Your Opinion on the Narrative Structure
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{ 60 comments… read them below or add one }
I just got this book, I read the dedication and I was moved by your words, I almost cried, what a wonderful person your wife must be. So nice that she gives you space and respects that.
I only wish my husband was this way instead of always being in my way, but I do love him and he has been by my side always since we met.
Terminei agora de ler este livro,apesar de ja ter lido quase todos (inclusive o aleph, o mago, o vencedor esta so)mais uma vez falo: sou muito parecida com vc- pois ja mandei outras mensagen falando o mesmo- sabia que para conquistar o coracao complicado de um Paulo Coelho, sua mulher deveria ser muito especial. Pena que meu marido nao me compreenda. Mais uma vez amei seu livro, vc faz sucesso contando como e seu universo-um dia quero conseguir passar para o papel meus pensamentos. Amo vc, quando vier a Belem-pa, gostaria que autografasse o melhor livro que ja li 11 minutos.
the zahir, i havent found any bok as movig as this one,its not about love its about obesssion well its reality.this book speak of so many aspects i just couldnt lay down till i finish it.this life is crazy u have showed it the best possible way.
my favorite part is etha saying she like to war correspondant because she can feel life there.i think its true we are so occuoied in luxuary that we think one or two parties would mak life enjoble or exciting but in the end you will just yourself empty.so living the life with its worth most important
Your book is great..i’m still reading it..you always make me think deeply about my life..thank you :D
Paulo Coelho…you are a greatt person.
Hey Paulo,
I think this is one of your best books. If not the best.
I read in within a couple of hours over the tour of two days.
I found a lot of helpful thoughts in it which eventually worked for me as well. Like the thing about telling your story to forget that part.
I am strggeling with my buisnee study for 2 years now, not becoming any happier with this choice. I can tell me not to regret the choice like you are saying in the handbook warrior of the light but it won’t go into my head.
But telling other people what I ve been through the last 2 years helped!
Thank you for this!
Paulo… De casualidad me tope con sus libros y pasaba por un momento en mi vida de tantos cambios algunos buenos y otros malos. Yo antes pensaba que el mundo era diferente y monotono. Entonces me tope con El Zahir que en realidad me ayudo a entender muchas cosas que tal ves yo no veia. Ha decir la verdad es un libro hermoso no tengo otras palabras. Ha cambiado la vida de muchas personas e incluso la mia espero que Dios lo bendiga siempre. Y por lo que veo tiene razon a todos nos pasa lo mismo…
Hello Mr. Paulo
This is Ed, a person Originally from Iran but Now studying in Sweden, I have read some of your books but the last one was “the Zahir” which is one of the most interesting books i have ever read, this book had a strong effect on me that’s why I called my mother ” Zahir” from the time i have read your book( 2 years a go).
but bye the way i have a question and i hope you have enough time to reply me.
Dear Paulo, in your book at first you start your book by some really nice sentences which attract the readers and you go ahead and continue in a reasonable way that i thought and told myself that this is not a book and this is is alive like a Documentary film. but at the end suddenly you changed the scene, the reality to imaginary, the real life to an your made dream-life.
and my question is why you did this why you did not continue the reality( that was running through the whole story) even though if it could not have a happy end and why did you try to link or assemble the end of the story to an artificial or what i call “imaginary” or ” man made” events. your story at the beginning was an alive life but at the end was a fairy life.
i hope you could understand me if not please let me know and explain more and give more details to you.
you are expected to reply me if even you don’t care my idea.
real life to you.
Ed
Je remercie le bon Dieu pour le talent énorme qu’il vous a donné gracieusement.
“Le zahir ” à été le deuxième livre que j’ia lu après ” Onze Minutes “.
Je l’ai trouvé MAGNIFIQUE , votre manière de mêler spiritualité , amour et passion voire art est magique !
J’ai beaucoupé apprécié le Zahir , surtout parceque ce n’est pas qu’une simple histoire d’un écrivain à la recherche de soi et de son amour perdu , c’est l’histoire de tous. Car tous les sujets que vous évoquez , concernent tout le monde.
Merci Paulo Coelho car vous avez redonnez vie à ma Plume !
