This is another gem from bestselling author Paulo Coelho, of which ‘The Alchemist’ might be his best known work. This fable is a beautiful modern love story about a man and a woman, but more than that it is about opening your heart to miracles. Once you start reading this book, make sure you have a few hours available to read through to the end.
Summary
The protagonist of the story is Pilar, a young independent university student who is looking for the greatest meaning in life. Pilar’s life takes an unexpected turn when a childhood friend contacts her and now she is a spiritual teacher, miracle worker and healer. She is surprised to discover that she had always been her great love. Her journey takes them through sacred sites in the French Pyrenees and the power of love.
More in details
The first time I read this book I couldn’t put it down, once I started it. Like many of Coelho’s other books, it has the power to draw the reader in, leaving open the question of what and how much of his story is semi- or autobiographical or real, and where the fiction begins.
The book is written in diary format, each chapter begins with the date and follows the journey of the main character Pilar and her childhood friend discovering love for each other and whether she can sustain the choices of their lives.
Like all of Coelho’s books, ‘By the River…’ also has the underlying theme of religion in an atypical sense. The long-forgotten feminine side and aspect of God, the so-called ‘Goddess’ is present in the love that the two characters feel for each other.
The author uses the story to lead the reader on a self-inquiry into their beliefs about love, rules, the release of inhibitions and fear in order to rediscover faith in humanity.
About the Author
Paulo Coelho was born in 1947 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He wanted to become a writer since his teens, but he only pursued his dream much later in life.
He currently divides his time living in Europe and Rio de Janeiro with his wife Christina.
Coelho’s formula is to write a book combining poetic prose, symbolism, mysticism and the underlying theme to follow your dream.
Recommendation
If you are a romantic, then this is a philosophy book for you. If you don’t mind spending a few hours reading non-stop, crying with the character and being dragged and dragged around the French Pyrenees, this is for you.
I have read both the English and German versions and I must say that the translations leave some things unclear. If you can, I recommend you read it in Portuguese if possible, the original language in which Coelho wrote it.
What I liked about this love story is that it is not predictable. Get ready to find out what really happens to the two characters. ‘All love stories are the same’ is the end of the first chapter. This one is different.