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Paulo Coelho
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Fometrius
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Posted : Dec 18, 2009 19:50:59
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Have you been reading anything that Paulo Coelho has written and if you have what did you think?
I have read "The Alchemist" ,"By the river Piedra I sat down and wept","Veronica decides to die","The devil and miss Prym" and are now in the middle of "The Zahir".Have heard there is a new book released to,will check that out for sure!
There is many things that i like with this mans writings,especially it is his spiritual and philosophic focus that one encounters in everyone one of his books
He also writes in a way that allows yourself to imagine the architectures and landscapes that he describes.He really plants seeds of thinking into your head as you start to read his books,it`s very hard to stop reading when you get started.
Agape!!!  
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DETOX
Moderator
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Posted : Dec 20, 2009 23:45
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Read The Alchemist many years ago and i couldnt understand all the hype about this book.
 Toodaloo Motherfuckers!!!!! |
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Anak
Anakoluth
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Posted : Dec 22, 2009 20:33
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At the beginning of reading Eleven Minutes I thought there was something to it. Then I read The Alchemist to see what exactly it was. Didn't find anything else than this in my opinion: Spiritual mumbo-jumbo. I like to read between the lines - something that Paulo Coelho makes impossible with his in-your-face gutter psychology. These books evoked pictures in me of a shopwindow veiled in pastel silk cloth, praising esoteric books about Finding God Inside and Rainbows and stuff like that. No thanks. Anakoluth A Pebble in Your Eardrum's Shoe since 2001!
http://www.myspace.com/anakoluth
http://www.ektoplazm.com/profiles/anakoluth/
http://cronomi.com |
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Fometrius
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Posted : Dec 23, 2009 02:13
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We all view things differently, nothing wrong with that. I personally would not agree on calling Coelho`s writings "spiritual mumbo-jumbo" since i think alot of his thoughts makes much meaning and contains many views upon life that are very correct. But as said we all view things in different way`s
I have also read "Eleven minutes" (did forget it),did not think that it was as great as the other books that i have read with him.
In the Alchemist though i think that Paulo shows his right face as he succeeds in containing a constant attention of the readers mind into the book.You just dont want to stop reading when you get started. It`s relatively easy reading and you get finished with the book in a quit short period,yet it is very good and has much meaning.
It`s not a question about some dramatic, life changing books that enlightens you for life and changes you forever(although his writings can do that if you carry on yourself from where he takes you).
This is books with fictional and colorful storys about people encountering life changing experinces and he describes the things and the thoughts that make them change and think different.
He writes much about the concept god since that has been one of mankinds most debated,analyzed,thought about question that ever has existed. If one encounter thoughts as "what does it all come from" "who am i really behind all this" "what is everything" and so one one has to confront the question about the concept god.
Paulo often talk about the concept god in the term of the word agape http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agape
The concept with this is that man`s inner contact and connection of god/lifeforce/brahman etc is not through intellectual or logic thinking but through inner emotions of a non sexual ,non personal love that is for everything that exist.And through a feeling of connection and belonging with everything around us. That what we call god always has been there inside us ,telling us how much it loves us. And when we are filled up by that feeling we also love,and that effect is only positive .
The enemy to this is the ego.The ego is the "dark" since it only think about itself and not the others.The battle of light/dark ,good /evil is the constant battle between the ego (our own needs,what`s best for us,how to make the best advantages etc) and the inner feeling of compassion,connection with others and wanting others to feel good and that everything around us is at the best possible condition at all.
It`s about finding a balance that works and is realistic
The good thing with Coelho is that he always tells you a story,it`s a tale with action,drama,excitement and at the same time it`s packed with messages about all sorts of things that we encounter in daily life.It`s not always about the "big questions" but often it`s many small things but that still are worthy to think about and that makes much sense.You notice early that this writer has thought alot about life and what life is when you read his books
So what are his messages? He has many different,he often describes different situations where the situation itself is like an explanation of how things works or is in life. He wants people to be more in touch with them selfs,to listen inside. He wants people to fill connected to life and discover what he call agape.He want people to reflect over who they are and what everything is.
The main message with the Alchemist for example is to not look forward the whole time but to live in the now.That life is only a constant now and that we have to live in the exact moment.Many people are always on their way for something,like they go in a ladder but never gets up.His main message in this book(The alchemist)is to live in the present moment.
I am not claiming that coelho has all the answers about life but that he has some interesting perspectives about many things.Besides the meaning of his books he writes in a very pleasent way,he describes the world around the characters in a way that oneself can imagine very well
Here are a short amount of citats by him:
“But there is suffering in life, and there are defeats. No one can avoid them. But it's better to lose some of the battles in the struggles for your dreams than to be defeated without ever knowing what you're fighting for.”
"You can become blind by seeing each day as a similar one. Each day is a different one, each day brings a miracle of its own. It's just a matter of paying attention to this miracle."
"An awareness of death encourages us to live more intensely."
"Thousands of years ago, weren't we capable of building enormous structures like the pyramids? Weren't we capable of worshiping gods, weaving, making fire, finding lovers and wives, sending written messages? Of course we were. But although we've succeeded in replacing slaves with wage slaves, all the advances we've made have been in the field of science. Human beings are still asking the same questions as their ancestors. In short, they haven't evolved at all."
"Don't let yourself be weighed down by what other people think, because in a few years, in a few decades, or in a few centuries, that way of thinking will have changed. Live now what others will only live in the future."
“Life was always a matter of waiting for the right moment to act.”
“Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dream.”
"Age is a very high price to pay for maturity".
