Rating: 
Summary: Banal musing masquerading as wisdom
Review: In its dedication, author Paulo Coelho warns readers of his newest novel of its potentially disturbing topic, a subject he claims to be "harsh, difficult, shocking." He needn't have worried: despite writing a book mainly about sex and its secrets, the novel has already become a bestseller the world over.However, while the subject of sex may be viewed as harsh, even difficult, what is truly shocking about Eleven Minutes is how trite, how smug, how absolutely dull it all is. The award-winning Brazilian author has built himself a widespread reputation as a writer of allegories, understated tales of identity and self-discovery that serve to reveal simple truths to his readers. Through stories such as his bestseller The Alchemist, Coelho's parables, like the fables of Aesop, are designed to teach as well as entertain. In this vein, Coelho presents Eleven Minutes as a modern fairy tale, going so far as to open his story with the phrase, "Once upon a time." While sex is a decidedly adult theme, he explains that since "we all have one foot in a fairy tale and the other in the abyss," the storybook beginning is appropriate for what follows. Maria is a young Brazilian woman who falls for the spiel of a Swiss businessman, finding herself whisked to Switzerland with the lure of fame and fortune. Through a quick series of missteps, she falls into prostitution, working independently out of a nightclub while striving to save enough money to return home. Maria, innocent yet wise, views her situation as an exercise in self-control and freedom, and begins to search for the meaning of sex with and without love. She studies books at the library, hoping to uncover a reason why the world seemingly "revolved around something that only took eleven minutes." Taking its title from Irving Wallace's novel The Seven Minutes (Coelho feels Wallace's estimation of the time of the sexual act was too conservative), Coelho attempts through his narrative to renew the reader's acquaintance with the sacredness of sex. To Coelho, the act itself, those brief eleven minutes, is of minor importance in a relationship of love and understanding. It only regains its significance when seen as a continuation of one's ongoing love of another, the overall connection of two souls where the physical act of love is a logical extension, rather than the short-lived intermingling of bodies for instant gratification. A nice sentiment, but Coelho writes with such overwhelming condescension that any point becomes lost in a morass of speechifying characters and anatomically accurate descriptions of female genitalia (presumably the "shocking" part of the book). His Pretty Woman-like scenario, complete with the mysterious painter with hidden depths (is there any other kind?), coupled with prose that reads like a kindergarten teacher lecturing five-year-olds, results in a story of such banality that any revelations as to the character and significance of sex are ultimately overwhelmed. Eleven Minutes reads like what it really is, a high-toned bodice-ripper with pretensions of wisdom. Coelho's intentions may have been sincere, but his product is morally dishonest, a chastising lecture on the sexual follies of the young.
Rating: 
Summary: Definetely not a child pornography novel
Review: In Response to Kosovar in New York: Sex is merely the vehicle Coelho is using to prove his points and most of them (or at least one of them) isn't/aren't as lewd as you think it is. Sex is humans' mean to intimacy and "oneness", either with God or the person you love.
The description of Maria's early sexual exploration in the beginning of the novel wasn't to stir any arousal within us. If one really understood the intentions of writers, one would know that it was merely blocks in order to build the overall plot and meaning of the book.
People who are disgusted with the highly volatile nature of the sex are like the people who frown down on the same subject in "Eleven Minutes" like the librarian. But if one decides to delve deeper into the novel, one realizes that Coelho's usage of sex isn't all about orgies, XXX, or other disgusting activities which only exploit the meaning of sex. It's about humans' (in this case, woman's) realization of the significance of their inner being, of being able to feel important when the other sex understands our body, and thus understands our soul.
I wish Kosovar would get over his/her difficulties with such things (sex) which because of society and history's oppression, loses its underlying meaning of mankind and their closeness to God.
Rating:
Summary: Trite and not believable
Review: It is a steamy romance, and the author is trying to use it as a vehicle for an exploration into sex, love, and desire. I did not believe that a 23 year old girl from the countryside of Brazil could have gained such wisdom and insight and be applying it to her life.
Rating:
Summary: An Exploration of Sex Concluding in Wisdom
Review: Paulo Coelho's "Eleven Minutes" basically explores the life of Maria from her childhood to becoming a young adult, and her discoveries of sex and love. She's continually disturbed by the fact that she has never had an orgasm by a man and is intrigued when she first does and the times after that as well. Being a prostitute, Maria is distraught that though she has had plenty of sex, she doesn't really comprehend sex and at first believes that its sole purpose is for mere pleasure. Maria eventually encounters the sacred nature of sex and in her struggle to discover the wisdom of sex, she uncovers her true self and desires.
Despite how others may connect "The Alchemist"'s Santiago with Maria, Maria proves to be a different character in that Maria is a woman and that really does make all the difference. In this book, Coelho successfully weaves a woman's wisdom and intuition into the main character, allowing the female reader to connect with Maria and understand what she goes through and how she feels. If anything, this story is more similiar to Coelho's "By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept" than "The Alchemist".
