Just Finished Reading (Yesterday): Aleph by Paulo Coelho
If you don’t know how much I adore Coelho, practically worship in all reality, then you don’t really know me very much at all. I became an avid enthusiast when I first read The Alchemist, still one of my favorite books I’ve ever read. Some people say books will change your life. That one will change your life, I promise.
After reading The Alchemist, I went out and bought every single book he ever published before and after that. To date, there are only a few I do not have of his. Yet, I noticed as I began to read more and more of his work, I grew less and less inspired. I realized he was another Dan Brown, Stephen King, and Danielle Steele in that he is a one-trick pony. Whereas Brown gravitates toward the religion/science clash, King toward the sci-fi, and Steele toward the… Yea, let’s not go there. Coelho writes about inspiration, finding your path, being your own person. It’s very commendable and I love his ideas and beliefs, but Aleph left me feeling as though we’ve only skimmed the surface.
When it comes to spirituality, and I believe he would agree, it’s all about digging deeper, finding something that clings to the soul and unleashing it. Writing about such an experience, as he often times does, is very honorable. All I ask is to leave me breathless, exhausted, and longing for more. Leave me in a state of desire to dig deeper in myself. It sounds like a lot but when you insist on this specific topic, that’s what it deserves.
The book relies on the audience’s belief it’s autobiographical. Coelho fans by now all realize how the author lives and his ideologies. This alone makes an interesting canvas to paint on. Beyond the quotes of how to live, the plot line is lack luster, the characters are dull or melodramatic at best, and the message is lost by the many distractions of absolute insane behavior.
The story supposed to be able the main character re-learning himself and yet I’m never lead to believe he was ever broken, vulnerable, or emotionally inept. To me, this is where change lies: in our darkest moments rather than in our past lives (as he writes).
The language was even dull. Rather than taking us on an adventure with interesting language and colorful characters, many times the reader finds themselves in a train on the brink of another argument between the same two characters. How empty.
I had high hopes for this book. The reviews from others are outstanding. “He has done it again!” they rave. To me, it was just another book, another authorial paycheck.
But at least it had decent quotes in it even though the actual plot lacked a decent climax. Eh.
2/5 stars.
