Paulo Coelho: Philosopher or Brain Washer?

[Kash2Smash]

Hello

Recently i have began reading Paulo Coelho. I am sure many must have read his books... I have read The Alchemist and 2 chaps away from finishing "Veronika Decided to Die"

The books are good and i like it, though, sometimes i feal that he is trying to brain wash people and poses his ideas in his book in terms of philosophy. Believeing in karma, god, nature, etc... i love his book, The Zahir.. etc... his obsession for Middle East despite the fact that he is from Brazil, is very interesting, i would like to read some comments from his other readers in this forum (if there are any)...

thank you

kash

[sel]

I wouldn't call it brainwashing, it's just that he has a certain outlook on his life which he imbibes in the themes and characters of his novels.

However, the more I read of him the less I liked him, mainly due to the fact that they're all so unbelievably similiar to each other. I read the Alchemist and thought it was a decent read, which I followed up with The Witch of Portobello. Again, I thought this was a decent read, but in many ways rather like the Alchemist. I stopped reading the Zahir halfway through since it basically felt like I'd already read it twice.

[Kash2Smash]

very true... i started reading his books because of my best friend who told me that they are awesome... now he says that he doesnt like the author anymore... msot of them are quite similiar...

[Dream Brother]

I've never read any of Coelho's work, unfortunately. This does bring up the classic, interesting question of novels as a medium for moral edification, though. Is a novel a tool for instruction or does that demean the act of writing? Art for art's sake or art as a method of teaching? Iris Murdoch (both a philosopher and novelist) said that philosophy aimed at clarification, and literature was distinguished from this in that it was interested in mystification. Keats said something that sounds a lot like the sentiments in your post -- 'we hate poetry that has a palpable design upon us—and if we do not agree, seems to put its hand in its breeches pocket.' Whether one agrees with these stances or not, the point is that there has always been this debate between the two fields and how/if they intertwine.

What you dislike about Coelho is, I'm assuming, the 'palpable design' you feel when you read his work. If this is the case, then I agree with Keats in that I heavily dislike it too -- I never like things being pushed on me, which is why I avoid fiction that indulges in preaching, preferring works that go for as much objectivity as possible.

[Kash2Smash]

thnks mate.. i guess your complicated words do make sense to me :P i guess he is just very religious and maybe thats why people who arent really dont like him, btw i am relgious as well but still hahahaha

[ScaryRei]

I've only read The Alchemist. It's one of my favorite books. I've always meant to look up Coelho's other works but based on these comments, maybe it's not necessary. :amuse

[pfft]

hmm I read and LOVE The Alchemist; and I plan on readin the devil and miss prynn soonish.

I don't care if a book seems like its preachy... a person wants to send a message; thats fine. I am smart enough to know whether or not I want to agree with said views.

That said; when I do read The Devil and Miss Prynn I will look out for some of these things you brought to my attention.

[Mattaru]

I quite liked The Alchemist. It was a rather simple story, and the message about the pursuit of 'treasure' in your life left me smiling after I put the book down. I wouldn't say it was fantastic though; the philosophy was hardly deep, but I wouldn't condemn it as 'brain-washing' either.