The Witch of Portobello

by Paulo Coelho

This is one of the better books that I have read, certainly after the last one. This story is about a woman and her spiritual journey that brought her from the desolate villages of Romania, being adopted by a well-off family in Beirut, and migrating to England due to war. As she grows into a woman, she ventures on a career in the Middle East then ventures back to Romania to find her roots. On the way she is guided by several teachers to find herself and have a better understanding of the times we live in and how she fits in the the grand scheme of things, or should I say not fit in. Sherine Khalil dies a brutal murder as was said in the early pages of the book so is know secret. But this book is worth the read nonetheless.

This story is told through transcription of accounts by people who knew her, so the opinions are hyperbolic at times and certainly subjective to the person speaking of her. This was a very interesting way of telling a story, through the perspectives of the people who surround her. As always with a Coelho book, the theme is deeply spiritual and talks about life and how people live it. It is both enlightening and impresses upon us to reevaluate what we live for, why we live and how we live. Coelho speaks of universal issues that affect everyone and even if you do not agree with his views, you would at least stop and consider what is being said. In all of us is a struggle for peace, contentment and happiness. The Witch of Portobello speaks of the courage to seek  these things.