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The Zahir: A Novel of Obsession Paperback – July 3, 2006

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Paulo Coelho (Author)
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Paulo Coelho (Author)
188 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Harper Perennial; Reprint edition (July 3, 2006)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0060832819
  • ISBN-13: 978-0060832810
  • Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.8 x 8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (188 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #43,030 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

80 of 86 people found the following review helpful
Finding yourself in searching for another
By Steven R. McEvoy on December 19, 2005
Format: Hardcover
I've returned once again to one of my favorite authors to review his latest work. Paulo Coelho of international fame for The Alchemist, 11 Minutes and The Devil and Miss Prym, has released his latest The Zahir. According to the book, the Zahir in Arabic means present, visible, incapable of being unnoticed. It is something that grabs our thought, mind and spirit and demands our full attention. It is believed to lead to either Holiness or madness. In this book, the Zahir is a woman, an idea of a woman, a longing. Our main character sounds very familiar to our author; in fact our hero is a famous author now living in Paris, with his books being published in nearly every language. (which sounds like Mr. Coelho. This book is being published in 50 countries/languages this year alone. [...]) The author writes books that millions love, adore, and claim changes their lives. Yet he appears to have stopped living the type of deliberate life he writes about. He has settled into a complacent life.
Then one day his wife disappears. Over time she becomes his Zahir; he writes a book about love and for a while the Zahir fades. Then he meets the man he believes she had left with and the Zahir returns.
This is a wonderful story about becoming, and remembering who you were meant to be, not who you settled into. It will stir in you a passion to be more than you think you can be, and, to give more, and love more purely. Follow a man who goes in search of an estranged wife, only to find himself.
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106 of 118 people found the following review helpful
This is not Paulo Coelho's best effort
By John Hudson on November 8, 2005
Format: Hardcover
I am a big fan of Paulo Coelho's work. I believe time will show him to be an important writer.

I first discovered him with "Veronica Decides to Die" on an airplane flight. It made me want to rush out and do something wonderful with my life, and I've recommended it to friends. Several of his titles are permanent parts of my library.

That said, however, I was frankly disappointed by "The Zahir." I don't believe there's the moment of transformation for any main character which we've come to expect from Paulo Coelho. I don't believe there's an adequate exploration of the conflict that gets his tale going in the first place. Things just seem to meander from one place to another until the story fills enough pages to call it a day. I sincerely believe a first time author would have found it difficult to get this published.

Buy the rest of Paulo Coelho's books. Loan them to friends. Keep them in your library so you can read them again and again. But if you really want to read this one, check it out from the public library so that you can return it when you're done.
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37 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Coelho's beautiful tale captures the reader's empathy and interest both
By Omar Siddique TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE VOICE on May 28, 2007
Format: Paperback
Master storyteller Paulo Coelho's stories are all semi-autobiographical in nature, read well, are set in fascinating locations, and leave you thinking the author has somehow seen more deeply into the human spirit than most of us. It's hard to read his books without feeling deeply touched, and The Zahir is no exception.

There are themes of love, belonging, separation, anxiety, heartbreak, understanding, alienation, need, want. Many settings, in many places including Paris, Madrid, Kazakstan. The themes are ones that absorb all humankind whether we realize them or not.

I read this book at a bad time in my life, pulling it randomly from my wife's bookshelf, and being pulled into the book as if it were somehow the correct choice of all the books I could have picked. It spoke to me deeply of love and understanding, in a way that I think many couples, many who have loved or lost will instantly empathize with. Following in the narrator's steps, we arrive where he does, gain wisdom as he does, and achieve enlightenment as he does. And hopefully, find and regain true love that had been neglected, as he does.

Coelho's native language is not English, yet none of his writing feels "translated" or stilted like happens to many foreign writings when they appear in English.

It is as if the author has a special gift for storytelling that transcends individual languages, the the vast number of countries in which his books have been published seems to support that.

Whether you are looking to be entertained by a lively tale, or are seeking solace and understanding as I was, The Zahir will fill your need. If you are in need of both then it behooves you to read everything this master storyteller has written.
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20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
My first one star review
By trainreader on July 31, 2007
Format: Paperback
God, how I hated this book! It starts out OK: a best selling but critically disliked author (the narrator of the book) and his wife become too complacent in their marriage and start taking each other for granted. The wife splits, and, after some serious soul searching, she becomes the author's "Zahir" (which means "obsession" or "great desire." The word is repeated in the book about a thousand times just to clue us in on the profundity of the concept). He then commences on a spiritual quest to get her back (which, at one of the novel's low points, includes frolicking with insightful street beggars). Less than 100 pages in, the book devolves into a silly philosophical surrealistic dissertation on the "energy of love." I swear, it almost reminded me of that dreadful early 70's musical "Godspell," except without the soundtrack. OK, I get it! We should try to love each other! Why not write a three page essay instead of this la-la land book?

To me, "The Zahir," is an author out-of-control with his self-indulgent egoism. I'm wondering if Paul Coelho believed he would start a movement based on the "energy of love," kind of how Ayn Rand started "Objectivism." Fortunately, the type was large and the chapters short -- otherwise I would never have finished the book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

Boring.

Boring. I didn't even care to finish it.

Published 10 days ago by Paula Hornbeck
Five Stars

Excellent!!

Published 14 days ago by Liviu Chiriac
Great Book.

As with all of Paulo's books, the Alchemist was a tough act to follow, but with that said I thought this was one of his better books. Read more

Published 19 days ago by Amazon Customer
I love his books.

I have read few of his books including the Alchamist, and love love his style of writing. Eleven minutes is my favourite.

Published 1 month ago by firazer
A book that makes you understand about your desires and goals

Amazing literary piece by Paulo Coelho. His stories are captivating, simple to understand and help person to associate them with his real life experiences.

Published 1 month ago by Nikhil
Amazing Love & Life Lessons!

On the tree of Paulo Coelho books this is classified as "obsession," which fits the book perfectly. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Vivien Maron
One Star

This book droned on and on without any high points.

Published 2 months ago by lorabora
Good in certain parts

The problem with this pedantic book is that it is written to preach. There is nothing natural even as it tries to address in detail some of the real life issues. Read more

Published 3 months ago by NJ
The story was good. Worth a read

It was an interesting read but I was expecting more. The story was good. Worth a read.

Published 3 months ago by Phoebe Scarborough
Coelho could write the phone book and I would love it. This book is...

Coelho could write the phone book and I would love it. This book is mesmerizing. I have a tattoo of the Zahir in arabic on my wrist... Read more

Published 3 months ago by A. Allen

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