Paulo, i first read the book when my friend had just passed away after only nine months of fighting with cancer.
Your style of writing was so interesting and so captivating after i got used to it i got totally lost in the story. I felt as though i was the one who was looking for my Zahir and in deed i was looking for a zahir just not the a love.
I was looking for answers as to why my friend had to die at such an early age and why she had to suffer so much in the process. To be honest i didn’t get too many angers but i somehow understood that things we don’t understand happen to us all the time but what we have to do is try and heal from the hurt and the pain and then when we are ready we may eventually see what reason id behind what happened and we can learn form it.
I also like that the all characters felt closer to a real people with human failings and feelings.
I loved the book and keep it up.
Simple y sencillamente, me fascino!!!
Toco mi corazón y se revolucionaron mis
sentimientos…
Siento que dejo una gran
huella… Gracias!!!!
Sir , if love is repaid with love does that make it less of a resonsibility and more of like a sponsorship ?
No , not at all ! the key thing about love is that it is an a practice of volition as well as it is a free option -while nonthereless, the the same moment it is an act of responsibiliy —-in this book Zahir , thank you for not pretending to know what life is really worth, you just included the opinion of the other characters and somewhat yours , with all consesus it seem to say life is a precioius phenomena that never deserves devastation by avoiding love.
It is suprsiing and so unlike that the writer is some Joseph – no he is never that all his life ! we have him tell his storey as a fighter ,so he says , then if that is wrong at least he was a coward and good at giving up and covering with lofty excuses. My no means was he a Joseph though ( Sir , please you dont think Joseph was a timid morone ,do you ? – there are many many alternatives that would make him decide on what he did ,if not for what is literally written in the scriptures )
Sir ,How the Author of the Alchemist, Brida ,Veronica decides to die and the others (like 11 minutes ) write the last page of the Zahir ….! for me the storey was murdered write there and with an arrow right into the left ventircle ….
Please say something
hi dear paulo,
i tried to read your book the zahir several times, each time i was supprised by the style of your writing, frankly it was somehow seemed weird to me rather than the rest of your masterpieces the alchemist, brida, 11 minutes…etc.
if what you said in this book was all real and documented, i do not believe some part becasue i have serious problem with them,i say apology in advance, 1- do you really believe in love or anything despite sorts of idols which you always have been prouded? 2- do you believe in being honest with your readers or just you try to entertain them with some piece of stupid or priceless matters? 3- did your wife really get pregnant by someone weirdo, and if yes how did you accept it with open arm ? its a confusing point in the book i gussed he was the netherland guy you somehow baptized him in downstreet …you know?this book was a real disaster …goodluke
Bem, adorei o livro, como todos mas este em especial porque vivi uma situação parecida… Tive visões como Mikhail e perdi o meu namorado… Mas fui culpado talvez de perde-lo…
Dear Paulo: It has taken me nearly eight months to complete reading The Zahir; what a daunting task after wanting and being capable of flying through The Alchemist ( I sang your praises for that novel, on 12-04-09.) In this novel, I was initially angered by the character of the narrator, as I found him to be narcissistic, pretentious and anti-social; a far cry from the humane, compassionate Santiago in The Alchemist. Now, after finally completing the novel, I still cannot embrace him as warmly as Santiago, although I believe he changed into a more loving individual. Admittedly, I was confused as to how such a self-serving man could also charade as the author of inspirational literature, providing others with the tools of becoming a ” warrior of the light.” And then I rationalized that such contradictory personna is not uncommon in many of yesterday’s and today’s spiritual and religious leaders; so the narrator is life-like.
