from 4,5 millions of your fans (on FB only!). Well, just a Comment: I´ve read Zafir, loved it 90%, the part about Kazachstan seemed a bit over-exaggerated but well…I was born in the former USSR and even for us (people from the European part + Caucasus) those were “no go territories…It´s nothing racist or snobbish: the way the main heroine had left her husband and flown to Kazachstan is totally out of proportion! Caribbean or Brasilperhaps but pls not Kazachstan…As the matter of fact altiplano in Bolivia would appeal more magical…
Your last book The winner stands alone is absolutely the must! How could you percieve and penetrate the psyche of our “Slavic” people so well? The wife, Ewa, seems to be the “global player”, ir more a universal virgo-type but her husband is a typical nouveau riche of the modern day Russia. Congrats! Dostoevski would be proud of you, too!
Pls keep on writing: we do need revelations, culminations and the highlight in our routine.
Thx, Victoria
A story about a serial killer written by Paulo Coelho – I needed to get used to that thought first and it took me a long time before I actually got around and bought the book.
Paulo Coelho is one of my favourite authors but this story sounded so very different from all the other books by him that I have read. No beautiful and instructive story that only encourages you to follow your personal legend. This book is different. What made me read it in the end was the hope to get some insight into the world of glamour and fame. Of this I found plenty but I found even more: I think the Winner stands alone is maybe Paulo’s most realistic book, despite the setting in the dreamworld of Cannes. Here people actually struggle and fail. Sometimes it is doubtful whether all people who fight so hard and try to realize their dreams are actually following their personal legend. And a lot of people get into trouble because they do not dare to say “No” in a critical moment. They refuse to listen to their inner voice and pay a high price for it. All this is not overly encouraging if one uses Paulo’s books as some kind of self-help, like I do, but it is very instructive.
There is another aspect of the Winner stands alone that I appreciated a lot but that I also found very disturbing: The book does not allow for a simple distinction between good people (= the spiritual ones, those who try to follow their personal legend) and bad people (= the materialistic ones). Ironically it is the murderer Igor who is most successful in applying the principles Paulo is teaching to his life. At the same time his example clearly shows one of the greatest dangers of following a spiritual path: Megalomania. This is not easy to digest. And it is no knowledge that can be easily applied to one’s own life. But who said that life is supposed to be easy?
I am happy that I eventually overcame my reluctance and read the Winner stands alone. I learned a lot from it.
I see the Winner Stands Alone as a cautionary tale, one that explores the dark side to many of the themes running through your books. There is having a dream told to you by your heart, and there is having a false dream whcih your mind creates to make you think you are following your destiny. Too many people misinterpreted your treasure in teh Alchemist as being a treasure of man (gold, jewels, money). this is not at all the true treasure of life. Those who make their whole life’s purpose to be about having materialistic things (power, money, clothes, fame, adoration of others), are bound for failure, disappointment
and spiritual death. Even if you manage to get these false dreams realized, you may have “won” the game, but you have lost your soul. You might as well be physically dead.
the actions of a Warrior of Light should not be about having or acquiring things, but about finding fulfillment and joy and love doing whatever your purpose in life is to do. Otherwise, your life will be as valueless as the lives taken by Igor (who in turn has also lost his soul in pursuit of a false dream). If, at any point, any of these characters had listened to their hearts, they may have escaped the fate they set for themselves.
Although darker adn more negative than your other books, as a part of a whole, this book also helps us to explore the themes in your books, and is valuable.
Having said that, I would not recommend this book as a first book to introduce you as a writer to a new audience.
