Worth reading
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This is my second reading for Paulo Coelho, Such amazing wonderful reading that I was enjoying each minute of it. I liked this as much as I liked The Alchemist.
The concept of the story ( despite the job of the main character as a hooker ) it gives alot of moral and themes for personal life.
This man has a lovely style of writing that capture you with him till the end, especially with this novel from a woman side
Overall, it is a worth reading for those who would like to understand the male and female for different sides.
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Another 'follow your dreams' novel
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Having sworn never again to read any more Paulo Coelho, my book group chose Eleven Minutes as this months read. This is now my 4th book by the author and I am no more a fan than after the first. I find his patronising style simplistic and child-like and he repeats 'key' statements ad nauseum throughout his books. While they are often quick reads - this one took less than 24hrs - I still end up wondering why I bothered.
Maria, a naive young Brazilian girl, decides to take a week's vacation in Rio de Janiero. There she meets a talent scout on the look out for dancers to perform in Geneva. Maria decides to take a chance but finds that things are not quite as she'd been led to believe. When she gets sacked for missing a day's work, things start to go down hill rapidly. She is almost broke when a man offers her a huge sum to sleep with him and from this it's not such a large step to becoming a high class prostitute, serving several men each night. Money is plentiful and Maria enjoys her status - will she continue with this life or return home with money and buy a farm??
In true Paulo Coelho style there is plenty of moralising about the subject, following on from the theme of following your dream in 'The Alchemist'
The character of Maria is apparently based on the life story of a prostitute that PC met while in Switzerland, but I still found her sudden expertise on sexual problems rather unbelievable.
I also thought the novel was rather sexually explicit for a book that I might find myself reading on the bus or other public place. Personally I feel that there is a fine line decreeing what is acceptable in a book for general consumption and this crossed it.
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Wonderful!
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Having loved Veronika decides to Die I had bought Eleven minutes and The Alchemist but unfortunately had never got around to reading them, until yesterday when recovering from a nasty flu&feeling slightly bored I decided to read Eleven minutes. That was it the minutes flew and before I knew it it was six thirty the next morning and I'd finished it. I could not put it down, another amazing book from an amazing writer. I love the fact that Coehlo can address the most nitty gritty of subjects with a tangible realism. Although his subject was sex it never felt like he was going too far he seemed to strike a perfect chord, even when re-telling the most degrading of Maria's sexual journeys. The honesty in which this book is written is beautiful you can truly relate to his character and understand that all she is searching for is love, yet a full love that revolves around an everday life. A closeness with someone that holds much more than just sex!. She takes us on a journey of honesty and we love her for that. She learns the true meaning of love in all its forms and makes us all think alittle about the difference between sex and making love. It is a gripping story with so many hidden meanings and as ever Paulo makes us question our own existence and indeed our own sexuality. Another inspirational piece of reading from the great Paulo Coelho. The Alchamest here I come!
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a very poor book
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He is really is hyped. But this book shows him up to be qute a tedious writer. Repetition, lack of characterisation, little plot. All makes this book very slow and tedious. Possibly the problem lies with him having too much creative control now. NOT RECOMMENDED
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Shallow love offering from Paul Coelho
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I bought this book as I loved 'The Alchemist' and was eager to hear what
Paul Coelho had to say about love.
If you're after a 'nice' but tame novel on the depths of love then this would be decent, enjoyable holiday reading.
However, if you're looking to continue to build on the depths of Alchemist, then I would suggest you check out Erich Fromm's 'The Art of Loving'.
The fact that I bought this book from a '£1 for any book' store, probably
tells its own story.
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