The Zahir - Paulo Coelho

The Zahir

By Paulo Coelho

  • Release Date: 2009-10-13
  • Genre: Short Stories
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 104 Ratings

Description

“Superabundant talent, stunning originality, an elegant way with words… The Zahir is something more.”

-- Los Angeles Times

The narrator of The Zahr is a bestselling novelist who lives in Paris and enjoys all the privileges money and celebrity bring. His wife of ten years, Esther, is a war correspondent who has disappeared along with a friend, Mikhail, who may or may not be her lover.

Was Esther kidnapped, murdered, or did she simply escape a marriage that left her unfulfilled? The narrator doesn’t have any answers, but he has plenty of questions of his own. Then one day Mikhail finds the narrator and promises to reunite him with his wife. In his attempt to recapture a lost love, the narrator discovers something unexpected about himself.

A haunting and redemptive story about obsession, The Zahir explores its potential to fulfill our dreams, and to destroy them.

Reviews

  • The bad old Paulo

    1
    By Jjburgos
    The story line just doesn't seem to gravitates my full attention. I struggle to finish it. I don't recommend. Boring, dry, his worse book.
  • An enjoyable read!

    5
    By Tatiana_marie_
    Although I am not in love with the ending, The Zahir is filled with meaningful antidotes on very relatable life lessons. The reader accompanies the narrator's journey through depression, obsession, discovery. I love reading Coelho's books for the simple reason that I am introduced to new interpretations of my own experiences, allowing me to continuously evolve.
  • Wonderful

    5
    By Bulgarican
    I love this author his books are so wise and real highly recommend
  • Speechless

    5
    By Escomonik
    Incredible! Wonderful! A magnificent piece of art. Involves love, loss, insecurities and certainly hope... I have read this book in three different languages and is just incredible. I digested this book in two days... Is so interesting that you don't want to stop reading and leaves you hungry for more! Paulo Coelho is a talented writer.
  • I can't bring myself to finish it

    5
    By Ifyournicknameistakenyouhavetorewritethewholething?
    I've been reading this book (the paper one) for two weeks, since my wife sent it with me on my trip to Israel, and every turn of the tourbus correlated with a new chapter and some timely revelation. I recommend both, and together. Peace is possible, though the narrator barely seems to believe it. I can't wait to see what turns await in the last few chapters but I think this will let me edit my review if needed. Hopefully it won't be entirely censored like my review of Fruit Ninja was!
  • A masterpiece

    5
    By Aphrodite Lis
    I read this book in a couple of days. Every book by Paulo Coelho is an adventure in it's own and this one will certainly take you for a ride. So full of insight and no less amusing, this book will remain one of my favorites.