Book Review on Hippie by Paulo Coehlo

Summary

In this video, Helen Blundon reviews Paulo Coelho's book *Hippie*, reflecting on its contrast to his well-known novel *The Alchemist*. She recalls her deep connection with *The Alchemist*, which she read while living in Amsterdam, and explains how *Hippie* is based on Coelho’s real-life experiences from the 1960s. While *Hippie* touches on spirituality, religion, and the countercultural hippie movement, Blundon finds the narrative disjointed and lacking depth in exploring the era. She suggests the book may have worked better as a non-fiction essay. Overall, the book had a mixed impact on her.

Takeaways

• 😀 Helen Blundon reviews the book *Hippie* by Paulo Coelho.
• 📚 Helen recalls reading Coelho's famous book *The Alchemist* years ago, which had a profound impact on her life.
• 🛏️ She first discovered *The Alchemist* while staying with a host family in Amsterdam and read it in one sitting.
• 📖 *Hippie* is a different style of book compared to *The Alchemist*, blending fiction with real-life events from Coelho's past.
• ✈️ The book is set in the late 1960s, following Coelho's own spiritual journey as he travels through Amsterdam and beyond.
• 🌍 *Hippie* includes a mix of Christian, Islamic, and Sufi spiritual themes, along with historical elements of the hippie movement.
• 🧳 The story touches on Coelho's relationships and experiences, including real people he met, like his ex-girlfriends.
• 🎭 Helen found the storytelling in *Hippie* to be disjointed at times, making it hard to stay engaged with the narrative.
• 🌸 While the book covers the 1960s counterculture, Helen wished it delved more deeply into the hippie culture itself.
• 🤔 Helen gives a mixed review, finding *Hippie* easy to read but lacking the magic of *The Alchemist*.

Q & A

Who is the speaker in the transcript?

The speaker is Helen Blundon, who is reviewing a book for her audience on Twitter.

What book is primarily being discussed in this review?

The book being discussed is 'Hippie' by Paulo Coelho.

Why did Helen initially not buy the book 'Hippie' when she saw it in the bookstore?

Helen didn't buy 'Hippie' initially because she prefers to borrow books from the library first and only purchases them if they make an emotional impact on her.

What is Helen's opinion on 'Hippie' compared to Paulo Coelho's earlier work?

Helen feels that 'Hippie' is very different from Paulo Coelho's previous work, particularly 'The Alchemist.' She found 'Hippie' disjointed and less compelling, despite its spiritual elements.

What does Helen mention about the spiritual and religious aspects of the book 'Hippie'?

Helen mentions that 'Hippie' includes spiritual and religious elements, including references to Christianity, Islam, and Sufism.

What personal connection does Paulo Coelho have with the events in 'Hippie'?

The events in 'Hippie' are based on real experiences from Paulo Coelho's life, including people he met and his travels during the late 1960s.

Who is Carla, and what role does she play in the book 'Hippie'?

Carla is a character in 'Hippie' who invites Paulo Coelho to be her male companion on a journey to Kathmandu. She represents a key figure in his spiritual journey during the late 1960s.

What does Helen wish had been explored more in 'Hippie'?

Helen wishes the book had delved more deeply into the hippie culture and the places Paulo Coelho visited, rather than focusing on the individual stories of different characters.

How does Helen describe her reading experience of 'Hippie'?

Helen found the book easy to read but disjointed. She had to force herself to keep reading and felt that the narrative sometimes lacked direction.

What were some mixed reactions to 'Hippie' from other readers?

Helen mentions that reviews of 'Hippie' are mixed, with some readers loving the book and others disliking it. She personally found it just 'okay' but not as impactful as 'The Alchemist.'