Me sorprendio mucho la trama, pero me encantó. El cambio del presente al pasado, el cambio del diario de los personajes, es para quedarse sentado lleyendo hasta terminar. Y me encanta la forma detallada de la narativa, hace que uno vea a los personajes en su mente, pude estar dentro del libro, y sentir que estaba sentada en el cafe, en la fiesta, en los pasilllos del hotel, dentro de los cuartos,en la playa, pude ver de frente todo lo que pasaba. Wowwww de verdad que lo viví, de todos los libros este fue en el que mas entre. Es muy diferente a todos los demas libros y la misma vez sentia que algunos de los personajes de los demas libros estaban de alguna manera ligados a esta historia. En estos momentos estoy terminando Las Valkirias, digo me faltan 20 paginas para terminar. Gracias
This work is wonderful. It can correlate so well with Dostoevsky’s ‘The Idiot’.
In this world, the bitterness of not being able to depict a pure, “truly beautiful soul” is overwhelming.
Hi Ghassan, this is exactly the feeling I had inside me! Thx for saying it directly!!!
I´ve read several of Paulo´s books. Love them a lot, been inspired by them. Well, just a Comment: I´ve read Zafir, loved it 90%, the part about Kazachstan seemed a bit over-exaggerated but well…I was born in the former USSR and even for us (people from the European part + Caucasus) those were “no go territories…It´s nothing racist or snobbish: the way the main heroine had left her husband and flown to Kazachstan is totally out of proportion! Caribbean or Brasil but pls not Kazachstan…As the matter of fact altiplano in Bolivia would appeal more magical…
His last book The winner stands alone is absolutely the must! How could he be able to percieve and penetrate the psyche of our “Slavic” people so well? The wife, Ewa, seems to be the “global player”, ir more a universal virgo-type but her husband is a typical nouveau riche of the modern day Russia. Congrats! Dostoevski would be proud of Paulo!
I think ‘winner never stands alone ‘ is all about what happens when your existence becomes larger and more important than life.
Paolo,
I am dissapointed with ” Winners Stands Alone “, the book is selling because of your name mainly ( as a brand ) and does not have the best of yours coming out .
Nowhere near your legedary books like Veronika decides to die , Alchemist , Brida , witch of portobello , zahir , Eleven Minutes etc .
Some pages are really clue less , not linked with any characters and missed the passion of your younger days .
So much of darkness & glorifying of the negativity in humans , really miss the brightness which you have taught me to look into this world .
May be it is difficult of us to witness the win of evil over good , defeat of hope over pessimism ,so much of depression all around with love loosing out … really can’t stand this at all .
Paolo : Are you growing old in your hearts and minds also ?
I live , travel , relax , sleep with your books , please don’t do this to us at all .
Waiting for O Aleph ! Please let the love , life and our dreams win again.
Bye , Regards
Paulo acabo de ler o Vencedor esta só em espanhou pos vivo atualmente no Caribe(Santo Domingo)e fiquei muito decepicionada, pois ao meu ver o livro e muito minucioso cheio de detalhes que faziam a leitura ficar muito cansativa, eu havia lido Onze minutos lido não devorado pois o li em tres dia nao tinha vontade de fazer mas nada todo tempo vago que tinha eu paravam para ler ia dormir as 3 da manham pois tenho filhos e so me sobra tempo depois que eles dormem, pois bem foi com esta ancia de dezejo que comprei El Vencedor esta Solo, em resumo demorei muito para ler e so terminei por que ja havia começado, espero que nao fique triste comigo mas imagino que esta espaço seja para isto Fica com Deus um beijos grande…..
Good morning Author
I have mixed views about this book…it’s not at all boring but not even as inspiring as other books of yours. One thing i surely liked about this book is IGOR!!!! Not his craziness and violence.. but for the steadiness and firmness of character, for his dedication towards his “aim” and the perfectness and intelligence he used to execute his actions. There are always good things to be learned even from the worst person on earth..
WELL, ABOVE ALL THANKS A LOT FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE A COMMENT ON YOUR BOOKS, LET ME SAY I HAVE READ YOUR WHOLE COLLECTION AT THE BEGINNING IT WAS THE ALCHEMIST, I TOOK IT FROM MY AUNT LIBRARY, AND WHEN SHE SAW I READ IT AT ONCE SHE JUST SAID OKAY I’LL GIVE YOU THE WHOLE COLLECTION.