Forgive me if I am mistaken on this point, but I think he is never identified by name other than as Esther’s husband ( or for some reason, I overlooked that information) which I think may have created more distance between the narrator and myself. Nor have I been able to condone/ follow the love theories assumed by Esther and Mikhail in choosing their life courses. I found the explanations of the zahir and forgetting personal history loosely explained by the characters, rendering more of a cerebral vapor of these ideas that was less easier for me to conceptualize or digest. Ultimately, the fact that this book has left me with more questions to sort and a strong want to pursue answers, perhaps speaks to its success as a subliminal vehicle of movement and change. Thank you once again for sharing your talent extraordinaire. I look forward to reading The Valkyries next. Be well and peace. ~~ Maureen
Paulo, gostei do livro pela definição do Zahir que todos nós temos , mas não gostei muito do final…acho que não entendi muito bem…
Paulo, I found in the Zahir a great courage, because it confronts topics and ideas which humans tend to avoid. The book taught me not only about life, but about myself, and I am thankful and happy for it. Thankyou.
guau muy identificada con esta novela del Zhair
es el mejor libro que he leido sobre el amor verdadro
gracias por hacer sentir eso tan especial a los lectores
hermoso lo leí dos veces por que no podía comprender como había habierto tantas puertas con solo leerlo, pero ya lo creí y viví gracias!
Your books I can never work out are they true life accounts or fiction, I’ve never been more confused.
Im sure this one has to be about you but the greatest story teller always rights in this way with a little bit of fiction to take you on a magical journey. But you are right, I take a quote out of this book put it on my status update and everyone things its some cult, I really can’t understand why
‘When I had nothing more to lose, I was given everythng. When I ceased to be who I am, I found myself. When I experienced humiliation and yet kept on walking, I understood that I was free to choose my destiny’
Well I just thought that clearly explains what happens in a relationship breakdown or when something goes wrong in life a simple human thought not something which i
s part of a cult, you start to think Im I the mad one here or those people?!
And Ithica the poem that shocked me, I have only just found my dad he is from greece he sent me that poem only 2 months ago, I open the book directly onto that page life is weird as Paulo says full of signs! :0)
also what I like is the fact that there are stories inside of stories that are not shoved abruptly from one scene to another, just like a well edited film.
Just read the Zahir. Left me touched and a little bit sad.
i have read almost all of your books,, at first, it was my plan to make those my collection. Hoards of your masterpiece inhabited my library. But then, I realize that books should not be kept, unread by others,…it should be shared..it should wander in the hearts of various people, like what the minds, thoughts and the heart of the author did when he’s writing his books.
thanks for writing in a universal language.
The Zahir……love it!!no more further expalanation!!!!
I am an avid reader of your books. I actually buy my own copies of your books and I never get tired reading them again and again.
My opinion about Zahir is that it felt like a more mature version of The Alchemist. I cannot really explain it but reading Zahir at 26 reminded me of how my 16-year-old self felt when I was reading The Alchemist.
I guess it is because both stories talked about the character’s journey in pursuit of a goal.
Una obra maravillosa.
just read Zahir, I’ve told my husband to read it so that we both can …..rediscover what I think we have lost
the circle is complete
i am a filipino and an English teacher in a montessori school here in the philippines. i was so amazed that during book reports of my students i always see your name as their choice ( most of them-boys or girls-grade 6 students ). I let them report their books by heart – meaning – i never ask them to follow a pattern nor memorize what they need to report. i allow them to express their personal opinions regarding the stories that they have read. i ask spontaneous questions which they are not ready with to test how much they comprehend and dig in deeper to every word written in the story…some still choose fantasies…few teenage stories but several have chosen your stories…which i guess not intentded for their ages yet…but when i heard “freedom” from one of my student’s oral report i really got interested with the book…i even asked him mant times if he was the one who have really chosen and bought the book…because i can’t believe at that age he’ll read a kind of story…”the zahir”…after the oral book report i borrowed the book and spent three days reading it…you have touched my life from that story. may be these children also who at their youth have chosen your stories…
i finished reading “the zahir” and i have started with “the witch of portabello” and still planning to read “the alchemist” and buy more of your books…i am also a writer but never published what i have written…
Paolo,
I have finished reading your The Zahir. I am a Filipino, a fan of your great works. I hope you can dwell on our culture, like how you introduced countries like France and Kazakhstan. Hahaha.
Dear Paulo,
I just loved this book too, but
You have made a mistake in your book…
On page 208 or 308 (right now, i dont have the copy of zahir with me ), You said,
” Thanks to the Silk Route since the buddhism traveled across it from China to India. ”
Budhhism traveled From INDIA to CHINA. . .
