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How do we find the courage to always be true to ourselves—even if we are unsure of whom we are? That is the central question of international bestselling author Paulo Coelho's profound new work, The Witch of Portobello . It is the story of a mysterious woman named Athena, told by the many... read more

Summary edit see section history

In this book, Coelho works with the return to the goddess religion, the interpretation of love, and the feminine part of the Divine within the theme of searching for one’s true self and opening to the energies of the world.<1>
The work also expounds a selection of philosophies, which... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

In this book, Coelho works with the return to the goddess religion, the interpretation of love, and the feminine part of the Divine within the theme of searching for one’s true self and opening to the energies of the world.<1>
The work also expounds a selection of philosophies, which bear a certain degree of similarity to Coelho's teachings from previous novels and carry the characteristic imprint of his own ideas, as well as a citation regarding the ephemeral nature of desires, which appears in another of Coelho's novels.
The writer elucidates the opinion that the Church has deviated by its stringent rules to the point where it no longer serves Jesus Christ, or as put in his words in one of the interviews: "It's a very long time since they've allowed me in there <the Church>".

Characters/People edit see section history

  • Viorel: Athena's son. He is Athena's main focus.
  • Andrea Mccain: Actress. Heron's girlfriend and Athena's disciple. She learned that even though she didn't like Athena, she loved her. Also she continues Athena's work in a way that Athena wouldn't have been able to.
  • Athena: Main character of the story, also known as the Witch of Portobello. Raised in Lebanon by her adopted parents, decided to go in search of her biological mother who was a gypsy in Romany. Became interested in magic and such sort of things afterwards.
  • Heron Ryan: Journalist. Andrea's boyfriend who later becomes emotionally interested in Athena.
  • Lukas Jessen-Petersen: Athena's ex-husband. Met in college, and married very young because Athena wanted a child. They divorced a couple years later.
  • Edda: Athena's teacher. She tries to be a guide for Athena, speaking of teaching.
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Quotes edit see section history

  • “Love simply is.”
  • “"What is a teacher? I'll tell you: it isn't someone who teaches something, but someone who inspires the student to give of her best in order to discover what she already knows."”
  • “But love doesn't bring and never has brought happiness. On the contrary, it's a constant state of anxiety, a battlefield; it's sleepless nights, asking ourselves all the time if we're doing the right thing. Real love is composed of ecstasy and agony.”
  • “"Love fills everything. It cannot be desired because it is an end in itself. It cannot betray because it has nothing to do with possession. It cannot be held prisoner because it is a river and will overflow its banks. Anyone who tries to imprison love will cut off the spring that feeds it, and the trapped water will grow stagnant."”
  • “"No one places her dreams in the hands of those who might destroy them."”
  • “"They say that extroverts are unhappier than introverts and have to compensate for this by constantly proving to themselves how happy and contented and at ease with life they are."”
  • “"Everything, absolutely everything on this earth makes sense, and even the smallest things are worthy of our consideration."”
  • “A kind of blanket lies between the physical and the spiritual world, a blanket that changes in color, intensity, and light; it’s what mystics call ‘aura’.”
  • Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers
  • “What is a teacher? I’ll tell you: it isn’t someone who teaches something, but someone who inspires the student to give of her best in order to discover what she already knows.”
    Highlighted by 109 Kindle customers
  • In order for us to liberate the energy of our strength, our weakness must first have a chance to reveal itself.
    Highlighted by 76 Kindle customers
  • Try to feel good about yourself even when you feel like the least worthy of creatures. Reject all those negative thoughts and let the Mother take possession of your body and soul; surrender yourself to dance or to silence or to ordinary, everyday activities—like taking your son to school, preparing supper, making sure the house is tidy. Everything is worship if your mind is focused on the present moment.
    Highlighted by 71 Kindle customers
  • Pity those who seek for shepherds, instead of longing for freedom! An encounter with the superior energy is open to anyone but remains far from those who shift responsibility onto others. Our time on this earth is sacred, and we should celebrate every moment.
    Highlighted by 70 Kindle customers
  • Changes only happen when we go totally against everything we’re used to doing.”
    Highlighted by 63 Kindle customers
  • when mouths close, it’s because there’s something important to be said.
    Highlighted by 61 Kindle customers
  • Don’t let yourself be weighed down by what other people think, because in a few years, in a few decades, or in a few centuries, that way of thinking will have changed. Live now what others will only live in the future.
    Highlighted by 55 Kindle customers
  • Reprogram yourself every minute of each day with thoughts that make you grow. When you’re feeling irritated or confused, try to laugh at yourself. Laugh out loud at this woman tormented by doubts and anxieties, convinced that her problems are the most important thing in the world. Laugh at the sheer absurdity of the situation, at the fact that despite being a manifestation of the Mother, you still believe God is a man who lays down the rules. Most of our problems stem from just that—from following rules.
    Highlighted by 54 Kindle customers
  • Music isn’t just something that comforts or distracts us, it goes beyond that—it’s an ideology. You can judge people by the kind of music they listen to.
    Highlighted by 45 Kindle customers
  • You have understood what all great painters understand: in order to forget the rules, you must know them and respect them.
    Highlighted by 40 Kindle customers
Show all 18 quotes from this book

First Sentence edit see section history

Before these statements left my desk and followed the fate I eventually chose for them, I considered using them as the basis for a traditional, painstakingly researched bigraphy, recounting a true story.

Table of Contents edit see section history

Heron Ryan,44,journalist
Andrea McCain,32,actress
Deidre O'Neill,37,doctor known as Edda
Lella,64,numerologist
Samira R. Khalil,57,housewife,Athena's mother
Lukas Jessen-Petersen,32,engineer,ex-husband
Father Giancarlo Fontana,72
Lukas Jessen-Petersen,ex-husband
Father Giancarlo Fontana
Pavel Podbielski,57,owner of the apartment
Peter Sherneg,47,manager of a branch of a Bank in Holland Park, London
Nabil Alaihi,age unknown,Bedouin
Samira R. Khalil,Athena's mother
Heron Ryan,journalist
Deidre O'Neill,known as Edda
Heron Ryan,journalist
Liliana,seamstress,age and surname unknown
Samira R. Khalil,housewife
Deidre O'Neill,known as Edda
Heron Ryan,journalist
Antoine Locandour,74,historian,ICP,France
Andrea McCain,actress
Deidre O'Neill,known as Edda
Heron Ryan,journalist
Andrea McCain,actress
Heron Ryan,journalist
Antoine Locadour,historian
Deidre O'Neill,known as Edda
Andrea McCain,actress
Heron Ryan,journalist
Deidre O'Neill,known as Edda
Andrea McCain,actress
Heron Ryan,journalist
Deidre O'Neill,known as Edda
A London newspaper,24 August 1991
Heron Ryan,journalist
Deidre O'Neill,known as Edda
Samira R. Khalil,housewife
Heron Ryan,journalist
Antoine Locadour,historian
Heron Ryan,journalist

Glossary edit see section history

  • Hagia Sophia: is a former Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, and now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Paulo Coelho (Author)

Other Contributors:

  1. Margaret Jull Costa (Translator)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: Portuguese
Publisher: HarperCollins
Country: UK
Publication Date: May 15, 2007
ISBN: 978-0-00-725187-2
Page Count: 312

Classification edit see section history

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Adults

Many sexual references.

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
  • Eleven Minutes
  • Veronika Decides to Die
  • The Devil and Miss Prym

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