WHAT I LOVE FROM YOUR WORK IS THAT THE CHARACTERS REMAIN NATURAL AND DRAWN INTO REALITY AND TAKE US TO GET INTO THE CHARACTERS WHICH HELP US NOT TO FORGET WHAT WE READ, IT’S JUST WONDERFUL THAT I’VE SHARED YOUR READINGS WITH SO MANY PEOPLE AND I FEEL THAT HAVE HELPED THEM OUT LOUD.
This is my first Cloelho book and i just love this author, cannot wait to get a hold of more of his writings. It really touched me where I live, as I am so sick of the adulation given to mere mortals just because they have beautiful bodies and faces, if ever there was a reason to find and work on “Emotional Intelligence” this surely must be a blueprint for all thinking people.
Igor is a very scary dangerous individual.
yes emotional intelligence, these mortals still have to do some work on them.so we are all the same after all, it confirms that.we just have to along with nature.
Hi Paolo!
I’ve read all your books and I can say that your last one, the winner stands alone, is the one that i like the least. i just didn’t understand what you’re trying to tell us. Unlike your other books this one is boring, dragging, and the plot is quite not interesting. Although your characters have some lines that are signatures of your work, the whole book is quite not like you. I guess this kind of story is not your cup of coffee. what does igor represent? after he has killed hamir and ewa he just left. and the book says the winner stands alone. Is igor a winner because in the end he is alone? I don’t think so. who is the winner then? Jasmine? I don’t think so either.
I BELIEVE, MY THE MERE CHOOSING OF THE WORDS WHICH PRODUCE THE TITLE OF THIS BOOK, THAT PERHAPS FANS OF THE AUTHOR EXPECT HIM TO CREATE PROSE THAT DRAWS ITS ATTENTION TO THE UNSEEN, SEEMINGLY MSTICAL POWERS WHICH INFLUENCE OUR LIVES;THE MORE SO WHEN WE EMBRACE THEM. A “WINNER”,
IS A PERSENT WHO HAS COMPETED FOR SOMETHING, AND WHEN ONE IS N COMPETETION THEY ARE IN DIRECT OPOSITION TO ALL THAT THE MYSTERIES AND GREATER TRUTHS ARE ATTEMPTING TO TEACH US. COMPETITON, WINNING, LOSING….ENVY AND GREED, ALL ARE EVERYDAY, EVEN SUBLIMINILY, THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS BY MOST PEOPLE. AN GLY CHARACTER WOULD STAND OUT IN THIS AUTHORS REPETOIRE, PERHAPS NOT TO SIMPLY DISPLAY THE LOWER REALMS OF WHAT WE ALL HAVE INSIDE OF S, BUT TO AWAKEN THAT IN EACH READER TO REALIZE THAT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO SUCH THING AS WNING OR LOSING. IT AN ILLUSION, AND THEREFORE, THE WINNER IS ALWAYS ALONE BECAUSE IT IS NOT REAL. I HAVE NOT READ THE BOOK, BUT THIS TITLE SUGGESTS HIS AS A MOTIVATION FOR THE BOOK. PERHAPS I AM WRONG, AS I AM MANY TIMES.
Dear Paulo,
I read all your books.
I read your words with so much pleasure, but, sorry, I couldn’t finish to read this story. Talking with a friend of mine we thought you didn’t write this book yourself!
May be I didn’t understand the message in these words.
It never change my opinion about your work, that helped my life very much.
Sorry for my english.
ciao
franca
Dear Paulo
i am aware that you are too busy to read all comments but it feels me happy to write something even thought you dont read it i love your latest book very much that was different from previous books i was wonder about Igor caractor.
Regards
Azadeh
gostei desse livro, nos prende bem e não da pra parar de ler.bj!
ola paulo, olha eu quero te panabenizar pelo seu novo trabalho, o “aleph”, eu estou lendo e é muito bom e interessante. eu tenho a coleção de seus livros e o q eu mais gostei e gosto é “o vencedor esta só”, muito bom, parabens!!!