I quoted on the same topic months ago, but didnt got any reply back to my mail. . .
your comment is important for me. . .
thanks.
i dont want to do any thing in my life except meet you and ..make sure thats your not an angle of love ………….
Mr Coelho,
do you really think that Zahir’s exist?
I was given this book from my eldest son for my birthday,fantastic.As for the structure,I didn’t think about it,so it must’ve been good,because it just all seemed captivating,I just read without the structure causing nme any distraction,the story is well-told,easy to read,straight to the heart and honest.I like it,it was a pleasure to read.
I just love the book…its a must read.thank u paulo cuello for giving us a book worth reading….
such a genius!
more power!
Percebi, da leitura, que história tem muito em comum com a trajetória do autor, i.e., o que já li e ouvi a respeito na mídia (porque já me perguntei até que ponto cada um conhece a sua própria história, quanto mais a dos outros, até discuti isso com uma amiga).
E confesso que o tal Banco de Favores realmente me incomodou bastante. Parece uma bobagem, eu sei, mas acreditar que isso ocorre de verdade dá um certo desânimo, porque você se pergunta se vai realmente realizar o seu sonho, uma vez que tudo depende de uma rede de relações importantes e estratégicas, que a maioria de nós não possui. Aí aquela coisa da jornada pessoal, caminho, etc, perde o encanto. Se para atingir o seu objetivo você precisa contar com isso, dá pra entender porque o autor se tornou uma celebridade-fenômeno, se é que se pode chamar assim, e outros grandes escritores jamais conseguiram nem conseguirão esse tipo de exposição.
Não preciso dizer que, não obstante o autor seja alvo de toda crítica, é inegável o papel da mídia na promoção e divulgação do seu trabalho, principalmente quanto à aura de mistificação com que envolveram o escritor e sua vida.
Admito, fiquei desapontada ao ver como tudo, na verdade, é apenas e simplesmente marketing vazio. Não me entenda mal, não estou desfazendo dos textos do autor, porém percebo que sucesso e fama, como quer que cada um os entenda, nem de longe são diretamente vinculados a talento. Faz a gente pensar.
apenas uma observação> escritores nao nascem celebridades.
Mas como dizia minha avó: amor com amor se paga
Cara Mari,
Desculpe. Precisei comentar por força maior. Sou uma pessoa muito introspectiva e desta forma faço meu caminho. Mas ultimamente sinto necessidade de trocar opiniões, para me ajudar neste meu caminho de vida.
Como em todas as artes, nos relacionamos com tais conforme somos. E na leitura não é diferente. Percebi em seu comentário que o livro te levou a crer que o que foi escrito é como funciona tudo.
Eu penso cara colega, que este foi o caminho do personagem do livro (que parece ser o autor mesmo)e foi desta maneira que ele conseguiu seus méritos. Isto não significa que teremos que trilhar o mesmo caminho e que só desta forma consiguiremos o que realmente queremos.
Particularmente, não tenho influencia nenhuma em nenhum lugar (exceto dentro de minha família) mas isto não faz com que eu me desanime e nem faz com que o encanto do meu combate se perca.
Continuo com meu Plano e sigo em frente. O sucesso não significa fama. E nem dinheiro. Significa sentir orgulho de si. Assim penso.
Tenho minhas metas, meus sonhos e meu Plano, o qual traço de forma pessoal e silenciosa.
Se for para tornar-se público minha vitória ou minhas metas (como preferir) está bom, aceito com real orgulho. E se minhas vitórias apenas forem conhecidas por mim, aceito com igual orgulho. Pois de uma forma ou de outra, o que realmente nos faz feliz é a auto-satisfação. Não importa ser rico ou pobre, famoso ou anonimo. O que realmente importa e se estou satisfeito comigo mesmo. Trilho meus sonhos com esta condição.
Tentar trilhar o caminho dos outros traz sofrimento e frustração.
Tente fazer o seu caminho, jornada, seja lá como chama, da sua forma e esqueça o que leu no livro, o que te falaram no serviço, ou que o jornal diz. Seja sincera com você e siga, sempre confiando na força maior chamada DEUS.
Faço isto e desta forma percebi que é preciso apenas acreditar e si e esquecer o que os outros fazem, fizeram ou vão fazer.
