The Valkyries (Paperback)

by Paulo Coelho (Author) "THEY HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ALMOST SIX HOURS..." (more)
Key Phrases: second mind, Borrego Springs, Los Angeles, Mojave Desert (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
There is enough interest in angels to ensure this peculiar little book a significant audience. It traces a spiritual journey of sorts, stereotypically cast as a journey into the desert, that embodies a New Age conception of liberation as liberation from the past in confrontation with oneself. The "ritual that demolishes rituals," which is the climax of the book, is all done with mirrors. As Simone de Beauvoir would note, the "mirrors" are women--and that calls into question both the "newness" of the story and the "age" it heralds. But it is a strange tale many will find compelling. Steve Schroeder --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
"A book that delights, fascinates, frightens, and enlightens all at once... A delightful read that leaves you pondering eternal truths long after you put it down." -- -- NAPRA Review

"Coelho's gripping tale of his adventures...reads like a suspense novel." -- -- San Mateo Times

"Coelho's gripping tale of his adventures...reads like a suspense novel." -- -- San Mateo Times --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Thorsons (September 6, 1999)
• ISBN-10: 0722533942
• ISBN-13: 978-0722533949
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #695,242 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Intriguing Quest for life's meaning, June 22, 2000

By	Judith E. Pavluvcik (Dreaming of the beach in California, but living in the reality of the desert in Arizona!!) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Valkyries (Paperback)

The Valkyries is a metaphysical tale, very much in the spirit of James Redfield, only this epic tale is authentic.

This is Paulo Coelho's astonishing true story of his encounter with darkness, his search for the light, and the seeking of his personal angel. He chronicles his journey from Brazil, with his wife Chris, and their 40-day sojourn in the Mojave Desert, seeking the Valkyries. The Valkyries were rumored to be able to speak and to see their angels. Having fought a battle with darkness, Paulo has redeemed his life and is a seeker of the light. Paulo was also told that "people wind up killing what they love most" as he seeks to rectify certain, if not all, areas of his life.

This book is journey of faith, of trust, of forgiveness, of love, of self-discovery, and of battling the darkness within ourselves, and wanting to change. As Paulo states, "Faith is a different conquest, and it requires daily combat in order to maintained." His faith is tested to the very end, as he seeks contact with his angels. His journey within transforms him as well as transforming his wife at the same time. Their two soul journeys will inspire you.

"We are responsible for everything that happens in this world. We are the warriors of the light. With the strength of our love and our will, we can change our destiny, as well as the destiny of many others." In this age of angel sightings, angel occurrences are happening with intense frequency. It is as if God is sending his messengers with a message and that message if one of love. The stories being written give hope to those in need of hope and bring home the message that there is another way - love.

"If on the other hand, we accept all that is wrong about us - and despite it, believe that we are desiring of a happy life - then we will have thrown open an immense window that will allow Love to enter. Little by little, our defects will disappear, because one who is happy can look at the world only with love - the force that regenerates everything that exists in the universe."

This is an amazing book, which will cause you to think and revaluate parts of your life. I read the book in one sitting and had to keep going with it till the very end. If you are on a spiritual journey or even on a transforming journey at this point in your life, this is one book that you will want to read. As Paulo says, "God is love, generosity and forgiveness; if we believe this, we will never allow our weakness to paralyze us." I highly recommend this book.

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, his best book so far, August 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Valkyries (Paperback)

I have read other of Coehlo's books, ie the Alchemist, The Fifth Mountain and Brida, and I have foud the Valkyries, to be his best book! I couldn't put it down since I began reading it. It is so simple yet so deep! It is all so true, how Coehlo describes us destroying everything good that we have in our lives, because we are always too blind to see it. The most wonderful part is to realize that we must always choose love over anything else and that we must forgive others and ask for God's forgiveness. It is a book that helps you regain hope in life, love and God in this crazy world we are in now. With so much war, so much hatred, so much violence, so many killings, so much hunger! Well, we must believe in God's love and protection, believe in our guardian angel to guide us and to protect us always. And it is up to us to change this world!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another intriguing work by Coelho, December 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Valkyries (Paperback)

This book really helped me to see how there are forces at work in our lives that we do not know about. Coelho has made me believe through this simple story that God is still present with us everyday, and active in our lives. He is not religiously pushy, however, like some writers in this genre. He leaves a lot of room for the reader to make his own interpretation of what is presented, broadening the prospective audience. This simple story of Coelho and his wife's quest renewed my faith in a lot of things. I had mixed thoughts about reading a religiously focused book when I picked up The Alchemist a few months ago, but the message therein really helped me put a lot of things into perspective, and Valkyries was no different.