“"Why do we have to listen to our hearts?" "Because, wherever your heart is, that is where you'll find your treasure."”
The Brazilian author PAULO COELHO was born in 1947 in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Before dedicating his life completely to literature, he worked as theatre director and actor, lyricist and journalist.
Coelho wrote song lyrics for many famous performers in Brazilian music, such as Elis Regina and Rita Lee. Yet his most well known work has been done with Raul Seixas. Together they wrote such successes as Eu nasci há dez mil anos atrás (I was born ten thousand years ago), Gita and Al Capone, amongst other 60 songs.
His fascination with the spiritual quest dates back to his hippie days, when he travelled the world learning about secret societies, oriental religions, etc.
In 1982 Coelho published his first book, Hell Archives, which failed to make any kind of impact. In 1985 he contributed to the Practical Manual of Vampirism, although he later tried to take it off the shelves, since he considered it “of bad quality”. In 1986, PAULO COELHO did the pilgrimage to Saint James of Compostella, an experience later to be documented in his book The Pilgrimage.
In the following year, COELHO published The Alchemist. Slow initial sales convinced his first publisher to drop the novel, but it went on to become one of the best selling Brazilian books of all time.
Other titles include Brida (1990), The Valkyries (1992), By the river Piedra I sat Down and Wept (1994), the collection of his best columns published in the Brazilian newspaper Folha de São Paulo entitle Maktub (1994), the compilation of texts Phrases (1995), The Fifth Mountain (1996), Manual of a Warrior of Light (1997), Veronika decides to die (1998), The Devil and Miss Prym (2000), the compilation of traditional tales in Stories for parents, children and grandchildren (2001), Eleven Minutes (2003), The Zahir (2005), The Witch of Portobello (2006) and a compilation of texts gathered under the title Like a Flowing River (2006) published in a few countries for the moment.
He also adapted The Gift (Henry Drummond) and Love letters of a prophet (Kalil Gibran).
To date, Coelho has sold a total of 100 million copies and, according to the magazine Publishing Trends; he was the most sold author in the world in 2003 with his book Eleven Minutes – even though at the time it hadn’t been released in the United States, Japan or 10 other countries!
Also according to Publishing Trends, The Alchemist was to be found in the 6th place of world sales in 2003. Eleven Minutes topped all lists in the world, except for England, where it was in second place. The Zahir, published in 2005, was in third place of bestsellers according to Publishing Trends, after Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons.
The Alchemist was one of the most important literary phenomena of the 20th century. It reaches the first place in bestselling lists in 74 countries, and so far has sold 35 million copies. This book also brought the author in 2008 the Guiness World Record for most translated book in the world (67 languages).
The book has been praised by different personalities ranging from the Nobel Prize Kenzaburo Oe to the singer Madonna, who considers it one of her favourite books. It has equally inspired many projects – such as a musical in Japan, theatre plays in France, Belgium, USA, Turkey, Italy, Switzerland. It is also the theme of two symphonies (Italy and USA) and had its text illustrated by the famous French artist Moebius (author of the sceneries for he Fifth Element and Alien).
His work has been translated in 67 languages and edited in more than 150 countries.
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moondancer
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : Dec 23, 2009 12:11
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meh I read The Alchemist and found it was pretty childish... I mean, I can understand how a child would find it interesting, but once you're an adult and have a broader culture you realize that it's all just naive and skims through the surface of some philosophies.
PS Just because a book has a wide acceptance and has sold many copies doesn't mean in any way that it is profound, quite on the contrary... Just think of all the multi-million grossing Hollywood blockbusters or Britney Spears...
“I think I've discovered the secret of life - you just hang around until you get used to it.”
Charles M. Schulz |
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Fometrius
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Dec 23, 2009 12:56
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As said his books are not especially complex or hard to get through,they are very easy to read. And his writings is more to be seen as a glimpse into something and not the whole package.His work is directed to the average person and not a "specialist spiritual seeker" who already has been reading and thinking about it alot.
Think of this as quit a regular book(Alchemist) but with a touch of spirituality and philosophy at a very basic level. And this book is much about to bring an exiting story,creating drama,action and so on,it`s not a book that focuses on different questions.This principle is for all his books.
"PS Just because a book has a wide acceptance and has sold many copies doesn't mean in any way that it is profound, quite on the contrary... Just think of all the multi-million grossing Hollywood blockbusters or Britney Spears..."
Of course not,just look at mtv or what goes on the tv.It says it all.Just wanted to show some facts about the one this thread is about 
happy christmas ,hope santa treats you nice  |
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J
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Posted : Dec 25, 2009 20:46
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On 2009-12-20 23:45, DETOX wrote:
Read The Alchemist many years ago and i couldnt understand all the hype about this book.
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I can't understand the hype about him actually.
Nothing exceptional about his books.
I wonder what madehim so popular around the globe.
Imo, too boring and as Anak said, "spiritual mumbo jumbo". |
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Fometrius
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Posted : Dec 26, 2009 03:47
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I got "The winner stands alone" by Paulo Coelho as a christmas gift.Looking forward to begin with the book.Time to lay down in the bed,close the lights and only have a little lamp at the bedside ,get some tea and start to read : )
Going to buy "The witch from Portobello" with him soon. So this winter it`s gonna be some paulo coelho quality moments for sure 
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shahar
IsraTrance Team
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Posted : Dec 30, 2009 05:25
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What I read felt quite simplistic to me.
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"Be the change you want to see in the world!"
M.K. Gandhi
"There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that's your own self."
Aldous Huxley
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Ellon
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Posted : Jan 29, 2010 15:35
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