Contents
Paulo Coelho is known to all book lovers and even to people who rarely read. The author was born in Brazil in 1947, and since childhood he wanted to become a writer. Despite the misunderstanding of his parents, Paulo developed his talent, and published his first book in 1987. It was called “The Diary of a Magician”, but did not bring fame to the author, and only with the second release of “The Alchemist” did the writer gain popularity. Focusing on the opinions of readers and critics, a rating of the top 10 best works from the Brazilian author was compiled.
10 On the banks of the Rio Piedra I sat down and wept
The work “On the banks of the Rio Piedra, I sat down and cried” takes the tenth place in our rating, which includes the best books by Paulo Coelho. Top 10 opens exactly this creation, but is not the worst of his works. All the books of the eminent author are good and the publications of the writers Eduard Topol, Vladimir Stepanovich Topilin, Alexandra Topazova and many other less popular masters of the pen cannot be compared with them.
The book “On the banks of the Rio Piedra I sat down and cried” is a touching and sincere love story. The main character’s name is Pilar, and she is a vivid example of how in just a week your whole life can turn upside down. She suddenly finds love, and for the first time feels a sense of fear of loss. As in many novels, the heroine has to make a difficult choice.
This book teaches that there is nothing more important than love, because it is she who guides the true path. Through this bright feeling it is easy to come to God, and this can be done in spite of everything in the world. There are no barriers for those who love, the main thing is that the heart does not cool down.
Each person once has to make a choice, on which absolutely everything depends. Paolo Coelho teaches through his works that one should not be afraid of the inevitable. Any fear can be overcome, and the choice is not as difficult to make as it seems.
9. Witch with Portobello
Our rating of books by Paulo Coelho continues the famous work, released in 2007. The author tells us the story of a mysterious girl with the beautiful name Athena. She was born in Romania, but was forced to move first to Beirut and then to London. But who was this mysterious person really?
Athena is the daughter of an Englishman and a gypsy, who was raised as an aristocrat. But she lived on the streets of Portobello until she was killed. The book contains memories of a mysterious girl, neighbors, enemies, friends and love partners speak about her. Whatever her life was, Athena remained in everyone’s soul. But even those closest to her did not know her well enough, although they had been around for a long time.
The book is perfect for young women who have not yet found themselves in this world and only know the inner “I”. People who like mystery stories and a loose plot will also like this book. That is why they deservedly took 9th place among the best works of the Brazilian author.
8. There is only one winner
Books by Paulo Coelho are always interesting to read, because they are not only well written, but also have an unusual and unpredictable plot. This is exactly what can be said about the novel “The Winner Remains Alone”, released in 2008. The plot tells about the Russian businessman Igor, who, after parting with his beloved wife, comes to Cannes. This place is saturated with the atmosphere of show business, glamor and cinema.
Igor wants to visit the film festival in order to meet Eva, his wife, there. She should arrive along with a new young man who works as a fashion designer. Naturally, the main character is not at all happy that his ex quickly found another lover, so he decides to take revenge.
Igor is already 40 years old, he looks great and is well off financially. But thoughts about his wife prevent him from living, they poison his soul. In just one day, a person can change dramatically and do something that he could not even imagine before. The trap slammed shut, but who will be in it?
7. Aleph
Paulo Coelho’s list of books continues with Aleph, a book that is considered an autobiographical novel. It was released in 2011, so it is considered relatively new. The description of the work suggests that the center of the plot is a writer of advanced age. He achieved a lot in life, made various discoveries, gained success and fame that he could not even dream of. However, he feels that his life has come to a standstill, and he has stopped developing.
The only correct solution was offered by his spiritual teacher, who was visited by the writer. When life comes to a standstill, you need to leave the house and go on a long journey. The adventure will allow you to remember your youth and make new discoveries.
The writer decides to travel across Europe and visit Russia, he follows the Trans-Siberian Railway and seeks his happiness. On this road, he meets the violinist Hilal, and it is she who helps the writer to understand his inner world. The main character will have one of the most important and long journeys – the road to himself.
“Aleph” is a worthy work with a deep philosophical meaning. Everyone had to lose himself, to come to a standstill and forget how to enjoy life. If a person lives precisely this period, then it’s time for him to start reading the book “Aleph”.
