Paulo Coelho: Obrolan dengan Sang Penziarah

By: Juan Arias
Translator: Ronny Agustinus
Publisher: PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama
Publication Date: April 2012
Pages: 248

We are all pilgrims in search of the unknown

                                        --Paulo Coelho--

Paulo Coelho: Confessions of a Pilgrim is a series of interviews conducted by Juan Arias, a Spanish writer and journalist. It's very rare for anyone to be able to interview Coelho, therefore it's an honour for Arias to be able to do so or what Arias calls a series of informal conversation. We can consider this book as the closest we get to a biography.

These informal conversations took place in Rio de Janeiro, in the house of Coelho with  a view on marvelous beauty beaches of Copacabana. It was back in the beginning of July 1998. They had very frank talks. For the first time Coelho told about the most tragic events in his life: about being put in a mental hospital by his parents, about being kidnapped and tortured by para militeries and about  drugs and black magic. After telling all of those things, Coelho said that he would not tell to anybody anymore his life during the next  twenty years.

Of course the conversations not only reveal the 'dark' side of Coelho, they also talk about lots of inspiring journeys such as about his desire to become a writer, the impotance of dreams, destinies, the traditions, the relationship with his readers, traveling the Road to Santiago, then the Road to Rome or in other words, life.

Good writers draw upon their experiences. It is his rich and varied life that makes Coelho an excellent writer. Couldn't agree more.  If you're curious about Coelho's life and how his life could inspire him  and so many people in the world to follow their paths and to live life to the fullest, grab this book and enjoy it!  

 

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