Rating: 
Summary: Alchemy for all our souls
Review: This book will work on your soul in subtle and wonderful ways. Filling you with the romance of the rural European countrysides and cathedrals that the narrative meanders through. Touching you with the hope of growing into who you truly are as beautifully and completely as the two main characters do. And, reminding you that there is more here, for all of us, than merely an existence of 9-to-5, mutual funds and dental plans. Read this book and let Coelho's latest offering of literary magic transform you
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Summary: Explores the depths of our deepest fears and emotions!
Review: Paulo Coelho at his finest! By The River Piedra I Sat Down And Wept is a book that you
want to add to your reading list. Through his characters, Coehlo explores the depths of our deepest fears and emotions.
Pilar is an independent, college student struggling to find
her place in life. She is just starting to grasp a sense
of herself when a twist of fate sends her hurling back into
the insecurity that she has been trying so desperately to leave
behind. At the age of eigthteen, he set off to see the world. He left her behind, and now he wants to re-establish their
child-hood friendship. Reluctant to leave her newly established
comfort zones, Pilar timidly accepts his invitation. Little
does she know about what this decision will entail. Through the friendship and trust of his characters, we are swept through the great Pyrenees and the beauty of love.
The River Piedra reminds us of the fears, triumphs, joys, and short comings associated with love as well as religion. It is
told with a unique feminine understanding of life and hits the mark on human relationships. It is a must read!
Rating: 
Summary: Follow your dreams.. Have faith...
Review: Listen to your heart.. These are the themes of this lovely, poetic little book. A celebration of love and a life-affirming tale.
Rating: 
Summary: fast read
Review: I read this book in one day. It was enjoyable, I really liked the religious element. But I do feel it lacked depth and character development. All in all I liked it, but I would definitely buy it used or borrow it.
Rating:
Summary: Spirituality
Review: I am not a writer myself, as my review will clearly show, but I must say this. This was a truly excellent book, and I've already recommended it to 4 other people. It is true that it does get very religious, and some people have docked it for that. I must ask this though, why can't they step back and see it as general spirituality? I for one don't believe in organized religion, but couldn't put this book down. I feel that says something for the quality of the book, and for the meaning it gives. I wish that everyone could read this book, and not get hung up on simple things.
Rating: 
Summary: Credibility Anyone???
Review: This author came highly recommended to me by a friend whose opinion I trust. Instead of starting out with his most celebrated book the Alchemist, I picked up this one. I cannot tell you how disappointed I am with the style in which it is written and the content of this book. This story is told by a 29 year old woman named Pilar, whose goal in life is to find a husband to settle down with. The way in which she portrays her desires, her fears, her reflections on her essence, her vices and weakness and the way she goes about recognizing them is too immature and unlikely for any woman. I presume that the logic of her thoughts is that simple and naïve is because of the fact that she comes from a small village and is not trained to overanalyze details the way big city people do. But I don't believe that is the case. In my opinion, the author does not do justice to understanding the nature of the female enough to write about it. From the thoughts of this woman, it is clear that it is not written by someone who understands our nature, and the lack of credibility of this character becomes apparent from the first pages of the book. The biggest disappointment of the book, however, comes from having to put up with so much religious nonsense that becomes part a theory that is absurd. While this story is about the recovery of faith, the process seems very superficial because it is not questioned and there is no internal conflict, the woman blindly accepts whatever she is handed out on the platter and talks about the synthesis of the information as though she's been preaching it forever. Such immediate acceptance of faith lacks substance and credibility. In the end, this book has its moments, but it's certainly not of the inspirational caliber.
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