If you do not pay enough heed to the profound wisdom of the book, then The Witch of Portobello by Paulo Coelho is just a fiction written in a documentary style. We follow the life of Athena as told by people who knew her: her mother, her ex-husband, a lover journalist, an actress who despised her, her teacher, and others. We are made aware of the fact that Athena was murdered; however, the cause of murder is unknown. This could very well appear to be a murder mystery, but the plot quickly establishes that The Witch of Portobello would not fit into any conventional genre.
Why should you bother about Athena? There are many “Athena” in the world of fiction, then what makes Paulo Coelho’s Athena anyone special? The answer is as straightforward as the daylight. Athena of The Witch of Portobello is, like many of us, seeking answers that lie beyond our mediocre lives. Athena had it all: money, love, a child, a successful career, yet a void was always nagging her. She went far and beyond in search of anyone who could guide her.
Instead of mere answers, she discovered a way to connect to the Mother. This connection blessed her with a supernatural ability, which brought both fear and admiration of people. So, why should you bother about Paulo Coelho’s Athena? Because she would transform you from a mere reader to an extraordinary human being. Her journey would implore you to connect to your creator. She challenges the readers to find ways to fill that stubborn void that demands our attention.
Our soul craves for something that most of us do not comprehend. Paulo Coelho has the talent to awaken our desire to get in touch with our soul. His stories urge us to look beyond the ordinary world. We begin looking for answers that we didn’t even know we needed. The Witch of Portobello talks about a dance that improved the lives of people. Although the idea appeared far-fetched, it awakened the desire to achieve a similar state. Eventually, the plot reveals the mystery of Athena’s murder, but that was never the sole point of The Witch of Portobello by Paulo Coelho. You gain so much more than just an intriguing fiction: an awakened soul, fascinating ideas about love, and a longing to look beyond the physical world. In short, The Witch of Portobello is another enriching contribution by Paulo Coelho.
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