6. Valkyrie
Paulo Coelho, his list of books is quite impressive and he writes on completely different topics. The work of “Valkyrie” is an autobiography, in which the author talks about an important period of his life, namely, about the time when he was in the “Alternative Society”. This organization was considered a haven for anarchists who did not recognize the current order, ignored the laws and despised capitalism. Moreover, they practiced various black magical rites and believed in mysticism.
But the novel tells not only about the “Alternative Society”, but also about how a person was looking for his guardian angel. The hero went to the Mojave Desert, where he met mysterious warriors. Their leader was named Valkyrie. The hero, along with his wife, decided to go with them in order to finally find peace of mind.
The writer revealed to readers an interesting fact about the fact that the Valkyrie is a real person. However, the master of the pen does not name her, but assures that it was she who once led Paulo to Catholicism. The book “Valkyries” has a fascinating and meaningful story that will help people gain faith.
5. The magician’s diary
As already mentioned, it was The Magician’s Diary that became the author’s first published book, so he simply has to get into the list of famous works. The novel was also published under the title “Pilgrimage” and is considered autobiographical.
In the center of the plot is the journey of Paulo Coelho along the famous Way of Santiago, which many pilgrims have passed since the Middle Ages. On his difficult path, he meets characters who are called mystical guides. He also deals with demonic messengers and tries to understand the nature of truth so that he can receive the Force and learn the mysterious rituals of the Order of RAM.
It is important for the main character not only to understand what the meaning of life is, but also to do a lot of work on himself. Every person once has to think about how this planet works, what are the laws of life. So the main character constantly thinks about the sun, about the wind and in general about the planet. He needs a lot of training to change and achieve what he desires. It is really difficult, but what is given easily, as a rule, is not appreciated.
People, after reading the author’s famous novel, decide to follow the same path and also know themselves. Any reader can get acquainted with a wonderful work and, together with the main character, try to change themselves, become stronger and better. Each person is a sculptor of his personality, therefore he is obliged to work on himself all his life.
This book cannot be put on a par with the fantasy genre, where a hitman learns a non-existent world and fights against evil forces. “The Magician’s Diary” is a philosophical work that tells about the formation of a person, about gaining wisdom, and also about how this planet works. The work is often put on a par with the famous “Alchemist”, which won the hearts of millions of readers. Fans of philosophical and deep books are recommended to read The Magician’s Diary.
4. Eleven minutes
The list of the best books continues the good and controversial work “Eleven Minutes”. It was published in 2003 and was immediately liked by many readers. The novel is dominated by a female theme, the story of a prostitute named Maria is revealed directly in the plot.
The main character talks in the novel about the structure of the world, about problems in intimate life, which is important for her. It is surprising that she, at will, became a woman of easy virtue. She could change her life at any moment, but she likes to work in the field of intimate services.
But the case changes everything – she meets a famous artist who wants to paint her portrait. He knows that the girl works as a prostitute, but he does not see anything reprehensible in this. The artist was interested in the sparkle in the eyes that he saw in the representative of the sphere of intimate services. That is why he wants to repeat the meeting, and already comes to her work.
“Eleven Minutes” is a romantic work that is deservedly included in the top 10 best books by Paulo Coelho. The plot is based on real events, namely, it was told by a real prostitute, whose life cannot be called ordinary. The ending of the work is completely unexpected, and it makes every reader think about many things. The book encourages not to label people just because of their profession and lifestyle. You need to try to understand what is happening in their soul, and then draw conclusions. Each person has a chance to change and start life with a clean face, but sometimes, for this you need to meet the right person.
3. Devil and Senorita Prim
The philosophical novel “The Devil and Senorita Prim” was released in 2000, and its entertaining plot, as well as high quality writing, captivated readers. The work is simple at first glance, but it has a deep meaning that everyone should understand. But more on that later, for starters, it’s worth familiarizing yourself with the plot.
The action takes place in a quiet town, which at first glance can not arouse interest among readers. However, everything is not as simple as it seems. The writer introduces readers to the elderly woman Berta, who has been communicating with her deceased husband for almost 15 years. He promised her that the devil would come for her soon, and therefore she was waiting for a meeting.
