Aleph

First off, as a descendant from a Russian family, I now have to visit Russia - I just had to say that. Secondly, why does Mr. Coelho have to end these journeys - why? Between this one and also The Pilgrimage (also by the great Paulo Coelho) we are taken on a journey and you are pulled in like you are floating in the air watching the journey happen - a fly on the wall - and you learn all of these things about life and you get to see yourself in many of them - and you see a new view of this world - and then the journey ends, and each time I cry for days and I can't pick up the next book in his bibliography and I feel lost. I know that this means that I have my own travels and journey's to go on, but with Mr. Coelho's journeys and books, I feel like I am going on a trip with a someone that wants to hold my hand through it all and the lessons - some of them harder than others - and make sure that I, the reader, am taken care of and protected and safe while experiencing things I would never had otherwise.Oprah once said that she raised millions of children from her talk show - and that is true - but I am here to tell you, Mr. Coelho is raising millions and millions of humans - and good humans at that with a book like Aleph and all of his other works. And we are all the better for it.

Are you experiencing a gnawing sense of discontent in your life? Feeling unhappy with the state of your reality? Then, this book might be good for you to read. For those who've been on a personal and spiritual development path for some years, much of this book will simply be a reminder to reconnect with your soul, to once again discover what brings joy and new life to your existence.This book was a quick and flowing read that provided great imagery, which easily transported me into the world and interactions of the characters. A story dominated by universal themes of life, death, rebirth, the cycles of change, shifting perspectives, worlds, and dimensions...how we and all of life are in a constant state of being changed into another form.As a woman, I particularly applaud and very much appreciate how the central character was able to transmute/channel his desire and attraction for a young woman in a way that allowed him to recognize, experience, and move through hot desire, while honoring his commitment to his wife. I wish more people would realize that we don't have to live out transient and fickle bodily desires in physical reality. We do indeed have the ability to accept the strong and compelling forces that arise within us and to then act consciously in the best interest of all present or absent parties involved.I did feel as if the book contained a bit of "navel-gazing." Some readers may be put off by the strong theme of "past lives." However, ultimately there were some beautiful and moving lines within the text and an overall story that helped inspire me to get out of my routine and embark on some new adventures in my own life.

The second book I read from Paolo, and I was swept away by the presentation of the stories within this work and the feelings behind the characters realities. Paolo works within layers of spirituality and discovery of self and purpose with several characters who you get to know and try to understand throughout the book, but soon realize that this understanding is fluid and coming to that realization is part of the journey.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011, from my blogspot.. Aleph, by Paulo CoelhoWhen you read Coehlo, you go on a soul journey. This is not one of his best books, in my estimation, but I stuck with it, and came away with the best way to describe life to young people who are still learning.the hard way. His analogy of a train is a wonderful way to describe to young people the way life is. Imagine life as a train and a train car you are riding in, any time you want to change that car, it is within you to be able to get up and walk into the next car, and the next car and so on. What a good way to say it! You can choose your car, your travel mates, etc. Books like this , which cause us to examine our lives are a wonderful way to relax and try to understand the why and what of life. They often help you to analyze what is happening and why you are bringing sad events into your life, that you can control by your choices.Can we all go on a long journey in real life and discover the answers to our questions, I think not. The train trip is also an analogy of life itself, as a long journey, that leads us to meet people, and someone in that crowd of people, if we give him or her time to know us , has answers for our soul, if we want to stop and try to discover , try to understand, etc. How often will any of us ever get this opportunity? Maybe never in this life time, and then maybe through introspection you realize that someone was a motivator in your life, sacrificing his or her own life to give you a lesson that awakens your soul. Maybe this is hard to understand, but I tried in my book to say this, under cover of stories from different people, about events that happened in their lives.So, if you want to spend some time with your soul try a little Coelho.Madlyn Fafardauthor, "Secrets of the Heart"

While I'm a big fan of Paulo Coehlo and consider The Alchemist to be one of my favorite books, I have mixed feelings about this story. As is usual with this writer, he interweaves a fascinating story of trying to find himself while on a book signing trip across Russia and has a chance meeting with a young girl who he knew in a previous life and who he had had hurt very badly...I found that interesting, but this really is a book for religious adherents who believe in reincarnation. He writes about standing in a place where everything is one and his life experiences flash before his eyes. He also describes an exercise to get to this "special place" and then puts an advisory or disclaimer that this practice shouldn't be followed. However there were some very thought provoking passages that would appeal to everyone, but I really didn't enjoy it as much as his other books...I found it a bit self-serving...but his diehard fans will probably love it.