Customer Reviews

Brida ( " Booket " )

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I've never read anything by Paulo Coelho before, so I was rather surprised by the pagan spirituality of this little novel. It's the story of Brida, an Irish girl in training to become a witch. It is full of beautifully worded prose--I found myself making little tics and stars beside many paragraphs to go back and examine again (my apologies to those who get the ARC from me, lol). There is some seriously high minded spirituality folded into this simple book about a woman's quest to learn to use her powers and her heart. I was especially intrigued with the Catholic Christianity woven within the more traditional magical teachings and philosophies. This is, apparently, one of Coelho's earlier works that has finally been translatted from the original Portuguese. I found it a good way to whet my appetite for his other works before I come to a decision of what it is I think of him as a writer.

This is one of the worst books I have ever read. I have always enjoyed this author's works, but this was awful. He should stick to writing what he knows, obviously it is not the concepts of Wicca. It is a very misleading book for people who might think they are actually being taught something about Wicca and modern witchcraft. it is strictly fiction and nonsense. Dancing naked around a fire and a woman named Wicca quoting Jesus all the time- puleese!! It's ridiculous, and not only that, but it is badly written and boring. If you want to learn about soulmates and Irish Druids there are many good books that teach the reality of such things. You don't need to dance naked to be a "wise one" which is what wicca means. And you certainly would never want a teacher quoting a bunch of christianity at you if you wanted to learn about the old religion. St Patrick and the church were killing Druids and pagans (the country people who had their own religion) not snakes. This book was just plain silly. I kept reading hoping it would get better, but it got worse.

The fact that it presents something so complicated as love with such a simple explanation as wizardry, makes a person who is not able to read between the lines,think of it as a uninteresting book. I loved the way the book calls to the feelings of each one of the readers to be for or against the beliefs of the character... Read it if you can!

Let's just say this book is not what I expected it would be after reading the Alchemist,which was great!Like other people said it before me it is boring and towards the end it gets so confusing ,it seems as if even the author himself forgot where he was going with the storyline.I honestly tried to focus on what I was reading but it's hard when it seems like the same words just keep repeating and the author can't get to the 'message 'of the story.I was very disappointed!

I firmly believe that everyone has another part, some people fortunately find it but others have to wait a lot or they never got it.
Coelho describes these in a beautiful way, but, this book is not for everyone, only for those who believe that it's necessary to find the other half to be completely happy...

Coelho is one of my all-time favorite authors, and while I could respect the the themes woven in the subtext of the plot, as well as the usual, excellent writing, I wasn't as thrilled reading this book compared to the others (Veronica Decides to Die, By the River Piedra..., Alchemist). If you're a new reader of his work, I'd start there and skip this one.

I have read all of Paulo Coelho's books and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. Not a masterpiece, but it is solidly written (great flow), enchanting (following Brida's path to self-fulfillment) and enlightening (don't we all need to find our 'path' again every once in a while?). Not as metaphysical as some of his other books. Overall a good, fast read, that succeeds in the reader's evaluation of his/her own life choices after the last page is read.

This is a beautiful book. A different perspective. I don't really know what that reader from Paris read it. This book have not been translated to english yet!!

Si bien coincido con los comentarios acerca de la magia que encierran sus paginas, y la belleza de muchos de sus momentos, recien acabado de leerlo, debo compartir mi sentimiento: no le llega a los pies a "Veronika Decide Morir" o a "El Demonio y la Srta. Prym" los dos mas recientes libros del autor brasileño. Más aún, considero que está por detrás de "El Peregrino" y "El Alquimista".

Sin embargo, no es una mala lectura ni mucho menos. Simplemente, no lo disfruta uno tanto una vez que ha degustado los mejores libros de él, en mi opinión.

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Although I happen to agree with some of the comments made about the book, having just finished reading it, I feel compelled to share my view about it: it's nowhere near "Veronika Decides to Die" or "The Demon and Miss Prym", the brazilian writer's two most recent creations. Furthermore: I consider Brida is nowhere as good as "The Pilgrim" or "The Alchemist" as well.

Having said this, I have to say it's not bad literature, or anything like it. Simply, once you have rejoiced in his best books, it's hard to find this one too compelling.

I like Paulo's books as a Rule, he always makes me think, but at the same time, he can make me more than a little nuts.

The Character Wicca
Reminds me of no Wiccan I have known in 30 years as a Pagan, this book might provide some Guidance to those seeking a Christ-Witch path, but it has nothing to do with Wicca, actual Gardnarian Wicca, nor much to do with the Larger Pagan community, and I see from other reviews I am not the Only Pagan to find "Wicca" unfortunately named, after all it's not 1970 Wicca's been around for awhile and should be respected/ presented for what it is ... at the very least a person representing another path, (however valid) simply should never have been called Wicca. Which makes me wonder if that particular point is not an error in Translation, If the original had been in Italian, and the Witch referred to as Streggia, one could see a translator who is not aware they are two very separate traditions, wrongly translating Stregga as Wicca(n). I do wonder if something like that is going on here, but it really mars the book from this Pagans point of view.

Paulo claims to be an initiate, and that his fiction in part is based on that initiated path, but this book leaves me skeptical, the Quote,"I received a severe reprimand from my Teacher, 'There may well be quicker or easier methods, that doesn't matter; what matter is that the Tradition remains Unchanged.' Strikes me as particularly odd, it may well be what an outsider expects of Magick, Old Old books and Older Ways, but the reality is IMHO quite Different, and I would suggest to Paulo and the Reader, "The Only Tree in the forest that does not change is a Dead One."

The Book has some value, it certainly makes one think, but ... I'm not so sure it provides any real insight into the realities of a Magickal life.

Blessings, BB.