Eleven Minutes
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Paulo Coelho's astonishingly beautiful writing in Eleven Minutes virtually guarantees it the cult status that The Alchemist already enjoys. But what is the Paulo Coelho phenomenon? How can an author who (only a short time ago) was virtually unknown to most readers have taken the world of books by storm--and without the benefit of glitzy advertising? The answer is simple: quality. Such books as The Fifth Mountain andThe Devil and Miss Prym are enough to explain a considerable following for the author, with their atmospheric prose and involving characters.
Eleven Minutes tells the story of young Maria living an innocent life in a Brazilian village and is played out in a measured fashion, but with all the author's brilliant scene-setting (very lush here) fully in place. But then Maria experiences love and suffers great pain. From this point, Coelho has us inexorably in his grip. Maria's disillusionment with love leads her to Geneva where she finally ends up selling her body (Coelho may offer us the beauty of life, but never at the expense of its harshness). Maria's approach to sex is complex--this is no mere revulsion arising from what she is now doing with her life. And then she meets a seductive young painter, who may or may not offer her a new path in life. But does she prefer to continue on the dark sexual odyssey she has embarked on, at the expense of real love?
There are echoes of DH Lawrence in Coelho's exploration of the sacred and spiritual aspects of sex and it's a brave author who tackles a subject that can so easily slip into strained seriousness. That never happens here, and Maria's journey is one that the reader willingly undertakes; the lesson she learns are lessons for the reader. --Barry Forshaw --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
PRAISE FOR ELEVEN MINUTES
“Has a strange and potent chemistry of its own.” The Observer
“Coelho has a deceptively simple but elegant writing style which sits well with this strange but gripping tale.” Glasgow Evening Times
“Refreshing and insightful…an uplifting read.” What’s On In London
“A simply-told fable for our times, highlighting the quest for personal spiritual enlightenment.” Belfast Telegraph
Awarded 4 stars in New Woman magazine review
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
38 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The latest novel from Paulo Coelho considers if sex and spirituality can go together. While Coelho has included sex and love in other novels, in this novel he writes more explicitly. Because the main character is a prostitute, the obvious focus fro the book is sex in its various forms. Despite being about a young girl who feels that prostitution is her only hope, the book is not sordid, nor does Coelho preach about her profession.
As her dreams of becoming a dancer start to dwindle, as she realises that the man who promised her everything really has nothing that special to offer, Maria turns to prostitution.
Maria later decides that to be the best in her profession, she should learn as much as she can about sex. Due to this, she gains one of the 'special' clients, a man who is into sadomasochism. It is also with him that she finally meets someone who she is able to love.
As her dreams of becoming a dancer start to dwindle, as she realises that the man who promised her everything really has nothing that special to offer, Maria turns to prostitution.
Maria later decides that to be the best in her profession, she should learn as much as she can about sex. Due to this, she gains one of the 'special' clients, a man who is into sadomasochism. It is also with him that she finally meets someone who she is able to love.
As with any of Coelho's novels, the writing is sensitive and very thought provoking. Having read this novel, it is easy to see how sex can easily be a weapon as well as a way of expressing love. The brief exploration of sadomasochism serves to illustrate how sex is precious, and while two lovers may want to experiment, they should always keep in mind that they should not risk their soul.
The quote I have used for the title of this review appears at the beginning of the novel. Coelho states that it could easily be applied to anybody's life, and almost at any time within their life. I quoted it because I think it sums up the whole theme of the novel brilliantly.
Please read this book, I cannot reommend it highly enough. Just perhaps, it'll make you look at sex differently...
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
In a recently released French film, the central character, a feisty female director, tells her assistant, “When an actor doesn’t show his inner light, you film dead flesh”. It struck me that the sentiment behind this statement resonates throughout Paulo Coelho’s book.
Eleven Minutes tells the story of Maria, a young Brazilian who has sworn herself off love. Maria, after a series of chance events leads her to Geneva, develops a fascination with sex, and when she realises the market value of sex (and herself), takes to working as a prostitute from a ‘reputable’ club. This was not a frivolous move for Maria, indeed she took it very seriously, intrigued by why her clients were prepared to pay for sex, becoming intellectually the best equipped woman at the club at addressing her client’s needs, all the while of course ignoring her own.
Eleven Minutes sees Maria confronted by two paths. The darker path takes her to a place in which pain is pleasure, where sadomasochism is ironically a source of total sexual liberation derived from submission. The other, to a place where sex is sacred, sex in the context of love, a place in which Maria can exude her ‘inner light’. Coelho’s book is essentially Maria’s exploration of both.
Eleven Minutes is more a return to Veronika Decides to Die than The Alchemist. Though still full of the themes that have touched many millions, fate and love, loss and redemption, this book is more daring, more explicit, more real than others in its exploration of sex and its effect, its importance. In his latest book Coelho also reminds us that every day a miracle can happen. Every day a small, apparently insignificant moment may present itself that could change the course of our lives forever.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was recommended this book by my partner who was reading it in French, otherwise I probably would never have looked twice at it. I was however pleasently surprised by this book.
It is very easy to read, so easy in fact I read it in 7 hours. It wasnt what I would call a page turner as such but yet somehow I found myself unable to put it down. Not perhaps a life changing book, but very easy and enjoyable to read.
The book follows a girl called Maria and her quest for love. But it is not a typical love story even if the ending is. Some very bold writing looking into the world of prostitution, with two erotic scenes that I think have been stamped in my memory forever.
I would recommend this book if you are looking for a very easy read where you dont have to stretch your mind too much, it flows so well and the plot moves quite quickly. But if you are looking for a challenge in a book with a big beefy plot then it might not be for you.
As a reader of all kinds of literature, from challenging to the not so challenging I found it nice refreshing change.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Very basic.
Strange to read as it's simple vocabulary , like a kids book but about sex. I found the morals of the main character conflicting with her actions and therefor unrealistic. Read more
Published 17 days ago by Mr. A. C. Parker
possibly the best book I've ever read
all I can say about this book is that it made me want more from life (as Paulo always does) and I'm not exactly an underachiever as it is. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Kathleen T. Montaigue
Review for Eleven Minutes
Good read and a handy minature book meant easy ready just about anywhere. I love all of his books. No complaints
Published 6 months ago by AJamieson
excellent book
The book was very quickly dispatched and I started to read it last week and I am almost at the end.
I love the book. It is the kind of book which will not let you to close it.
I love the book. It is the kind of book which will not let you to close it.
Published 6 months ago by hlavajana
Amazing story about life and sex but with class
Paulo Coelho is just outstandingly good in this book on how he mixes the sensible art of sex and the real life of a prostitute. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Mr. M
Don't buy this book
I am unsure as to why people have rated this book as anything more than 1 star. The writing is poor and the story is unimaginative and very predictable. Read more
Published 9 months ago by KH
Moving and enchanting
I was captivated by Coelho's description of character's emotional journey. It was so imaginative and yet sensitive. Read more
Published 11 months ago by kaliko
Lacking
I was surprised to find this book was written in such contrasting styles and lacked any natural flow. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Stephen F. Chapman
Easy read...
I bought this book to read on the plane to Denmark. It was an easy read as well as a simple story that we can all relate to in one way or another. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Ms. Amaali
A really excellent read for adults
This book was recommended by a friend who had read it herself, and fell in love with the plot, characters and language used. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Ggold
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