Trilhe apenas o seu caminho e se feito com amor, Deus te dará o que realmente quer.
Sinceramente.
Daniel
O Zahir é um livro singular, antes de mais nada. Eu, de certa forma, até entendo o seu desencanto quanto ao Banco de Favores. Mas isso não tira a magia fenomenal do livro. Paulo Coelho desata o “Fio de Ariadne” de uma forma realmente espetacular. Niguém é uma ilha. Ninguém pode seguir adiante sem as relações humanas. Pensem nisso.
i must admit when i first read this book i got stuck like half way when the writer and Mikhail stared taking their journeys…i dint get it at first so i had to start allover again. really got me thinking about my own Zahir n well got to understand i have more than one n the fact tht itt does take time for one to understand its meaning and its need to have it… Quite inspirational..
esse livro é muito legal fala um pouco da historia de paulo.
gostei muito dele assim como gosto de todos os outros que já li.
obs:EU AMO PAULO COELHO DE TODO MEU CORAÇÃO.
AMO MAIS DO QUE QUALQUER OUTRA PESSOA DO MUNDO.
el zahir mas que un libro es todo un viaje en busca de el amor,donde el escritor hace estallar todos sus sentimientos.. podria escribir mas pero solo me que decir que este es un libro fenomenal!!
Ud se ha perdido? :)
In reference to structure, one of the most artful aspects of this book, I think, is the way in which it starts out in present tense. This made no sense to me whatsoever at first. The structure of a book – decisions such as tense (especially use of the uncommon present tense) – should never be arbitrary. Structure should mirror content. However, as I read on, particularly when I arrived at the chapter, “Ariadne’s Thread,” where Mikhail tells his own story, suddenly it all made perfect sense.
When one succeeds in “forgetting” one’s story (by telling it over and over), one thereafter lives one’s life only in the present moment. At the start of the aforementioned chapter, the writer himself, speaking of Mikhail’s telling of his own story, notes:
“Oddly, Mikhail speaks only in the present tense. He doesn’t say ‘I was born’ but ‘I am born.’ It is as if everything were happening here and now.” Indeed, for Mikhail, everything is happening in the here and now. There is no past, no future – only the present moment. So too for the narrator of this book at the point in which he (hypothetically speaking) sits down to write this story and relate it to us. He speaks in the present tense, because he lives in the NOW.
In this sense, the structure of this novel – the apparently “odd” use of the present tense at the start – makes perfect sense. The structure precisely mirrors the content.
Namaste,
I like how the first person perspective creates an intimacy between the main character, in this case the writer, and the reader which allows us to participate in his journey. We only know his thoughts and how he experiences those around him unlike the more omniscient perspective of the third person which you use in Brida, for example, where we are allowed into the minds of various characters. First person creates a mystery effect which keeps the reader guessing about everyone except the story teller.
I read some of your comments to others, so I know the writer is not you, but I recognized bits of your biography coincided with the character’s. This is a really clever tool. It keeps the reader where reality stops and fiction begins. Since we are reading about a character awakening from a dark night of the Soul, this dance between reality and fiction allows for greater impact on a subconscious level… at least it did for me. It also promotes the intimacy which is also ironic because the character of the writer keeps people, and even his own art, at arms reach through most of the book until he finally surrenders and the flood gates open. The irony of his wife leaving the writer in the City of Love was not lost on me either.
Mostly as far as structure goes for every work I’ve read thus far, I must say Wow! Each work is like a lesson in how to write. Thank you.
Love to you
Humbug… Someday I’ll learn to proof read before I post… “It keeps the reader where reality stops and fiction begins.” should be “It keeps the reader wondering where reality stops and fiction begins.” sigh.
