Book Review: 11 Minutes

 

Eleven Minutes by Paul Coelho

Quote: "The little experience of life I've had has taught me that no one owns anything, that everything is an illusion - and that applies to material as well as spiritual things. Anyone who has lost something they thought was theirs forever (as has happened often enough to me already) finally comes to realise that nothing really belongs to them. And if nothing belongs to me, then there's no point wasting my time looking after things that aren't mine; its best to live as if today were the first (or last) day of my life"

Blurb: Eleven Minutes tells the story of Maria, a young girl from a Brazilian village, whose first innocent brushes with love leave her heart-broken. At a tender age, she becomes convinced that she will never find true love, instead believing that 'Love is a terrible thing that will make you suffer...' A chance meeting in Rio takes her to Geneva, where she dreams of finding fame and fortune yet ends up working as a prostitute. 

In Geneva, Maria drifts further and further away from love while at the same time developing a fascination with sex. Eventually, Maria's despairing view of love is put to the test when she meets a handsome young painter. In this odyssey of self-discovery, Maria has to choose between pursuing a path of darkness, sexual pleasure for its own sake, or risking everything to find her own 'inner light' and the possibility of sacred sex, sex in the context of love. 

Book Tropes: 

• Psychological Fiction
• Spiritual
• Self Discovery & Personal Growth
• Love & Sexuality

My Personal Views:  

Paul Coelho's books have a way of seeping into your understanding, often long after you've turned the last page. My first foray into his world was "The Alchemist," and it took me a good day or two to truly grasp its essence. So, when I picked up "11 Minutes," I anticipated another journey of revelation. And in some ways, it was, yet in others, it wasn't quite what I wanted.

The novel introduces us to Maria, a young Brazilian woman seeking a better life. Her path leads her to Switzerland, but the promises of a brighter future don't materialize as she had hoped. Instead, she finds herself working as a prostitute.

Much of the book delves into Maria's experiences in this profession, her choices, and her eventual discovery of the love she always yearned for. I'd call this book a good read for those looking to foster a more positive relationship with their bodies, explore their sexuality, or those with an interest in human anatomy, particularly women's.

Learning that the story was inspired by a real person was truly eye-opening, and the narrative itself was undeniably interesting. However, the core message of the story, what it was ultimately trying to convey, didn't resonate deeply with me personally.

Truth be told, I found myself dreading parts of the story as it quickly became a bit boring for my taste. I imagine this book would truly captivate someone who is calm, spiritual, or genuinely passionate about the themes it explores. And I want to be clear: I'm not saying these topics aren't important. It's simply that they aren't what I typically enjoy reading about. Despite that, the book did offer a powerful sense of empowerment.

Ratings: ⭐⭐.75/ 5

Until the next read,

Aditi