Book Review : The Spy // Paulo Coelho

And thats nother review. Yes I read three books within a week and m so proud of myself 😄

Synopsis :

In his new novel, Paulo Coelho, bestselling author of The Alchemist and Adultery, brings to life one of history’s most enigmatic women: Mata Hari. 

HER ONLY CRIME WAS TO BE AN INDEPENDENT WOMAN

When Mata Hari arrived in Paris she was penniless.  Within months she was the most celebrated woman in the city. 

As a dancer, she shocked and delighted audiences; as a courtesan, she bewitched the era’s richest and most powerful men. 

But as paranoia consumed a country at war, Mata Hari’s lifestyle brought her under suspicion. In 1917, she was arrested in her hotel room on the Champs Elysees, and accused of espionage.

Told in Mata Hari’s voice through her final letter, The Spy is the unforgettable story of a woman who dared to defy convention and who paid the ultimate price.

Rating : 4.6 / 5 «

Review :

I finished this book in like two hours with a few breaks in between. It was a small novel compared to all others that I have read before but it was packed with drama, emotions and aspirations.

I did squirm a little at the thought of Mata Hari being an exotic dancer who stripped in front of the audience but her story was far too compelling for me to just bother about that. It is told in the form of a letter that she gives to her lawyer. Little snippets of her past from where was born and raised to her failure of a marriage and her dream to go to Paris.

I loved the way her story was narrated. This is based on real events by the way. It isn’t entirely real but some events are. Mata Hari is a woman who loves fashion and living life very luxuriously. And I felt that she isn’t a very likeable character especially because she does manipulate and demand but her story is one that you must read. It shows how the war can mess with your mind and how the innocent can be framed for something they never did.

It was also a very sad book because of the kind of life she was living. Like I know some people are going to love her life you know being rich and living in Paris as one of the most famous dancers but her backstory is sad. Its sad how she gets where she wants to be. Its sad how she struggles to be someone grander than herself and then watch it stripped away from her.

This book made me think about just how much people sacrifice for power. And weirdly her character reminded me of Lord Voldemort from Harry Potter. Their similarity is that they loved power and abhorred love.

And this is one of those books that I would recommend you guys to read. And I did hear that his most famous work is ‘The Alchemist’. I should check that out next time.

Till next time

=)©sammy

p.s. why do I feel like this review is a mess of words?