Inspired by personal experience, Coelho brings us this novella which explores the perceptions of those with mental illness and those who have to deal with it – or choose not to.

At the core is a story about finding acceptance, facing denial, and finding the freedom to takes one’s fate into their own hands regardless of the obstacles.

The only detraction, for some readers, may be way the author handles the narration, at times literally placing himself within the story. In addition, there is sexual content which didn’t bother me, but may put off others.

This was a good introduction to Coelho, but not the best one. I have a feeling The Alchemist may be a much better story. I’m looking forward to reading it, hoping to appreciate this author more.

If you would like to learn more about the this work, the author, or any of his other stories, please visit the links below:

• Paulo Coelho’s website
• Paulo Coelho’s blog
• Author discussing writing this book
• My reading notes posted November 19, 2009 which gives you a bit more in detail about thoughts I had regarding this read. If I had chosen to do an in depth review, much of this material would have been used.

This is my very first “Review In A Flash” [mentioned in this post]. I know I went over the limit a bit, but overall I had fun with it. I am feeling much better about catching up now. Finally.

….on catching up on reviews.

Oh dear, you thought…no, no, I’m not giving up yet.

I just realized there is no way to catch up if I plan on reviewing every novel or story I’ve read as I have done in the past. At least for now.

After reading about someone doing “mini-reviews” in order to deal with their backlog, I thought that would be perfect for me too.

I’ve always loved flash fiction and have dabbled in it myself. That being said, I think I am going to go for a series of “Flash In The Pan” reviews. In one hundred words or less, I will attempt to alleviate this tremendous bloggers guilt while simultanesouly clearing off my desk. (Where I stack my current reads and to be reviewed ones.)

Sounds challenging, and yet fun.

Let’s hope this works for getting me out of my funk.

I clearly remember pressing the “Save Draft” button, but alas, it was not.

Hence I must start over.

With this head cold however, I am discovering that trying to remember what I’d said a huge challenge.

Needless to say, this is the sickest I’ve been in some time. Yet this weekend was the monthly Friends of the Library sale. It is only held once a month, and I simply couldn’t miss it. But I am paying the price. Going out in the cold, exerting myself as I did, set me back enough that I now question if it was a good decision.

My family says no it wasn’t. But when I look at my finds, I think it was.

How lucky was I this go around? See for yourself:

• Tender Is The Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• The Last Tycoon by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
• This Boy’s Life by Tobias Wolff
• A Tidewater Morning by William Styron
• Red Sky At Morning by Richard Bradford
• In The Country of Men by Hisham Matar
• Goodbye Columbus by Philip Roth
• What The Dead Know by Laura Lippman
• The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson

Believe it or not, I’ve never read Fitzgerald. I hope to rectify this soon. In addition to the above, I also have a collection of his short stories. I can’t wait to discover more about this writer through his work.

In school, I was lucky to have been able to write two papers on Virginia Woolf. Yet I have not read her work for anything other than research. It’ll be nice to enjoy her at my own pace and in my own time.

Interestingly, my son was required to read This Boy’s Life in high school. I remember the movie and was surprised to learn it was a memoir. My son isn’t much of a reader (go figure), but he did like this book. Enough of a recommendation for me!

The last two books listed are ones I’m most thrilled to have found. What The Dead Know has been on my wish list since shortly after I began blogging.

Larsson’s second in the trilogy, The Girl Who Played With Fire, is the true gem. Last month I was able to get the first book, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. I’ve heard wonderful things about this series so I think I will wait until I get the third book before starting the trilogy. If it as good as everyone says, I know I will not want to put down the story until the last page of the last book.

I really hate being this sick, but braving the cold was worth it.

It really was!