Ekta | wisdomekta

Believe. Be Different. Journey on unknown paths. Courage. Acceptance. In the days of social-media-wok-ism when everyone (including myself) seems to be in a rigorous search for self, peace, purpose and meaning in life, this re-read of “The Witch of Portobello” by Paulo Coelho gave a fresh insight on spirituality, love, life and hope.  Coelho's books offer an incredible journey not only into the plot of his story but also into the self-discovery of his reader. The Witch of Portobello is the story of a mysterious woman named Athena, aka Sherine, who, at the onset of the novel, has been brutally murdered. The rest of the book is filled with transcripts of interviews with different people in her life- her mother, her ex-husband, a lover journalist, an actress who despised her, her teacher, and others- who claim to know her well—or hardly at all presenting the complex and differing views of “who Athena is” through the eyes of all the characters. As I read this book, I though...

  Who I Am                                           Image from Internet Disclaimer- This book review is majorly a self-contemplation. The personalized meaning derived from the book vis-à-vis life experiences. The quotes are used directly from the book. I read this title from Paulo Coelho in the year 2007. This is one of those novels which retained a peculiar outgrowth of my contemplation scrutinizing life and its very purpose. And I found this book when my life was about to take a 360-degree change. It was during those times when I had to decide the course(in the literal sense) of my life this book became a navigation guide. I had left it to destiny to render me the alternative to begin forward. It was either postgraduate in microbiology or Masters in Business Administration. It does not matter what I opted for, the point is... this book became an anchor to hold me during those...

Image from Intenet Disclaimer- This book review is majorly a self-contemplation. The personalized meaning derived from the book vis-à-vis life experiences. The quotes are used directly from the book.  “Her head was conserved in the Anatomy Museum in Paris until one day in 2000, it was stolen.”  When I heard this piece of evidence on one of the BBC programs, it steered me to browse about her.  The search led to this book. The book cannot compare to the events that transpired in her life, but I believe Paulo Coelho gave this woman a voice that was condemned by a rigorous community of her time. Published in 2016, "The Spy" is the real-life story of the historical figure Margaretha Gertrude Zelle, famously known as Mata Hari. The novel has been translated from Portuguese by Zoe Perry.  In this story, Coelho has used history, wrapped in the colorful cover of myth and fantasy. This book sympathizes with Mata Hari for her being one of the first women who became a martyr for...

Archer with companion   Image from Internet Disclaimer- This book review is majorly a self-contemplation. The personalized meaning derived from books vis-à-vis life experiences. The quotes are used directly from the book. This sleek volume ( barely one hour read ) is filled up with a profound message of the archer. This book is an experience and requires re-reading ( A   New Year self-promise!! ). Paulo Coelho reflected in these few pages numerous values that facilitate everyone’s day-to-day work: companionship, flexibility, adaptation to changes, passion, collaboration. This book is a life-changer or not will bank upon relatively on what the reader brings to… and seeks from its pages. For some this book may deliver deep truth in spare sentences; for others, this metaphoric tale could be a trite yawn.  "The Archer" relates the tale of Tetsuya, the best archer in the country, who disseminates his teachings to a boy in his village. The boy has many questions, and in answeri...