5.31.2010

Just read...

When people ask me who my favorite author is, I normally say Paulo Coelho. He is the only author from whom I try to read everything he writes (there is still tons of his books on my to read list!). After reading The Alchemist, 11 Minutes, Veronica decides to die and Like a flowing river, last week I finished his latest book, The Winner Stands Alone

"The Winner Stands Alone is the enthralling new novel by the incomparable Paulo Coelho. The story is set during the Cannes International Film Festival and the entire action plays out over 24 hours. Igor is a wealthy Russian businessman. His wife Ewa left him two years ago and Igor has never really come to terms with their break up, especially as Ewa is now remarried to a famous fashion designer, Hamid Hussein. Igor is insanely jealous and when Ewa left him he told her that he would destroy 'whole worlds' in order to get her back, and he intends to keep his promise! Igor has followed Ewa and her new husband to Cannes and his plan is to cause as much violence and destruction as possible until Ewa realises how much he loves her and comes back to him. Ewa loved Igor but she was absolutely terrified of him. She knows that Igor has killed people in the past when he was a soldier, but she also knows a dark secret - that he once cold bloodedly murdered a beggar who was bothering them in a restaurant. Igor is clearly unhinged and he will stop at nothing to regain her love and so he goes on a ruthless killing spree until he tracks down Ewa! The star-studded film festival acts as a backdrop to Igor's maniacal murdering spree and we are ntroduced to various characters along the way, all of whom are desperately trying to get their big break in the shallow world of show business; Gabriela a young and naive actress who is being exploited by her agent and Jasmine a troubled young Rwandan refugee working as a model. The Winner Stands Alone is a gripping, fast-paced thriller, and Coelho cleverly weaves in elements of social satire, poking fun at our celebrity and money obsessed culture."

It is a great book to read on a sunbed on the beach, engaging and  thrilling. Nevertheless, my favorite Coelho book remains 11 Minutes which I HIGHLY recommend to all of you to read!

Did you read anything good lately?

 




Follow Gypsy*Diaries

15 comments:

Julie said...

Thanks for the tip. I making a list for the summer. And next to the chick flicks its nice to have some more literature:-)

Unknown said...

Thanks for letting me know about this one. I love Coelho!! And this book looks right up my alley.

Jess said...

Ooh I haven't read any of his books but I have added his name to my "to read" list now.

Romance Is Boring said...

I've never heard of his work before, but I'm definately going to look these up now :)

My new summer read haha :)

www.romance-is-boring.blogspot.com

xx

Diana Mieczan said...

I will have to read both of those books....I wish I would read more for fun....What's with the weather? It should be hot:)
Kisses, sweetie

k said...

thanks for the review! I will have to check him out. I absolutely love reading - I just read 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being' and am about to start 'Precious' (the one that is a movie now)

Anna Katrina said...

right now i cant put down Sweet Little Lies by Lauren Conrad. I dont know if I actually like it or because its her book!


Anna Katrina

Anonymous said...

i also just started it but i dont kow why it hasnt captured me yet and usually his books do..

<3

vicky h. said...

thanks for the review and recommendation girly! I am in search for amazing books for my summer travels, I'll be sure to check out 11 Minutes!

xox Vicky
Bikinis & Passports

Verus said...

Szia!

Paulo Coelho irasaival egy franciaorszagi vasutassztrajk alkalmaval ismerkedtem meg. Miutan tudomasul vettem, hogy legalabb par orat kesik a vonatom, besetaltam az elso konyvesboltba, hogy hatha talalok valamit, amivel eluthetem az idot. Akkor lattam meg a Veronika meg akar halni c. konyvet, amit ugyereztem - a nevazonossag, es a szurke parizsi eg miatti depi miatt - hogy biztos nekem cimeztek. :-) Azota is nagy fan vagyok, nehezen teszem le a regenyeit! Ellenben nem tudtam, hogy megint van uj muve, koszi a tippet! :-)

Udv

Verus
http://impressionsofawoman.blogspot.com/

Mary @Delightful Bitefuls said...

Oo, thanks for the suggestions! I love getting book/author recommendations!

xxMK
Delightful Bitefuls

Barbara von Enger said...

Have yet to read this book. I purchased it some months ago, but I have so many other books to read and so little time. Nice review, though;-)

Anna Felizola said...

I love 11 minutes! I highly recommend it too! Nice to see a brazilian author here in ur blog! ;)
xox Anna

D e g a i n e said...

I love almost all this books, they are amazing and the type that you just can't put down! I'll def have to read this one xo


D E G A I N E

http://www.fashiondegaine.com

Anonymous said...

I'm a big fan of Coelho, as well!

Have read both "11 Minutes" and "Veronica Decides to Die" too -but have to admit that the 2nd is more of a favorite of mine, despite the fact I hugely enjoyed both.

Have been planning to read "The Winner Stands Alone", so I'm really glad to see a positive review here :)

I just finished PopCo (which I won't recommend, since I actually like you :P ) and "The Book Thief" which has now been awarded a spot in my all-time-favorites list. If you haven't read it yet, you really should...

Related Posts with Thumbnails