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The Zahir: A Novel of Obsession
 
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The Zahir: A Novel of Obsession (Paperback)

by Paulo Coelho (Author)
2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
RRP: £7.99
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Product details

  • Paperback: 368 pages
  • Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd (2 May 2006)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0007220855
  • ISBN-13: 978-0007220854
  • Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 12.8 x 3 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 29,285 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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    #14 in  Books > Fiction > Authors, A-Z > C > Coelho, Paulo

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Product Description

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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Customer Reviews

47 Reviews
5 star:
 (7)
4 star:
 (11)
3 star:
 (10)
2 star:
 (7)
1 star:
 (12)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
2.9 out of 5 stars (47 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Confused but yet content., 14 Jun 2005
This review is from: The Zahir: A Novel of Love, Longing and Obsession (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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19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars 3 and a half stars really. ., 12 Jun 2005
By Brida "izumi" (Worcs) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)      
This review is from: The Zahir: A Novel of Love, Longing and Obsession (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.

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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars It actually made me angry..., 21 Feb 2007
By J. Gibson "janeyg -" (edinburgh) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I have really liked Coelho's book but this was a real let-down. The incessant spirituality, the pretentious idea of 'love' and energy began to infuriate me. It's a real shame because the first few chapters of the book I felt a real empathy with the character and was gripped by it but then I became less absorbed and more annoyed and frustrated by the ideas of how we understand love.

For me, it felt like the definition of love given within this book was exclusive, limited and elitist. To only be able to understand love by meeting a set of criteria and another person's ideals infuriates me and the latter tone of the book I found pretentious and actually felt more and more alienated from what he was trying to achieve. Added to this unlikeable and weak characters - it did nothing for me.

This could have been much, much more...
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars self-indulgence?
I read every word as it was a book group choice but I found it self-indulgent and not worth whatever money I paid for it. Read more
Published 1 month ago by J. Uphill

1.0 out of 5 stars the worst book I have ever read?
I have just done something which as a bibliophile I find rather shocking - I have put a book in the bin. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Paul Mulvey

3.0 out of 5 stars I am a Paulo fan
I have read many of Paulos books however this is not one of his best, it is slightly long winded although the stories message is a very good one, if you read all the time its... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Paulo

1.0 out of 5 stars Why?
To me, this book feels more like a reflection of the author's perception of himself.

A charactor states part way in a book, that any novel is always in some part... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Anonymous

4.0 out of 5 stars A novel of obsession
I hadn't read a Paulo Coelho book for a while and this book has reminded me what I love about his writing. I am definitely intending to read more of his work. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Maria Savva

5.0 out of 5 stars My favourite
This is the first Paulo Coelho book I read and since then he has become one of my favourite authors. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Dhawal Mohan

1.0 out of 5 stars Self-indulgent disappointment
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. Read more
Published 11 months ago by S. Wood

2.0 out of 5 stars not one of his best
Obviously everybody who reads this book will probably have a different opinion about it, but after reading several of his books I was a bit disappointed with this one. Read more
Published 14 months ago by dee

3.0 out of 5 stars What really matters?
This is not the best I have read from Paulo Coelho, but as always I know I'm going to remember some of the profound messages it portrays. Read more
Published 15 months ago by OEJ

5.0 out of 5 stars A tale of love, longing and obsesssion
Without a doubt this book is a truly great piece of work. Not the simplistic and beautiful message we can easily absorb and receive in the Alchemist... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Claire Finnerty

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