The witch of Portobello

We review

The witch of Portobello
By Paulo Coelho

Vision, perception, imagination, these are Coelho's writing charactersitics. From page one he grasps our attention so that we can't let go even if we wish to. He seduces us with an aura of mystery that is present in the story from the start.

The book starts with a note from a character who has decided to record the life of Athena. Instead of a biography it is presented as a series of excerpts from the people who knew her and loved her. We follow Athena on her journey. From a child in Lebanon to an adult in Portobello, we stay by her side, feel joy when she feels joy and feel pain when she feels pain. Her story reignites hope in our slowly crumbling world.

Although a work of fiction, the book tackles real issues, issues that we too encounter on our journey: the finding of ones own moral compass, listening to our truth despite what the world is saying and most importantly gaining the strength to follow ones own path no matter how lonely it may be. With her death mentioned very early in the book we hold no falsehoods that we are reading about the life of a deceased being. The climax involves a different secret. Coelho reveals slowly, like an artist uncovering a long awaited painting, carefully, slowly, piece by piece.

The master of all weavers spins a magical tale once again, this time with 'The Witch of Portobello.' This story is a must read for anyone who has been forced by life to grow up quickly and abruptly, and has found their refuge outside the borders of expectation.

Author of the week: Paulo Coelho

The Brazilian author Paulo Coelho was born in 1947 in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Before dedicating his life completely to literature, he worked as theatre director and actor, lyricist and journalist. In 1982 Coelho published his first book, Hell Archives, which failed to make any kind of impact. In 1985 he contributed to the Practical Manual of Vampirism, although he later tried to take it off the shelves, since he considered it "of bad quality".

In 1987 Coelho published The Alchemist. Slow initial sales convinced his first publisher to drop the novel, but it went on to become one of the best selling Brazilian books of all time. Other titles include Brida (1990), The Valkyries, By the river Piedra I sat Down and Wept, Eleven Minutes, The Zahir.

His work has been translated in 66 languages and edited in more than 150 countries. As if all that isn't enough Coelho is also Messenger of Peace for the UN, Member of the Board of the Shimon Peres Institute for Peace, UNESCO special counsellor for "Intercultural Dialogues and Spiritual Convergences and a member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters. Coelho lives in Rio de Janero with his family.