This is another gem from the successful author Paulo Coelho, of which ‘The Alchemist’ might be the best known. This fable is a beautiful modern love story about a man and a woman, but more than that it is about opening your heart to miracles. Once you start reading this book, make sure you have a few hours available to read it through to the end.
Summary
The protagonist of the story is Pilar, a young independent university student who seeks the greatest meaning in life. Pilar’s life takes an unexpected turn when a childhood friend comes into contact with her and she is now a spiritual teacher, miracle worker and healer. He is surprised to discover that she had always been his great love. Their journey takes them through sacred places in the French Pyrenees and the power of love.
More in details
The first time I read this book I couldn’t put it down once I started it. Like many other Coelho books, it has the power to engage the reader, leaving open the question of what and how much of his story is semi or autobiographical or real and where the fiction begins.
The book is written in Diary format, each chapter begins with the date and follows the journey of the main character Pilar and her childhood friend discovering mutual love and whether she can sustain the choices of their lives.
Like all of Coelho’s books, ‘By the River …’ also has the underlying theme of religion in an atypical sense. The forgotten feminine side and aspect of God, the so-called ‘Goddess’, is present in the love that the two characters feel for each other.
The author uses the story to lead the reader on a self-inquiry about their beliefs about love, rules, release from inhibitions, and fear to re-find faith in humanity.
About the Author
Paulo Coelho was born in 1947 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He wanted to become a writer since his teens, but only pursued his dream much later in life.
Today he divides his time living in Europe and Rio de Janeiro with his wife Christina.
Coelho’s formula is to write a book combining poetic prose, symbolism, mysticism, and the underlying theme to follow your dream.
Recommendation
If you are romantic, this is a philosophy book for you. If you don’t mind spending a few hours non-stop reading, crying with the character and being dragged and taken for a walk in the French Pyrenees, this is for you.
I have read both the English and German versions and I must say that the translations leave some things unclear. If you can, I recommend you read it in Portuguese if possible, the original language that Coelho wrote it.
What I liked about this love story is that it is not predictable. Get ready to find out what really happens to the two characters. ‘All love stories are the same’ is the end of the first chapter. This is different.