Wednesday, December 20, 2006

BY THE RIVER PIEDRA I SAT DOWN AND WEPT: A REVIEW

It's been ages since I last reviewed a book. As far as I can recall, I reviewed GOD KNOWS by JOSEPH HELLER because that was one of the funniest books I have ever read. Besides, I borrowed the book from the varsity library ever so long ago, and I was afraid that I would forget why I loved it so much.

Other favourite books of mine have thus far avoided being brutally post mortemned by yours truly because there was simply no time to do so. Besides, I feel that books like 'TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD' and THE CATCHER IN THE RYE are far too great to be reviewed by little old me.

Nevertheless, it's not as though this particular book is not that great that I dare review it... it's only the circumstances that led to me getting the book in the first place which prompts me to attempt some reviewing... not what I think about the book, but the cause and effect analysis due to reading the book.

The funny thing was, an old school friend whom I got in touch with only a few months back, read my unimaginable dramatized post and sent me an e-mail and said I could borrow THE ALCHEMIST from her... How so very sweet, she added that she was Coelho's fan, and had most if not all his books in her collection. Simply amazing... to think that we were in the same school since the age of 13 right up to 17 and I never knew this side of her...

Firstly is the way the book is written, the words flow from the book like a tranquil river waiting to meet the sea. Add in a dash of breathtaking view in the midst, and you have pictured the language used successfully.

The story, however, is about love, and it's all sweet and stuff. And awfully painful too. Now, sadly I admit that I don't really believe in true love as there has been nothing whatsoever to prove it's existence... but a part of me occasionally reminds me that it may not be such a bad thing after all. I blame it on quarter life crisis like how John Mayer narrates it on Why Georgia. But I digress... There was nothing to laugh about inside the book, but I found myself laughing all the same... recollecting all the drama that unfolded along the pages of this blog...

In a way, I'm quite glad I made a mistake when buying the book... because you always hear about THE ALCHEMIST and not much of this book wherever you go. Or like what my Moroccan bloggerfriend put up in my comment section: maybe the universe did have a special message for me inside :)

8 comments:

  1. terra shield ,hello! I also love the work of Paulo Coelho!!!! Do you know that he has a newsletter?
    http://www.warriorofthelight.com/engl/index.html
    You can also go to his blog and comment with other readers your impressions... http://www.paulocoelhoblog.com
    it's simply wonderful!
    happy holidays!

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  2. I have this book. I take delight in the wonderful way Coelho weaves his words. =)

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  3. This sounds like an amazing book. I am going to order it right away. But please, don't say you don't believe in true love. I can promise you, it does exist. But you will see for yourself, okay....?

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  4. aart hilal: yeah... thanks for the info :)

    irene: that's one of the most attractive features... poetry in prose. hmmmm

    maryam: It is an amazing book, that's for sure :)

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  5. welcome :)
    happy holidays!
    best,
    Aart

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  6. I just finished reading (again) "By Grand Central Station I Sat Down and Wept" and I still love it.

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  7. loko ka....gagamitin lang namin para sa term paper..d mo pa inayos....sa susunod pag wala kang magawa gumawa ka ng term paper para makatulong ka naman....remember....true love does not exist sa mga taong tulad mo..bwahahaha

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  8. If I may say so myself, catcher in the rye was nothing more than a whiny, spoilt american boy who goes through no personal transition at any point in the novel. This book actually offered the reader with more than just a mediocre view of racism from the viewpoint of a a child, or a 'depressed' brat.

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