Before that one I read "Alchemist", a great inspiring fairy-tale. Was told by some that all Coelho books are alike, though So was not keen on reading something else by the author. Noticed "Eleven Minutes" at my friend's place a while ago and now, being in a quite depressive mood, picked that one.

Reading it was like having a shot - you get it in one breath, you freeze for a while and only then you start wondering what it actually was Well, what one comes away with after reading the book depends on what (if at all) you were looking for. At least, it's a great merit of the author that he provides all - an entertaining narrative and a host of philosophical underlying themes.

Personally, I was struck by the motif of continuous search for the limit. Considering every new, big or small, decision in her life Maria wonders if she should go a bit further and then she explores how much further, or closer to the limit, this brings her. Also, I thought, that ideas of love, possession and freedom are very interesting in the way the author puts them.

I've got some concerns about the author's style and language, though (translations issues, obviously, come into play). Language seems simplistic, yet precise. Mixture of high and low language strikes. Somehow relates to those stories written by amateurs when their authors miss the basic vocabulary to describe the happening, so they start mixing pathetic and gross stuff. But then is not that reflection of the real life, of people being both pathetic and gross, both sophisticated and naive? Characters (but the front ones) and setting seem poorly developed, but then.. a smart reader does not need directions and should be happy enough with the details, outlines and those descriptions which Colelho provides in abundance. Personally, I believe that the more "yes ., but then" statements you are left with, the more controversy you found about the book the more influential the book was. "Eleven minutes" still makes me wonder...

Eleven minutes isn't Paulo Coelho's best but it is a readable tale of a young woman's journey from Brazil to Switzerland and back again. The theme of the book is the nature of sex and love and as you'd expect there is plenty of philosophy and insight but there isn't much of a plot to hang it on. In places the love affair seems awkward in execution - both characters seem to have swallowed a dictionary and you just want to slap them for their self-righteous gibbertalk. Still, it leaves you feeling sunny.