The Witch of Portobello: A Novel (P.S.)
by Paulo Coelho
List Price:
Our Price: $3.36
You Save: $11.63 (78%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Paulo CoelhoEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-02-05
ISBN: 0061338818
Number of pages: 312
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Book Reviews of The Witch of Portobello: A Novel (P.S.)
Book Review: An excellent improvement
Summary: 5 Stars
Let me state this bluntly - I read Coelho's famous "The Alchemist" and absolutely hated it. I found it a stupid, simplistic waste of time. I picked this up because the title and cover photo looked interesting and I thought, "Hey, let's give him another chance."
Most second chances end in disappointment, but this ended in delight and surprise. I thoroughly enjoyed "The Witch of Portobello". The style is less stupidly watered down than "The Alchemist" and the story is actually readable. I was also significantly more impressed by Mr. Coelho's writing as well, as he managed to create a multi-perspective story well and I was able to keep track of the characters at all times.
And yet I give this novel a FOUR STAR rating. It's not, really. It's somewhere between a four and a five. It's enjoyable, well-written, and down-right fascinating. While in "The Alchemist", Mr. Coelho jams a bit too much down the reader's throat in so little time, here the religious and mystical theme is well-spaced and wide. And it's all very novel-like. One can view it as reality, or one can view it as fantasy. Whichever you want.
But some readers may not like that. Some may not like Mr. Coelho's style (though I assure you, this is nothing like "The Alchemist" - no foolish simplicities, dull characters, or silly non-plots), but here it flows elegantly. Athena is a curious character, and viewing her from all directions except her own is revealing and fascinating. Also, absolutely enjoyable. Dialogue is occasionally a bit long and speech-like, but on the whole it's relatively good.
I do recommend this book. I enjoyed it; others might not. It's a grand improvement over "The Alchemist" and a plain good book. Expect to think a bit about all sorts of things. And even if you don't like it, stick it out until the end - it's worth it.
Summary of The Witch of Portobello: A Novel (P.S.)
How do we find the courage to always be true to ourselves?even if we are unsure of who we are?
That is the central question of international bestselling author Paulo Coelho's profound new work, The Witch of Portobello. It is the story of a mysterious woman named Athena, told by the many who knew her well?or hardly at all. Like The Alchemist, The Witch of Portobello is the kind of story that will transform the way readers think about love, passion, joy, and sacrifice.
Latin American Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Latin American Books
El otoño del patriarca (Vintage Espanol) (Spanish Edition)by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Vintage; Published: 2010-08-31; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.98
Price in other shops:
Cien años de soledad (Vintage Espanol) (Spanish Edition)by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Vintage; Published: 2009-09-22; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.81
Price in other shops:
Yawar Fiesta (Texas Pan American Series)by Jose Maria Arguedas
Univ of Texas Pr; Published: 1985-03; Hardcover; Book
Price in other shops:
Neruda: An Intimate Biography (Texas Pan American Series)by Volodia Teitelboim
University of Texas Press; Published: 1991-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $75.32
The Shattered Mirror: Representations of Women in Mexican Literature (Texas Pan American Series)by María Elena de Valdés
University of Texas Press; Published: 1998; Hardcover; Book
Price in other shops:
Convergences: Essays on Art and Literatureby Octavio Paz
Mariner Books; Published: 1991-06-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $16.39
Price in other shops:
Poems of the Night: A Dual-Language Edition with Parallel Text (Penguin Classics)by Jorge Luis Borges
Penguin Classics; Published: 2010-03-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.65
Price in other shops:
The Book of Imaginary Beings (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)by Jorge Luis Borges
Penguin Classics; Published: 2006-09-26; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.63
Price in other shops:
Zorroby Isabel Allende
Harper Perennial; Published: 2006; Paperback; Book
La novia oscura: Novela (Esenciales) (Spanish Edition)by Laura Restrepo
Rayo; Published: 2009-05-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.64
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
The Fifth Mountain: A Novel (P.S.)by Paulo Coelho
Harper Perennial; Published: 2009-02-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.35
Price in other shops:
The Devil and Miss Prym: A Novel of Temptation (P.S.)by Paulo Coelho
Harper Perennial; Published: 2007-04-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.75
Price in other shops:
Veronika Decides to Die: A Novel of Redemptionby Paulo Coelho
Harper Perennial; Published: 2006-05-23; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.98
Price in other shops:
Eleven Minutes: A Novel (P.S.)by Paulo Coelho
Harper Perennial; Published: 2005-03-29; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.98
Price in other shops:
By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept: A Novel of Forgivenessby Paulo Coelho
Harper Perennial; Published: 2006-05-23; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.95
Price in other shops:
The Valkyriesby Paulo Coelho
HarperOne; Published: 1996-08-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.00
Price in other shops:
The Zahir: A Novel of Obsession (P.S.)by Paulo Coelho
Harper Perennial; Published: 2006-07-03; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.95
Price in other shops:
Brida: A Novel (P.S.)by Paulo Coelho
Harper Perennial; Published: 2009-02-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.48
Price in other shops:
The Pilgrimage (Plus)by Paulo Coelho
HarperOne; Published: 2008-09-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.46
Price in other shops:
Warrior of the Light: A Manualby Paulo Coelho
HarperOne; Published: 2004-03; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.51
Price in other shops: