Aleph Novel by Paulo Coelho Book Review

 Aleph, a novel by Paulo Coelho in 2011 explores in to the theme of pilgrimage or let’s says spirituality. We may find the theme quite common as his works like, The Alchemist or the Road to Santiago is purely based on spirituality or pilgrimage. Rumour has that due to lower acclaim of novels like The Winner Stands Alone, Coelho chose spirituality to regain his fame.

 It  is an autobiographical account, one of his books, and comprises of the theme of spirituality. Aleph was written in Portuguese later translated into other languages including English. Actually, the story is about his own epiphany while on a pilgrimage through Asia on the Trans-Siberian Railway.

Talking about the book, it is written in autobiographical narrative but has concepts of incarnation, shamans which makes the book a fiction novel. The book starts with Coelho’s crisis, that is no peace and is thriving to attain, knowing meaning of life (little philosophical at times but yeah sometimes premises are quite vague to accept the conclusion).

He is advised by his mentor J and his wife to take a pilgrimage, Coelho agrees. So, he decides to agree for a series of book signing event in different countries over a period of three weeks. He travels different countries, meets different people who bring something new to him, his perspective his thoughts among the people he met, a girl Hilal was a significant one.

Hilal a playful, passionate, spontaneous musical genius was subjected to sexual abuse when she was a child, and her instable character and frisky behaviour is result of that happening. Her relationship with Coelho is sort of love-hate, and narrator claims to have met her in her previous life and wants her to enter Aleph.

 

Although the book tries to be spiritual at times but it invokes a feeling of scepticism instead of the positive mysticism of The Alchemist which ends on a much happier and humble note.

Together they travel through a mystical voyage transcending time and space;

I have noted some of my favourite quotes, let me share;

“If you spend too much time trying to find out what is good or bad about someone else, you'll forget your own soul and end up exhausted and defeated by the energy you have wasted in judging others.”

“Don’t be intimidated by other people’s opinions. Only mediocrity is sure of itself, so take risks and do what you really want to do.”

“Travel is never a matter of money but of courage”

 “It is possible to avoid pain? Yes, but you'll never learn anything. Is it possible to know something without ever having experienced it? Yes, but it will never truly be part of you.”

“To become really good at anything, you have to practice and repeat, practice and repeat, until the technique becomes intuitive”

“Only children believe they're capable of everything.”

“It’s what you do in the present that will redeem the past and thereby change the future.”

“Sometimes you have to travel a long way to find what is near”

“We become imprisoned by our memories, and that makes our lives wretched.”

“Suffering comes from desire, not from pain.”

“To live is to experience things, not sit around pondering the meaning of life.”

In this journey of self discovery Coelho seeks a path of renewal and growth. The book describes his journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway where he meets Hilal, a gifted violinist.

Well, this book is amazing in its own way but yeah those who are not into spirituality and all may not find this book interesting. Actually, I am also not so fond of spirituality but I did find this book interesting as this book was suggested to me by a friend of mine, who is so into Paulo Coelho books, thank you for suggesting this book...

 I really enjoyed reading! 

                                                Get Your Copy Here