I thought it was remarkable how Paulo Coelho wrote the book as if he knew what it felt like to be a woman. This book should definately be read by a woman or someone mature enough to comprehend the wisdom of sex, and there were numerous times when I identified myself with Maria. Her encounters with sex and life felt very similar to my own and this book inspired within me hope and an urge to change my lifestyle.
I have read 6 of his other books and I'm definately a fan of his. The overall tone and message of his books are all the same and if you agree with his philosophies and ideas, then you'll enjoy this book. However, if you've read one of his books and didn't like it, chances are this book just isn't for you, as well as any of his other books. To other Paulo Coelho avid readers, this is by far my favorite of his books and I encourage you guys to read it.
To get the most out of this book, read it with an open mind and don't judge it until you finish reading the whole book (unfortunately some certain new yorker decided to write a review on this book without even finishing it...). There are some "controversial" topics about sex dealt with in this book but really this book has nothing to do with pornography and is very deep.
Rating: 
Summary: An exploration of sex, love, and desire
Review: Paulo Coelho's title refers to what his protagonist Maria discovers about the sexual act: it takes only eleven minutes on average to complete and yet people are obsessed with it. The novel begins in Brazil, where young Maria suffers her first unrequited loves and determines that she will never bare her heart again. When an accidental meeting on a Rio beach offers Maria an Swiss adventure, she leaves her Brazilian life behind. Once in Geneva, she becomes a prostitute by night and a consumer of books and facts by day. What Maria learns as she explores both the darkest and the most mundane recesses of desire seems to confirm what she has believed all along, that eleven minutes of pleasure is hardly worth the effort. However, when she meets two extraordinarily different gentlemen who take her to unexpected places within herself, the truth of these eleven minutes is challenged. The novel begins like a fairy tale - "Once upon a time, there was a prostitute named Maria" - and this opening sentence unfortunately sets a cold, impersonal tone that takes Coelho several chapters to overcome. Although the language retains this removed simplicity throughout, Maria's predicament gradually engages the reader as Maria takes a more active and personal role in the story. Maria, it is clear, is not an "average" prostitute - if there can be such a person - and her unique perspective forms the soul of ELEVEN MINUTES. Her ambition and curiosity distinguish her from not only her colleagues but from everyone else in Geneva. At times the intellectual discussions of desire and love can get tedious, as Coelho is at his best in the midst of scenes and description, but overall this novel is a lively "fairy tale" with a prostitute as its unlikely heroine. As Coelho notes in his Afterword, the thematic thrust of the novel came to him well before the protagonist and her story, and it shows. Readers who want a strong story and intimate characterization should look elsewhere, since Maria's adventures and discoveries are carefully folded into the novel's concept. Others, though, will find Coelho's newest novel an intriguing exploration of not only those important eleven minutes but also everything that leads up to them.
Rating:
Summary: AWESOME!!!
Review: So far, this is the best book i have read about sex,love making, and real life fears and doubts about love between a man & a woman. More than a novel, is a book that will help you face your real you, your wantings, your desires, your fears, your hopes about love & sex. A must read!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: You won't get a Big "O"
Review: Surprisingly, I still don't know what this book was about. Too short to really develop a character, too abrupt to set an atmosphere, but too long to be a short read you can quickly decide to put away. It talks quite a bit about sex, a bit about love, but doesn't really develop either of these subjects. It lacks the depth of insight into the many variations of love and sex that are the part of our varied race. It focuses on stereotypes (there are three types of men, there are three types of prostitutes, etc), and as such, may be even brutal in bringing our attention to the reality of life as many see it. However, BECAUSE it focuses on stereotypes, it paints everything in black and white and misses out on the grey hues. And life, for the most part, is not about black or white, but about everything that is in-between.
It presents only one point of view of a very young person who prefers to see the glass half empty. One a positive side, the story does end letting the reader know that life has so much more to offer, and those taking the risk may be rewarded for it.
I haven't learned much from reading of the novel. It was probably worth the time, but dissapointing in the long run. Just another novel, but I've seen others do a better job at exploring human sexuality and love. So, no big "O" for me.
Rating:
Summary: You can either hate it or love it.
Review: The book was very easy to read, each sentence kept my attention. Simple, intense, insightful, and erotic. I would definitely say I LOVE it!
Rating:
Summary: One of the best novels I ever read!!!
Review: This is a story about a girl called Maria, who leaves her hometown in search of her dreams and how she does everything she can, to back her decision of persuading her dreams. One must read this book with an open mind and heart. It teaches us some of the invaluable lessons of life and love, ofcourse. I am a kind of lazy reader, but read this book more than once. This one is definitely a must have in your book collection.
Rating:
Summary: The reality of Brazil
Review: This is an absolutely fantastic book.Unfortunately, this book captures the economic realities of a county with few opportunities and a poor educational system-that is Brazil. And sadly, many young women have to resort to prostituton for their very survival. And boy,that will really make you grow up fast.
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