An unknown person arrives in a quiet town and decides to stay here for about a week. For mysterious reasons, he buried 11 gold bars in the forest. The stranger met a local resident – a girl named Chantal Prim. She dreams of a better life, but for now she works in the bar of the only hotel in the city. Prim wants to save money in order to leave this boring town.
A stranger makes an unusual offer to Chantal: he is ready to give her a bar of gold in exchange for telling people certain information. Directly, she needs to tell the locals that they need to kill someone, and then they will receive gold. The girl is embarrassed by such an offer, but she nevertheless agrees to fulfill it. A stranger tells her where the gold is buried, and Prim is faced with a choice: steal it, or honestly fulfill the terms of the deal.
It’s amazing what even the most harmless people can do when it comes to big money. As they say, wealth spoils a person, because it can push for bad deeds. The writer with his work is trying to convey to the readers a deep idea that there are no good and bad people. Everyone has both a light and a dark side, and there is a daily struggle between them. The only question is which of them will win, and here it all depends on faith and self-control. Each person is responsible for his life, and absolutely anyone can be both bad and good.
2. Alchemist
The Alchemist is one of the most famous novels of the author, which was recognized as a world bestseller. The plot of the book is based on European folklore, and the main character is a shepherd named Santiago from Spain. He lived in Andalusia, and one day he had a dream in which there were treasures at the Egyptian pyramids.
The shepherd turned to the gypsy in order to understand the interpretation of this dream. After her words, he decided that he should go to Egypt and try to find the treasure there. He receives from the elder stones capable of interpreting the will of the Lord, and in return he gives part of the sheep. In the end, the shepherd decides to leave everything in his homeland and is on his way to Egypt.
In a foreign country, the traveler loses his money, which is why he has to look for work in order to survive. Later, he learns about the mysterious “Alchemist”, whom he soon meets. This is what turns his whole life upside down and makes you think about what is truly valuable in this life.
The work “The Alchemist” is saturated with symbolism, and the reader can notice it if he thinks about the lines. The writer, through his creation, tried to understand what was the meaning of existence. The shepherd was attracted by the unknown, but in fact, everything that a person needs is much closer than it seems. The protagonist of the work was looking for jewelry in a foreign country, which seemed amazing to him. However, he found treasures in his homeland.
The author believes that each person has his own destiny, you just need to follow it and not go astray. In life, there can be many trials that only the strongest can overcome. However, it is important not to give up and persevere until you achieve what you want.
The Alchemist is a wise and meaningful work, quotes from which are remembered by many fans of Paulo Coelho. Books should open eyes to important things, as well as make people better, stronger and more self-confident. The Alchemist is just such a work, and it will find something new for itself, both a young reader and a person of age.
1. Veronica decides to die
“Veronica Decides to Die” is one of the author’s most controversial books, which at first glance may seem depressing, but carries a completely different meaning. The plot tells about the girl Veronica, she is 24 years old, but she has already managed to be disappointed in life. She is bored, she does not know how to enjoy what is happening and considers her existence empty. One day, she finally decides that this can no longer continue, and takes a large dose of sleeping pills.
However, Veronica does not die, the doctors manage to save her and send her to a hospital for the mentally ill. There, the heroine is going to be treated according to a special technique, the main task of which is to teach the girl to enjoy life again. At first, Veronica thinks only about how she would still complete the unfinished business and commit suicide. But the doctors tell her that because of taking sleeping pills, her heart suffered, and the girl had no more than a week to live.
At this point, Veronica realizes that she is not really ready to die. In the hospital, she found a friend who was suffering from depression. She also met a guy named Edward, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia. She falls in love with him, although she realizes that she does not have long to live. The girl decides to run away with him from the hospital so that they can live the last days the way they want. Now she no longer thinks about death and understands how valuable life is.
Based on the book “Veronica Decides to Die”, a film was made, and the work itself is considered a cult. It will interest any reader, regardless of gender and age. The book took an honorable first place, because it not only has a fascinating plot, but is also endowed with a deep meaning. After reading it, each person understands that you need to be able to enjoy life, because it can end at any moment.