literary letter 6
January 6, 2009Brida
By: Paulo Coelho
Although my overall grade for this book would be between a “C” and a “B”, I’ll settle with a “B”. Despite Mr. Coelho’s way of words on his philosophical books, I could not find this book as amazing as his other work has been. It is, however, an interesting story about a woman who was being taught by the teachers who knew about magic. The characters were pretty fascinating…and frustrating.
I liked Brida’s-the main character-nerves of never giving up no matter what she had to face or what ridiculous rituals she had to do to cross into the enchanting world. I liked her strong nature. Her teachers, although odd, were very encouraging. They often seemed to talk in riddles whenever she asked them questions. Though she had trouble understanding in the beginnings, she learned fairly quickly of the lessons beings taught to her and impressed her tutors all the way.
I sort of thought whether what this book was about is true or not. Due to Mr. Coelho’s true philosophies, I had to ponder about this fantasy-ish story to be correct as well. In my point of view, seriously I don’t see a point in looking for that invisible world. Reality’s complicated enough to struggle more for a supernatural world.
Overall, the conclusion was disappointing. It was a pure anticlimax. Bride was supposed to end up with her Soulmate, but when she didn’t, the book all of a sudden seemed pointless. I mean she WAS learning this process of magic and etcetera to literally look for the love of her life. But her Soulmate, in the end, frees her from him and gently advices her to live her life with her boyfriend. That was so not how it was meant to be, nevertheless, he ruined the story. Brida’s Soulmate, by the way, was one of her teachers who, unlike others, had hopes all along for Brida to finally learn magic and see him as her Soulmate. I honestly still am confused about why he would let her go after all the waiting he had done. The finish was genuinely irritating. If I were in her place, hmm, well truly I don’t know what I would do, but I most probably wouldn’t walk over my soulmate to spend the rest of my life with some one else I can’t exactly be happy with.
Anyhow, good book. Good work by Mr. Coelho.
