Book Review : Brida

Title : Brida

Author : Paulo Coelho

Birda is a book that explores the theory of occult and that of soulmate. Twenty year old Brida is in search of a teacher who could guide her to learn magic. She wants to be on a spiritual journey of self-discovery. Her search leads her to a man, The Magus, who recognizes Brida as his soulmate but  does not share this realisation with her. He puts Brida to a test which she completes and the wisdom that she takes out of that test stays with her for the following steps. She is then led to another teacher Wicca who happens to be Magus's ex-lover but follows a different tradition of magic. On the day that is ascertained as Brida's initiation day, she gets to understand that there  is a possibility of meeting two soulmates in one lifetime as well.

While I highly appreciated 'The Alchemist' by Paulo Coelho, the same cannot be said about Brida. The first point where the disconnect starts to surface is when the author mentions the tradition of Sun and the tradition of Moon but never explains what they exactly are, which is sure to leave the readers guessing and intrigued. As the narrative progresses, the missing link never gets repaired and hence it keeps losing the readers. However, one continues to read through it with the hope that since it is Paulo Coelho's book, eventually it will lead to something really grand and special, but that never happens. The storyline is sketchy and jumps from magic, mysticism, auras, gift, to soul mates making it a potpourri of daze and confusion.

However, there are some quotes worth mentioning here which salvages the book to some extent :

"Nothing in the world is ever completely wrong. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day."

"Judging oneself to be inferior to other people is one of the worst acts of pride, because it's the most destructive way of being different."

Book Review : The Alchemist

Title : The Alchemist

Author : Paulo Coelho

Publisher : Harper Collins

ISBN : 9780061233845

There is time for everything. Nothing happens by chance because there is the force of universe that makes things happen the way they happen and when they have to happen. I must confess that though I have heard so many good things about the book 'The Alchemist' as well as the author, - Paulo Coelho, it took me a long time to pick this book up and read it. It has been on my reading wish list for the longest period of time. But it is indeed true, there is time for everything and nothing can pre-pone or postpone the natural occurrence of that happening.

Now after having read this book, I can say sometimes delay is for good. Perhaps it was waiting for that space and attention in my mind which it deserved and I am happy that it could get its worth. Even after having read it a couple of weeks back, I have taken so many days to write about the book. I wanted the written matter of the book to sink it, get digested and get soaked in my self. This sinking, digesting and soaking is perhaps one of those things which Paulo Coelho categorizes as "It's the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary" and the extraordinary-ness of the same is understood only by experiencing it.

The Alchemist is a story of a young shepherd boy who ventures to follow his dreams of treasure in a distant place. On the journey, many experiences, incidents and people await him to transform him into a wise and enlightened individual. Paulo Coelho beautifully accentuates the significance of the journey over that of the destination. The treasure could be anything - riches, love or divine wisdom but the same becomes secondary compared to what all is gathered and what all is assimilated on the way to reach the destination. And once that is done, it becomes immaterial whether destination is actually reached or not as the pleasurable journey itself becomes the goal.

The Alchemist is one of those unique books which are packed with insightful acumen without overwhelming the readers.  The ability to listen to one's personal legend, understanding the closeness to the Soul of the World, utilising the positive force to achieve the personal legend is what this life is all about. And universe ensures that to an individual who is determined enough, the Personal Legend does get revealed.

"When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."

"Everyone when they are young, knows what their Personal Legend is. At that point in their lives, everything is clear and everything is possible. They are not afraid to dream, and to yearn for everything they would like to see happen to them in their lives. But, as time passes, a mysterious force begins to convince them that it will be impossible for them to realize their Personal Legend. "

The enthusiasm to take every moment as it comes, the dexterity to give the best to that moment and then the gratification of  having given done one's best, is all that is required for a successful living. Its when we try to steer our life's sail against the tide because of innumerable fears and apprehensions, that the problem begins."We are afraid of losing what we have, whether it's our life or our possessions and property. But this fear evaporates when we understand that our life stories and the history of the world were written by the same hand."

The author talks about significance of various other aspects in our lives like - voice of heart, dreams as God's messages, role of an individual in the cycle of life and positive force working its magic strangely. The written text would inspire you - to follow your intuition no matter how illogical it may sound to others, to unlearn a few things in order to make room for new, to explore beyond obvious, to see past prejudices and perceptions and much more. 

Undoubtedly, a 'must read' book.