Why this violence all of a sudden
it is true that in certain cases people are violent and we never know what to expect from people
I still found it violent and sad
extremely sad
while all the other books (all of them) are under a glimmer of hope for humanity this one is caustic
interesting though but too violent for me
I am a complete fan of you books and extremely in sync with the philosophy of life and mission in life and faith
whereas all the other ones I would re-read them any time this one I will not and would not
but thank oyu for all the others
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to comment on your books. You are definitely one of my favourite authors, and I have read many of your books, my favourites are Brida, The Alchemist, and Veronika Decides to Die. I have small children and don’t have much time to read, so when I do, I like it to be something I’ll remember. While on my way to a business trip I picked up Winner Stands Alone at the airport store, and was looking forward to enjoying another one of your works. I am sorry to say but I didn’t even finish it properly. I went along as long as I could (about 2/3 of the book) and then I found myself skipping forward and finding out what would happen to the many characters you introduced. It was disappointing that I didn’t care about any of the characters, I also found the insights into the process of getting rich and famous (in various professions) very dry and almost academic, as if I was reading some socio-economic study or an analysis. My favourite character was Hamid, but I felt that he too was shortchanged by his choice of life partner as well as by how he ended up. Another character that was, I think, misrepresented was the lady that invested all of her money and energy into making documentaries to improve the world, but in the end she was shown to be and ended up as any of the other power/money/fame grabbing people. I hope that your next works go back to what you do best, and that is writing stories that help us recognize what we all carry within.
O melhor, uma história real. Me vi neste contesto
I have read all of your books in Portuguese, I am Brazilian. But this book it was very different than your other ones on the surface. I think you themes were more embeded on this one, and it was harder to depict them. The book was sort of confusing w/ the multiple stories in the beginning, but it all ties in together nicely. I thought there was too much on setting up the plot, and less on the life’s morales, which is what I love your books the most for. This was my least favorite book from all of your other ones. But it still had some very good themes and thougths! Thank you still for writing so many wonderful books that always challenged my on my life’s goals and thinking!
I have read some of your other books and really loved them but this book had me really disappointed.
Dalia Badran
I am really wondered about your opinions that have showed the novel as disapointed one, it is just different from other novels that show the hapiest end. this novel is just realistic, soory for my bad English.
I’ve read almost all Coelho’s novels and I loved them all. The plot of “The winner stands alone” is very well arranged, but the end… I spent days and nights to complete this book, hoping the police would have found the killer, but… nothing. I hope in a sequel because in this way the novel seems incomplete.
I REALLY LIKE THIS BOOK because I love drama!! However, I’m a little bit disappointed with the end, I wanted to know what happened with Igor…for me, he wasn’t alone because his conscience was there all the time (which is terrible)… could be possible a second book..with the destiny of Igor…? This book hypnotized me, I couldn’t stop reading it, especially at the end…
…Excuse my English…I like the book and its messages. I’m reading the German version and it’s horrible, because there are so many errors. Once, Jasmine is called Janine, Gabriela is written “Gabriella” (I don’t know how you want it), there are errors in the grammar, syntax, orthography,… It’s a pity and I need much more time to understand it, because I have to read many things twice to understand them and to understand that there is an error in the language and not an error in my brain. Nevertheless, I love what’s going on in your mind (even if I don’t know, what’s really going on in your mind) and I’ll continue…
This is the most disappointing book I have read. I feel cheated about the amount of time I spent reading this book, hoping that at some point it would start to get good, only to find the ending was the worst part of the whole book. Perhaps for some this indepth look, if indepth is a term one can use when talking about this most shallow world of fashion, was revealing or entertaining. I felt there was nothing new revealed regarding human nature. Fortunately I have already read the incredible “Alchemist” and “Veronica Decides To Die” as well as other great titles. If I had read this book first I would certainly would not be back for more.
