Nov 15, 2007 10:57 PM
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I am and have always been biased about my favourite author Paulo coelho. hence the 5 star rating!
The best thing about Paulo coelho's books is the fact that there are certain passages in the book that you can relate to your own life and your own problems. irrespective of the story and The Witch of Portobello is no different.
Although the book is a biography written in a very unique way for starters.
Chapter by chapter it goes into narrations by characters in the life of the protagonist, Athena, taking the story forward.
Athena is a gypsy not just by birth but also in life. Her journey of life is about finding her aim in life.
She has questions which she needs to be answered.
Or as it says in the book she has a need to fill in the blank spaces in her life.
We too in our day to day life are so caught up with what we are doing and what are we going to do next and so on and so forth.
Even if we have an hour gap we start wondering how to fill it up. we have all been through that edgy moments.
In our modern age, we of course have the internet as an escape or the good old television that we use to fill up our empty spaces.
On a personal note too, I have recently been on a break from work for a month and after a few restless days, I actually started enjoying my blank spaces.
We need to expend our energies into things that can teach us something while we are at it.
In the book, Athena takes on dancing and later on calligraphy and discovers that it transcends her into the spirit world. She finds not just her freedom but also a means to get in touch with Mother Superior when she learns to let go.
It will take us mortals a long time before we can achieve that. that is for sure.
But what I got from this book was that it is ok to be calm and patient in those blank spaces in our lives.
We can't keep running all the time, all our life. we need to figure out where we are running too. In that way not only will our destination will be fulfilling but so will be the journey.
As all of Paulo Coelho's books, this too is an easy read. I finished in two nights and was still wanting for more.
Looking forward to more insightful works by him.
