Rating: 
Summary: By the River Piedra, I sat down and wept
Review: I do not know how he does it, the character Piedra, is my second favorite character of Coelho's book's. Nothing compares to the Alchemist. However in By The River. . . I felt spiritual love for life and something bigger than either of them, in a way most writer's would fail miserablely,to express. I love this book. It was so hard to put it down and take a break. Great read.
Rating: 
Summary: By reading this book I sat and I wept¿
Review: Lovely beginning on a quest to re-unite with her childhood friend, disappointing to see the quest has been shoved aside only to place the spotlight on some deep religious practices. Horrible ending to see that the deviated religion has stolen the show.
I was utterly disappointed by Coelho's work in this book. When I finally finished the book, there was only one thing to say.... Coelho is trying too hard. His style is repetitive, if you have read more than three books of his you will know exactly what I mean.
When I first read the back cover of this book I thought I was going to really enjoy the reading, as I love the poetic touch in books. The title itself is soooo poetic, but almost nothing else was in the book. In my opinion, there was too much emphasis of religion in this book. It was not your regular description of religion, it was so very deep and unbelievable. I don't think it would've been this mundane if it weren't for the fact that Coelho was trying to create a whole new interface with god, a different genre in religion, the "feminine" side. You'd think that he'd describe it in two to maybe ten pages, but it just kept on going and going and going. By the time I finally finished the never-ending book, I didn't even like the ending. By the river piedra she sat and wept for a very ridiculous reason.
This was supposed to be a poetic love story about childhood sweethearts. Coelho seemed to have forgotten that along the way.Love and religion don't mix...A description of both in one short book will not work. This story was not a love story it was a story of some religion or some practice that is absolutely absurd. It could've been a beautiful book, as poetic as love can be.
Very unfortunate with a moral gone wrong.
Rating: 
Summary: Memories and Dreams
Review: Another Coelho Journey and another dream to follow.
Two childhood sweethearts meet again after being separated for more than ten years to discover the true meaning of love and spirituality! Pilar's journey is dramatic and very real.. the conflicts of a young woman who was deeply hurt once and who tries to overcome her feelings as a defensive shield but eventually falls in the "trap" and surrenders to her first and true love. Her lover goes through another conflict too... though I found the religious/spiritual side ot if a little awkward for me!
I have to say that I felt that she should have called her lover by his name at least at that moment of new revelation just becasue she was telling the story and it would have showed her new self! I enjoyed the climate and the atmosphere of the story .. the river... the Spanish countryside .. the rain and fog.. everything contributed to illustrate the picture of divine unspoken emotions .. memories of sweet love and a new look at life... A beautiful romantic fantasy of reaching new horizons of the mind and soul..
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting
Review: P.Coelho typically says that we should always do what we want to do, even if our rationale advices otherwise. In the fifth mountain, Elijah struggles to fulfill his promise to god. In the alchemist the boy traverses the desert to find the alchemist. Here he has taken a unlikely relationship between a wannabe priest and a free spirited girl as a model for his philosophy. It is true that we should have the free will to do what we really want to do inspite of the probability of failure in our effort. A great virtue to be cultivated by everyone with a striving to grow.
Rating:
Summary: Deep as that dirt-filled well over there
Review: This book was most unfortunate. The author just wanted to shove spirituality and religion down my throat. I liked the last 25 pages or so very much, but the entire first portion of the book was painful to read. The protagonist/narrator was boring and I mostly just wanted to smack her rather than identify with her problems and the like. The book tried to be really deep, yet it was very forced and unsuccessful, I think. Maybe I'm just to jaded and/or cynical for this genre of book.
Rating:
Summary: A Beautiful Story.
Review: Paulo Coelho makes a mind-thinker about life, love, and choices people make. I enjoyed reading this book and didn't want it to end. This book was a very poetic story. It is about a women that has every thing planed out and thinks she knows what she wants. Then she has a childhood friend that flows with things and does things whenever. Finally they meet again and travel on an adventure to find love.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Journey of Love & Spirituality!
Review: This is an excellent combination of love and a higher calling. It challenges the reader to question their own preconceived notions of love and spirituality. I could not put it down. Coelho takes you to Spain and leaves you longing to be by the river experiencing the beauty of the Goddess. I recommend this to anyone who considers themselves to be a romantic, regardless of your spiritual walk. Also, I recommend it to those who consider themselves to be spiritual warriors. It speaks to both the same and touches the soul.
Rating: 
Summary: I want to slap the author...
Review: Damn. How come only the LAMEST metaphysical books make it big? Yeah, I get all that stuff about the hundredth monkey and how the pioneers get all the arrows, etc. So I take it that the message is that women have to support their man in fulfilling their man's destiny? Gee, that's a new idea! (...) That's what the author neglects to tell you--that men only exist because our creator realized that women, although polarized, aren't polarized enough to have the impetus to return to androgyny and complete this experiment. Hence, she has men on the scene with all of their maternal angst to get the job done right.
Rating:
Summary: Another great story from Coelho
Review: All of Coelho's stories use the symbolism of a journey. Each ends up being a journey from brokenness to greater wholeness. Each tale ends up describing a deep fundamental change in the life of his characters that inspires readers to look at their own lives and set out on their own journeys. This tale combines both a spiritual journey and the quest for love. There are many sub-themes that are beautifuly worked into this tapestry; the relationship between erotic love and divine love...the need to dream and to follow one's dreams, the fear of seeing your loved one hurt by your dreams, the feminine face of God as a necessary element of our relationship with God... This story draws heavily on Coelho's Catholic heritage--Brazil being a most Catholic of countries. For those who share in this heritage it adds to the story, drawing on images and experiences that are easy to relate to and understand. For those who do not share this heritage, Coelho does not make that lack an obstacle to entering into the story. The story is complete in itself and will entertain you, nourish you and get you reflecting. The book is very much in the style of The Alchemist, in that it is clearly a fable for our instruction. For me it had something of an otherworldly quality, rather than the more gritty feeling of Valkyries or even Pilgrimage. Yet, all the events described were concrete--even more so than Pilgrimage. I think the otherworldly quality comes from the sense of love that pervades the tale like a soft mist. Afterall, love is something of a divine madness, the intersection of the otherworldly with our very worldly lives. Perhaps, Coelho meant to capture that quality in his telling of this tale. If so, he has done an admirable job of it.
Rating:
Summary: Coehlo is a master storyteller
Review: As he did with the Alchemist, Coehlo once again demonstrates his ability to create ultimately human protagonists struggling with issues of the divine and ethereal.
Pilar's sojourn is not foriegn to anyone who has done any kind of soul-searching. Coehlo's language is poetic, but always sincere and truthful. This book is for those who recognize struggles as a part of life, but have optimism for the end of the journey.
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