The Zahir is one of the best books i’ve reaad…and i’v related deeply with the narrator…the authors description of love isperfect..love isnt about gaining,it is about giving….if you can love someone without desiring,dere is no better thing…
The question in the book, to my understanding, how can we make the love of our life go so easy through the fingures of our palms!!!! how can a person loses the love and just get it away…
O Zahir is my favorite of your books so far. I am now reading O Vencedor. Zahir is not only a story of obsession I think. I think it is about a release of obsession. To love completely without possessing is the ultimate challenge for the human “brain”. The heart knows how, but the brain is an instrument ruled by routines. We naturally get chemically attached to someone, but then true love must be able to go beyond the obsessive stage. This is not only possible but necessary. This release is grown-up love. Most of us never has the opportunity to go beyond the adolescent stage. Thank you Paolo for writing a book that helps the reader experience this level of development.
jean-ronald,
This is a pretty impressive blog you have. I have bookmarked it so that I can digest the content.
What you are saying that “true love must go beyond the obsessive stage, it is known as grown-up love” makes sense to me .
Thank you for that.
On your blog ,there is mention of you speaking six languages , which are they please? Just curious.
Love,
Marie-Christine
Loved the book… read it in just the right time in my life… it touched me deeply… that emotional journey made me really think over myself and relations that i have with some people…
I read your books because there is a FEELING whit them. I ‘ve got a sensation of peace, of spirituality and I like “zahir” and “come il fiume che scorre ” too much.
one of ma fav books!! i like the way u`ve described the facts of lifE!!
the emotional journey of the writer!! lov it!! there many things which can be litrally quoted!!!
i tried to read ur book before, ‘by the river piedra i sat down and wept’ but to tell you the truth, i can’t really get what the story is about.
the zahir is different.i can totally relate to the story and somehow it taught me a lot.
thanks!!
i wonder where did u get the idea to wrote such a beautiful novel =)
Didn’t really know the meaning of obsession until i read this book & it changed me TOTALLY! Thank you Paulo.
this book is by far the greatest I have ever read. Paulo you touch my heart and my soul with your books. It’s because each time I read your books, I find something to ponder on…My life, my aims, me… and my Zahir
Sir,
I am a silent avid fan of your works and your philosophies
Yet I cant seem to know to how to read the signs. Where will I see them?
How would I know that it’s the sign. I am so confused. I am lost.
Thank you so much for your answer in advance.
Jen
je_080@yahoo.com
I’m sory i dont speak (and write) very well english.
Your book is very special for me, its help me now in my privat live.
I give you special tanks for that.
The Zahir is very spiritual book!
Thanks a lot.
its a very lovely book.. at first,, i asked myself,,why Paulo made romantic story.. but finally,, i really know about how to love someone as your zahir.. very deeply for me.. the naration was quite easier to understand,, not as difficult as The Alchemist or another.. but all of ur book already making the way i am now.. thanks..
Concordo.
Ninguém, salvo curiosas exceções, nasce uma celebridade, mas aprendi a acreditar, talvez um erro da minha formação, que só é possível alcançar metas com trabalho, dedicação e talento, tudo mais é dispensável. Não gosto da ideia de depender de favores de pessoas em posições estratégicas para obter o que desejo, me faz divagar sobre que tipo de retribuição teria que dar quem recebeu os tais favores. E, se não me engano, essa questão é abordada no texto.
Amor com amor se paga, como tudo se paga nesta vida, seja o que for. Como conheço praticamente todos os livros do ilustre autor – sou meio rato de livraria -, posso dizer que conheço a sua obra e, assim, posso, perfeitamente, separar fato e ficção, muito embora a maioria esmagadora dos leitores comuns não alcance sequer um vislumbre dessa distinção, até porque, da mesma forma, como dizia meu sábio e falecido pai, cada um acredita no que quer. E isto não é de todo ruim, pois, em consequência, podemos criar o personagem que quisermos e vendê-lo ao mundo. Não pense que me considero superior a ninguém, nem inferior; aliás, tenho a impressão de que um dos livros do autor fala que não se achar merecedor das dádivas de Deus é um equívoco.
Achei muito interessante o autor abrir este espaço para a opinião dos leitores, seja ela qual for, e ainda comentar a respeito. Lembro também que o autor afirmou diversas vezes que a única opinião que realmente importa é a do público. Novamente, concordo. O leitor é soberano. Sempre.
“Concordo as vezes Deus nos da um dom que e o que acabara nos levando a condição de celebridade ou não!”
Sorry I am not him… but I think I can answer I see signs all the time but often when I am not looking for them, just a case of relaxing and slowing down