I have read some of your other books and really loved them (esp “veronika decides to die”) but this book had me really dissapointed. I found it depressing overall, and lacking soul and heart. None of the characters were likable, all were selfish and shallow.
It will not put me off reading more of your books, it just made me wonder why you would write something like that?
hmmmmm
it was not that pessimistic…i found it an exact portrait of this glamorous world…
The novel is really amazing. However, I find that it has alot of detailes which were absent in other novels.
Any way, we can say that the mean idea from the novel is wonderful and new because we are live now out of the life with our modern life so we have forgut our important issues and the basic aims from our existance and we change our interistuing to small things like arts, fame…etc
Buenos Días
Creo que es un libro muy muy diferente a lo que nos tiene acostumbrado Paulo, me impresiono muchísimo la primera muerte, me sentí muy mal. Además de sentirme un poco perdida en cuanto cambiaba de personaje y situación ya a medida que fui leyendo me adapte, pero no me gusto el final, pensé que IGOR en medio de su trastorno merecia castigo por utilizar a gente inocente envuelta en el medio como tal pero inocente al fin.
Liseth, a mi me ocurrio exactamente lo mismo. Me perdi un poco en el medio del libro y tuve que leer una y otra vez para tomarle en curso. Y el final me impresiono pues crei que Igor tendria otro fin. Aunque para mi el nunca vencio, pues tuvo que cargar con la voz de su conciencia lo cual es horrible…
Fuera de eso, es un libro perfecto para los amantes del drama.
I’ve read the book but em still confused about the story…I don’t understand why he killed his wife even he loved her so much ? how come everything changed when he started destroying the worlds ? I need some help in understanding this book !
same here.
Because he realized that he don’t love his wife anymore (after killing Olivia). And he killed her for taking revenge or “mission” (so Olivia died won’t be in vain)
Lo que expone en este libro no es mas que un reflejo de la realidad actual, en la cual a veces el esposo se dedica tanto a lograr metas tras metas como un robot, descuidando el entorno familiar, llegando a destruirlo totalmente, tanto asi que, ni todo lo logrado puede comprar la felicidad al lado del ser amado, ya que la felicidad muchas veces esta en las cosas mas sencillas de la vida.
A good story , but the only truth I found explored in the book is how we are being manipulated by media to form our dreams. And this I find sad.
I am reading the book and have got to the part where Gabriela is on her way to the Gala Supper. I am finding the book incredibly hard going, but am plowing on as I have set myself the challenge of actually finishing the thing.
I find the whole book extremely condescending in tone, and the author appears to have a real grudge against anyone involved in the fashion/film industry; unless the are heavily into religion and living “spiritually”. He never misses an oportunity to rail against the system and can turn even an innocent car journey into a lecture. I don’t mind that he points out what goes on behind the scenes, but the whole book is based on his perception (right or wrong) of how the rich live. He is very quick to cast judgement on all the characters, which in fact is more of a God complex than the one he accuses Igor of.
I look forward to reaching the end of his bitter tirade, simply because I won’t have to pick up any book by this author again.
I am fascinated by the loads of “hidden truths” in this book that I can relate to!!
I just finished the book last night, and was actually thinking about the characters after I finished. What I enjoyed about the book is how I was lead into the mind of each of the characters. It was interesting to see how each of them had their own motives.
The end kind of left me hanging. When I put it down I wanted to see how Gabriela would react to the news that the Star and Hamid were both dead, meaning her movie wouldn’t go on. I wanted also to see where Igor’s daranged thoughts would take him. He seemed to get pretty obsessed with the angel with the dark eyebrows, Olivia. So, it would be interesting to see if he would let her guide his future actions. I also wanted to know what the police would be doing about all of this! I think the one investigator from Scotland Yard will figure it out.
I really enjoyed this book!
I’m still reading the book but all I can say is “WOW” its wonderful. I really can’t wait to see what happens to Igor!! If he is able to slip out of his mental state and realize that he is a crazy maniac and the killing of 3 people is not for a good cause but of rage. We will see :)
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