Summary: Amazon: “In this deceptively simple novel, a bereaved lover attempts to chronicle, dissect, and comprehend the often-twisted path followed by Athena, otherwise known as the Witch of Portobello Road. An orphaned Romanian gypsy, adopted as an infant by adoring Lebanese parents, Athena recognized and struggled with the power of her magical gifts at an early age. Spurred on by truths and passions inaccessible to most of her contemporaries, she traipsed around Europe and the Middle East in search of acceptance, enlightenment, and a truer path. Developing a cultlike following, she became the object of a modern-day witch hunt that seemingly culminated in tragedy. Unable to construct a typically straightforward chronicle of her life, her would-be biographer relies on the divergent recollections and reflections of the people who knew–or thought they knew–her best.”

Review: Last March when I was in Galway, Ireland, I entered this charming modern bookstore that covered three stories and was bustling with people.  Books of every genre were everywhere; in other words, it was heaven on earth.  Amongst a display of books by Philippa Greggory (The Other Boleyn Girl movie had just premiered) were other books with very attractive covers.  This is where I first saw The Witch of Portobello– it held my eye with its striking cover and intriguing title.  It was added on top of the stack of books I was going to purchase.  As it turned out, the store didn’t take my Visa, so I was out of luck.

Or was I?  Nearly a year later, back in America, I found this book sitting on a table of paperback in Barnes and Nobles.  Being the intuitive person that I am (*wink*) I realized that finding this book a second time meant I was destined to read this novel.  I bought it, and now that I’ve finished rereading it for the second time, I realize that perhaps I was meant to buy this novel.  I certainly couldn’t stand it if I had to return The Witch of Portobello to the library or a friend; it belongs right there on my bookshelf.

Paulo Coehlo has created yet another work of art.  He’s effortlessly becoming one of my favorite authors.  The Witch of Portobello is told from different perspectives, the perspectives of people who knew Sharine Khalil, the main character who is better known as Athena.  These different characters range from a single session with a numerologist to multiple sessions with Andrea, Athena’s student, to Athena’s teacher Deidre (Edda) O’Neill to journalist Heron Ryan.  These accounts provide both an addictive view into different people’s perspectives but also show the facets and lovely mysteries of Athena herself.  The reader’s view of Athena shifts and changes and morphs into something beautiful and true.

Coehlo explores many concepts in this novel: love, goddess worship, acceptance, change.  He isn’t afraid to open the reader’s eyes to new concepts and possibilities.  Without giving too much of the novel away, the actions of Athena instigate the beginning of all the changes fast approaching in the world.  Athena is a catalyst, and seeing her evolution is amazing and entertaining to read.

As an author, I read with a highlighter and pen in hand to note down what works and what doesn’t.  As soon as I open the first page of The WoP, I have tons of notations!  That is evidence enough that Coehlo’s writing is as addictive as his plot and characters.  For instance, one of my favorite quotes from the novel has to do with divinity’s place in human life.  “We can see the Divine in each speck of dust, but that doesn’t stop us from wiping it away with a wet sponge.  The Divine doesn’t disappear; it’s transformed into the clean surface.” (I do not claim to own that copyrighted material and am only quoting the stunning Paulo Coehlo.)

It was near impossible to set down this novel.  Coehlo’s got me hooked as a repeat reader.  I can only hope that you’ll take the time to read this amazing fiction novel and let it change you, too.

Currently Reading: The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers (3rd Edition) by Christopher Vogler (Amazon)

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