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BOOK REVIEW: The Witch Of Portobello by Paulo Coelho

I hardly ever read Paulo Coelho books. I was disappointed by his world-renowned book The Alchemist. And then came The Aleph. But there is one book, one book that is different from every other Paulo Coelho’s book. The Witch of Portobello. It is a very different form of a book. It requires your full attention and you will be pleased. It is the only Coelho’s book I am ever going to recommend to you.

This the story of Athena, a mysterious woman, the story itself told by many different flesh entities who knew her or did not know her at all. She was born in Romania and her parents, a successful industrialist family of Beirut adopted her, as their much-loved, much-wanted daughter, who grew in wisdom and beauty. From an early age she had a strong religious vocation and knew all the gospels by heart, which was a blessing and a curse.

Athena had the secret desire to become a saint someday. She had everything one can ask for, and yet it didn’t satisfy her restless soul. Her adopted mother, who was always ready to take care of her, give her all the love and comfort she could and want to see her win in whatever she does though didn’t understand her. Early marriage to a man she meets at a London college, her son birth, leaves church on which she had deep faith from her childhood.

In the book’s second half, Athena learns to harness the powers that have been present within her, and the story picks up as she acquires a teacher, then disciples, and speeds toward a spectacular end. The book is complex and challenging and reader will get indulge with it if he provides an amount of attention to it. Throughout the novel, Coelho’s words verifies the phrase: “How do we find the courage to always be true to ourselves—even if we are unsure of whom we are?”

Coelho’s focuses on multiple narrative process that is unsatisfying at times as they discuss their different opinions on the protagonist, Athena. Due to multiple narration the characters are never explored much in-depth even though they are the immense part of the plot.

3 out of 5

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Margaret Seaton says: November 28, 2017 at 5:49 PM Where are pages 4 and 5?
begirdledwoman says: November 22, 2017 at 1:07 AM I read this a while ago and completely forgot about it. Thanks for reminding me. I'm surprised you were disappointed by _The Alchemist_ Care to say why?
Debby B. says: November 3, 2017 at 3:46 PM Veronica decides to die and this The Wtich of Portobello are my fav ones. I didn't really like Alchemist and other books. But people around me always be like, "How can you not like Alchemist?" -.-
Vaishali says: August 23, 2017 at 10:50 PM Great review and it is actually very interesting ...great work👍
beverley says: June 17, 2015 at 7:17 PM I have read 3 or 4 of his book, but i don't get it what all the song and dance is about. Not read this one though, maybe if i can borrow a copy, I will give it a go.
Trisha Ann says: June 17, 2015 at 3:33 AM A paolo Cuelho novel isn't my cup of tea either. I like her The Devil and Ms Prym though. Might give this book a shot too :)
ShethP says: June 17, 2015 at 1:54 AM This was the one "Paulo Coelho" book that disappointed me. I guess I just didn't understand where it was going; what he was getting at. Your review makes me consider rereading it, but I'd still rather not. :-/
leeduigon says: June 17, 2015 at 12:36 AM So the narrative's unfocused; but with any Serious Mainstream Literature, you're lucky if you get a story with a beginning, a middle, and an end.
A Well Read Woman says: June 17, 2015 at 12:34 AM Multiple narration can be tricky. Great review!
berryduchess says: June 17, 2015 at 12:22 AM I may have this in my to-read list. I was a bit disappointd with his book entitled Adultery. I am in the first 40 pages and i am not happy.

Where are pages 4 and 5?

@amanhimself says: November 28, 2017 at 8:02 PM Meaning?

Meaning?

I read this a while ago and completely forgot about it. Thanks for reminding me. I'm surprised you were disappointed by _The Alchemist_ Care to say why?

@amanhimself says: November 22, 2017 at 12:28 PM I am not completely disappointed by it when I read it but it did seem cliched at that time. May be, reading too much of one genre or a sub genre moulded that thought that I am still holding too.

I am not completely disappointed by it when I read it but it did seem cliched at that time. May be, reading too much of one genre or a sub genre moulded that thought that I am still holding too.

