‘Zahir’ in Arabic means visible, present, incapable of going unnoticed. It is someone or something which, once we have come into contact with them or it, gradually occupies our every thought, until we can think of nothing else. This can be considered either a state of hollowness or of madness.
According to writer Jorge Luis Borges, the idea of Zahir comes from the Islamic tradition. Zahir, in Arabic means visibility, present, incapable of going unnoticed.
The story is about a renowned author who discovers that his wife, a war correspondent, has disappeared, leaving no trace. Was she kidnapped, blackmailed, or simply bored with their marriage? The unrest she causes is as strong as the attraction she exerts. Though time brings more success and new love, he remains mystified – and increasingly fascinated – by her absence.
It’s about love, losing and passionate obsession. It is about the famous writer searching for his wife, Esther, a war correspondent who just returned from Iraq. Esther has left him for no apparent reason. The police began their investigation and various theories was put forward such as kidnapping or she left his husband for another man or she was simply bored with the marriage.
Then the writer decided to find her wife and the truth of his own life. He went all around the world from South America to Spain, France, and Croatia and eventually arrived at the bleakly beautiful landscape of Central Asia. From one country to other country he started to understand the nature of love and the power of destiny.His search for her – and for the truth of his own life – takes him from France to Spain, Croatia and, eventually, the bleakly beautiful landscape of Central Asia. More than that, it takes him from the safety of his world to a totally unknown path, searching for a new understanding of the nature of love and the power of destiny.With The Zahir, Paulo Coelho demonstrates not just his powerful and captivating storytelling, but also his extraordinary insight into what it is to be a human being in a world full of possibility.
Whether he found his wife or not, the reader has to read this book because at the end of the story, the readers are able to feel the various meaning of love and life. A brilliant thought that quotes that meaning is “Things which are important in our life never go away from us. All those things that went away from us are the ones that only we thought were important, but were actually not.” The story is basically non-fiction as it truly reflects the journey of life of Coelho himself.
Two words: dragged out. In spite of being a believer of the listen to your heart, follow your dreams philosophy, to me, this book clearly went over the top. I started reading it late last year and normally should have been able to finish it within two weeks. I took it with me on my trip, and found myself reading the book less, and the lonely planet more.
According to writer Jorge Luis Borges, the idea of Zahir comes from the Islamic tradition. Zahir, in Arabic means visibility, present, incapable of going unnoticed.
The story is about a renowned author who discovers that his wife, a war correspondent, has disappeared, leaving no trace. Was she kidnapped, blackmailed, or simply bored with their marriage? The unrest she causes is as strong as the attraction she exerts. Though time brings more success and new love, he remains mystified – and increasingly fascinated – by her absence.
It’s about love, losing and passionate obsession. It is about the famous writer searching for his wife, Esther, a war correspondent who just returned from Iraq. Esther has left him for no apparent reason. The police began their investigation and various theories was put forward such as kidnapping or she left his husband for another man or she was simply bored with the marriage.
Then the writer decided to find her wife and the truth of his own life. He went all around the world from South America to Spain, France, and Croatia and eventually arrived at the bleakly beautiful landscape of Central Asia. From one country to other country he started to understand the nature of love and the power of destiny.His search for her – and for the truth of his own life – takes him from France to Spain, Croatia and, eventually, the bleakly beautiful landscape of Central Asia. More than that, it takes him from the safety of his world to a totally unknown path, searching for a new understanding of the nature of love and the power of destiny.With The Zahir, Paulo Coelho demonstrates not just his powerful and captivating storytelling, but also his extraordinary insight into what it is to be a human being in a world full of possibility.
Whether he found his wife or not, the reader has to read this book because at the end of the story, the readers are able to feel the various meaning of love and life. A brilliant thought that quotes that meaning is “Things which are important in our life never go away from us. All those things that went away from us are the ones that only we thought were important, but were actually not.” The story is basically non-fiction as it truly reflects the journey of life of Coelho himself.
Two words: dragged out. In spite of being a believer of the listen to your heart, follow your dreams philosophy, to me, this book clearly went over the top. I started reading it late last year and normally should have been able to finish it within two weeks. I took it with me on my trip, and found myself reading the book less, and the lonely planet more.
