The Zahir: A Novel of Obsession
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Review
'Coelho's writing is beautifully poetic but his message is what counts… he gives me hope and puts a smile on my face.' DAILY EXPRESS
'His books have had a life-enhancing impact on millions of people.' TIMES
'One of the few to deserve the term "Publishing Phenomenon".' INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY
'Coelho's talent to inspire his readers with wisdom and hope … is as strong as ever. There is a forgiving kindness and humanity that is unmistakeable and tremendously appealing.’ DAILY MAIL
‘It's like music, really, the way he writes, it's so beautiful. It's a gift that I envy above all others.’ JULIA ROBERTS
Product Description
‘The Zahir’, Paulo Coelho's new novel available in paperback for the first time, incorporates exclusive new content including an extra section containing interviews with Paulo and plenty of information for those for whom the book just wasn't enough.
It begins with a glimpse or a passing thought. It ends in obsession.
One day a renowned author discovers that his wife, a war correspondent, has disappeared leaving no trace. Though time brings more success and new love, he remains mystified – and increasingly fascinated – by her absence. Was she kidnapped, blackmailed, or simply bored with their marriage? The unrest she causes is as strong as the attraction she exerts.
His search for her – and for the truth of his own life – takes him from France to Spain, Croatia and, eventually, the bleakly beautiful landscape of Central Asia. More than that, it takes him from the safety of his world to a totally unknown path, searching for a new understanding of the nature of love and the power of destiny.
With ‘The Zahir’, Paulo Coelho demonstrates his powerful and captivating storytelling.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I have been a fan of Paulo Coelho for ages and was really looking forward to the release of this novel. I have always loved his books and what they uncover, however, now that I have read it, I am not sure whether I enjoyed it or not.
The story is about a successful author discovering that his wife, who works as a war journalist, has disappeared without trace. Has something terrible happened to her, or has she simply walked out of his life without first giving him a reason? He seems to be unable (or unwilling) to believe the latter, as it was this very woman who encouraged him to write in the first place. However, there is a particular man who seems to know more about his wife than he does, and it is through the help of this man that the author goes on a journey of his own to find his wife again. .
The title of the book itself, The Zahir, comes from a short story by Jorge Luis Borges. It is meant to come from Islamic tradition and it means visible, present and incapable of going unnoticed. Anything can become the zahir, and once a person comes into contact with it, it is all they can think about. In Coelho's novel, the wife of the author becomes his zahir, and she is all he can think about since she went.
Coelho examines the very meaning of what it is to be human in this novel, especially in regards to a human in love. Love and obsession are often quite similar, and both can be just as destructive as the other. This, I think, is the essence of what Coelho is trying to put across to his readers in his latest offering. The fact that the main protagonist doesn't have a name applied to him makes you wonder whether this novel is coming from a very personal space of Coelho's soul. It made me wonder as I was reading, is he trying to say that although he has been regarded as a popular and very successful writer on spirituality for years, he is just human underneath it all, and like anyone, he is just as likely to unconciously neglect a person he loves as he develops his own life/career?
It has been a few days now since I finished the book, and although I have thought about it, I am not completely sure why I didn't enjoy this offering as much as his previous books. Maybe my expectation was so great I was bound to be disappointed. Maybe a second reading would make me see things a different way, and I could appreciate it more. Die hard fans of Coelho will probably enjoy it, but I suggest if you are new to his work begin with THE ALCHEMIST, VERONIKA DECIDES TO DIE, or BY THE RIVER PIEDRA I SAT DOWN AND WEPT.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This was my first dip into Coelho; I bought it as it appeared to be one of the few books by a decent author at Manchester airport. Unfortunately, I am left hugely disappointed by a book that is repetitive, self-indulgent and wholly lacking in depth; I felt no empathy for any of the characters and feel none the wiser nor enriched for having stuck it through to the end. I look forward to reading The Alchemist but can only hope that it is a class above the juvenile drivel on offer in The Zahir.
30 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I am a huge fan of Coelho's work and wait with baited breath for the for his latest book to be published. I don't mind admiting that I have even asked friends of mine, fluent in Coelho's native tongue, to read me the books that have not yet been published in English. However, the Zahir has left me feeling troubled, and not because I did not enjoy his work, but because yet again Coelho has made me reach into my soul and take a deeper look at my life. I was 19 when i first read the Alchemist, and now seven years on I feel that that same sense of confusion that I did in my teenage years. Yet finally i feel content because The Zahir, explains so clearly that to feel this way is the best way to live life. Paulo manages to explain through his own personal loss and gain what Gilbran tried to explain in his love letters. I truely believe that only by trying to make sense of all of the bad times can you truely apreciate the great. This book had touched my heart and further opened my eyes to the world around me. Paulo Coelho I thank you from the depths of my soul for helping my on the journey to get rid myself of the pain of the past. if like me you ever become feel just that little lost, I suggest that you take time to read The Zahir
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Not Coelho's best work
I bought "The Zahir" with great anticipation, having recently read "The Witch of Portobello", which I found to be an unbridled joy to read. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr. R. A. Gregory
Very good book!
I have only one advice: read this book! I just enjoyed it from the beginning to the end. You are travelling with Paulo Coelho during all your reading. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Maë
Great book
A great book written by Paulo Coelho ! The journey of a rather selfish writer towards finding his wife who has left him. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Katerina
Another winner from Paulo
being a massive Paulo fan, and having read quite a few, maybe half of his published books now, i would rate this as one of my favorites, quick and easy to read, yet, i had to stop... Read more
Published 7 months ago by JustZo
Uncovering the Layers of this Story
"The Zahir" by Paulo Coelho takes the reader on a voyage of exploration into the mysteries of love. This book is written as if the author himself is the main character, and he... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Jenna
Actually NO stars
This book was too awful to be classed as the worst book I have ever read - it is by itself in its own super-awful category, not fit to be placed on the same scale as any of the... Read more
Published 13 months ago by vix2402
`There are two kinds of world: the one we dream about and the real...
In this novel, an unnamed, internationally famous author is left by his wife Esther, suddenly and without explanation. Read more
Published 15 months ago by J. Cameron-Smith
More of the same, but worse
This is my sixth Coelho book, for me they've been very hit and miss. I'm not really a spiritual person, and I'm far from religious, but I approach his books with an open mind. Read more
Published 17 months ago by G. Andreou
Brilliant
This is the second book i have read of Paulo Coelho, and i completely loved it. His books let you escape to a world that is so much more better, there are always such good lessons... Read more
Published 22 months ago by secretwish
Soppy and repetitive.
To begin with, this book is fine. It creates a setting that has potential for suspense, and is bearable for the first half. Read more
Published on 1 Jan 2010 by EirikFM
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