Veronica decides to die and this The Wtich of Portobello are my fav ones. I didn't really like Alchemist and other books. But people around me always be like, "How can you not like Alchemist?" -.-

@amanhimself says: November 4, 2017 at 9:31 AM I like these two better too :)

I like these two better too :)

Great review and it is actually very interesting ...great work👍

@amanhimself says: August 24, 2017 at 11:55 PM Thank you :) Glad you like it!

Thank you :) Glad you like it!

I have read 3 or 4 of his book, but i don't get it what all the song and dance is about. Not read this one though, maybe if i can borrow a copy, I will give it a go.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: June 17, 2015 at 9:03 PM Surely do. It's different from his usual. Have you read Veronica decides to die?

Surely do. It's different from his usual. Have you read Veronica decides to die?

beverley says: June 17, 2015 at 10:37 PM I have read Veronica decides to die, the alchemist, eleven minutes, and by the river piedra i sat down, but gave up. He's not a bad writer, but he's odd.

I have read Veronica decides to die, the alchemist, eleven minutes, and by the river piedra i sat down, but gave up. He's not a bad writer, but he's odd.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: June 18, 2015 at 10:00 AM I agree.

I agree.

A paolo Cuelho novel isn't my cup of tea either. I like her The Devil and Ms Prym though. Might give this book a shot too :)

Aman(@amanhimself) says: June 17, 2015 at 6:33 PM It's one of the good Coelho books :)

It's one of the good Coelho books :)

This was the one "Paulo Coelho" book that disappointed me. I guess I just didn't understand where it was going; what he was getting at. Your review makes me consider rereading it, but I'd still rather not. :-/

Aman(@amanhimself) says: June 17, 2015 at 6:33 PM The multiple narration doesn't work that well. But this work of Coelho has depth that his other works like The Aleph lack. It's upto you to read or not to read, but if someday if you want to give it a second thought to this one, I would say don't hesitate. :)

The multiple narration doesn't work that well. But this work of Coelho has depth that his other works like The Aleph lack. It's upto you to read or not to read, but if someday if you want to give it a second thought to this one, I would say don't hesitate. :)

ShethP says: June 17, 2015 at 8:28 PM Could be. I hope one day I will be tempted to read it and who knows? I might just change my view. :) Thanks for this review!

Could be. I hope one day I will be tempted to read it and who knows? I might just change my view. :) Thanks for this review!

Aman(@amanhimself) says: June 17, 2015 at 9:03 PM You're most welcome :)

You're most welcome :)

So the narrative's unfocused; but with any Serious Mainstream Literature, you're lucky if you get a story with a beginning, a middle, and an end.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: June 17, 2015 at 12:38 AM HAHA true. However, a reader is not lucky many a times and I think neither does a writer.

HAHA true. However, a reader is not lucky many a times and I think neither does a writer.

Multiple narration can be tricky. Great review!

Aman(@amanhimself) says: June 17, 2015 at 12:35 AM It is, but one will get used to it. Thanks :)

It is, but one will get used to it. Thanks :)

I may have this in my to-read list. I was a bit disappointd with his book entitled Adultery. I am in the first 40 pages and i am not happy.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: June 17, 2015 at 12:30 AM I am sure this one is better than Adultery as it is better than The Aleph. :)

I am sure this one is better than Adultery as it is better than The Aleph. :)

berryduchess says: June 17, 2015 at 12:34 AM Thanks for sharing :) i remember reading Veronika Decides to Die but because it has been more than 10 yrs since I read it, i cannot remember the story, all i know was that it was interesting. :)

Thanks for sharing :) i remember reading Veronika Decides to Die but because it has been more than 10 yrs since I read it, i cannot remember the story, all i know was that it was interesting. :)

Aman(@amanhimself) says: June 17, 2015 at 12:35 AM This one gives you same feeling as Veronika Decides to Die does. Both books have something in common.

This one gives you same feeling as Veronika Decides to Die does. Both books have something in common.

berryduchess says: June 17, 2015 at 12:36 AM Ohhhhh. Okay! Im sold :) thanks so much for your reviews and for sharing.
Aman(@amanhimself) says: June 17, 2015 at 12:37 AM You're most welcome :)

Ohhhhh. Okay! Im sold :) thanks so much for your reviews and for sharing.

You're most welcome :)

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