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Alephs narrator Paul Coehlo shares key details with his creator. He is a successful author with a devoted
worldwide following though he faces a grave spiritual crisis, one that threatens to undo his decades-long
search for wisdom and understanding. When Paulo was presented with the rare opportunity to go on tour via
the Trans-Siberian Railway, he trusts his mentors instincts and embarks on a voyage that he hopes will
revitalize his passion for life.
Hilal, a gifted young violinist happens to be a Turk. She used to play her violin with her eyes
closed as if she were in a trance. Coelho comes across her In Russia. She fervently insists that
Paulo can heal her pain and dissatisfaction. She seems to be strange but familiar to Paulo. She was too
stubborn on her decision for Paulo to refuse so Paulo lets her tag along with him on his journey.Later he
discovers that she is the woman he loved five hundred years before - and the woman he
betrayed in an act of cowardice .. She talks about her dream about a friend with a light and so
does the story develops. Hilal also joins the writer in his carriage in the train.
Aleph by Paulo CoelhoReading Group Guide
TheOriginoftheAleph
In 1945, Jorges Luis Borges published The Aleph, a cryptic short story that introduced hisreaders to a new
and provocative spiritual concept. In it, the narratora fictionalized versionof Borges himselfis tempted
into a dark cellar by a poet and enemy who claims that itcontains the true source of his creativity: a small spot
that he called the Aleph, or the
onlyplace on earth where all places areseen from every angle, each standing clear, without
anyconfusion or blending. Suspicious of the poets motives, the narrator is nonetheless
dazzledby the visions and sensations that overtake him when he steps past the narrow
trapdoor.The Alephs diameter was probably little more than an inch, he writes, but all
space wasthere, actual and undiminished. . . . I saw the teeming sea; I saw daybreak and
nightfall. . . .I saw the Aleph from every point and angle, and in the Aleph I saw the earth and
in the earththe Aleph and in the Aleph the earth. Overwhelmed, the narrator staggers upstairs
to thewaiting poet and enacts the ultimate revenge: he pretends he has seen nothing
andrecommends that the man take advantage of the curative effects of country air and
sunshine.But in reality, his entire future has been altered; he dedicates himself to discovering
all thereis to know about the Aleph, its origins, and the very real possibility that these magical
pointsof infinite understanding exist all over the world.
About This Book
With Aleph, internationally best-selling author Paulo Coelho takes the concept of theAleph to new heights,
spinning it into a novel that rivals The Alchemist
in its capacity totransform those who read it. Like the narrator created by Borges,
As they embrace the limitless power of the Aleph and submit to the mercy of theUniverse, theyand
Alephs readersgain a chance to rewrite their destiny. Inspiring,transformative, and full of Coelhos unique
blend of spiritual and practical wisdom, Aleph isnot just a book to read; its a book to live.
Discussion
1.Aleph is a novel full of rituals, starting with Paulo and J.s opening invocation aroundthe sacred oak.
However, Paulos reaction to them varies wildly; sometimes they frustratehim (the oak), sometimes he
embraces them (the shamans midnight chant on the edges of Lake Baikal), and other times he criticizes them
for being empty (Hilals offering at thechurch in Novosibirsk). Why do you think this is? Do you think this has
to do with therituals themselves or is Coelho trying to express something deeper about the nature
and purpose of ritual? What value can ritual have in your own life?
2. During his initial argument with J., Paulo says: We human beings have enormousdifficulty in focusing on
the present; were always thinking about what we did, about howwe could have done it better, about the
consequences of our actions, and about why we
didnt act as we should have. Or else we think about the future, about what were going todo tomorrow, what
precautions we should take, what dangers await us around the nextcorner, how to avoid what we dont want
and how to get what we have always dreamedof [p. 9]. Do you agree? Why do you think J. prescribes travel
as a way for Paulo to better focus on the present instead of his past or future?
3. While hes waiting for a sign that he should embark on the journey J. suggests, Paulothinks about the nature
of tragedy. Tragedy always brings about radical change in our lives, a change that is associated with the same
principle: loss. When faced by any loss,theres no point in trying to recover what has been; its best to take
advantage of the largespace that opens up before us and fill it with something new. In theory, every loss is
for our own good; in practice, though, that is when we question the existence of God and ask ourselves: What
did I do to deserve this ? [p. 15]. Many of Aleph
s characters are dealingwith extreme personal tragedy, from Hilal and her history of sexual abuse to Yao and
thedeath of his wife. Do their experiences and struggles to move forward support or contradict Paulos
statements?
4. Paulo frequently refers to Chinese bamboo after reading an article about its growth process: Once
the seed has been sown, you see nothing for about five years, apart from atiny shoot. All the
growth takes place underground, where a complex root system reachingupward and outward is being
established. Then, at the end of the fifth year, the bamboosuddenly shoots up to a height of twenty-five meters
[p. 22]. How does this function asan important metaphor for spiritual growth? What do you think are the best
ways to builda complex root system of your own?
5. Coelho writes, To live is to experience things, not sit around pondering the meaningof life and offers
examples of people who have experienced revelations in various ways[p. 62]. Do you agree? What people or
writings are you familiar with that support (or disprove) his point of view?
6. In The Aleph, Borgess narrator asks, How, then, can I translate into words the
About the Author
Paulo Coelho is a 65-year-old Brazilian novelist. He was born on August 24, 1947
in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on .He is the author of many international best
sellers, including The Alchemist, Eleven Minutes, and The Pilgrimage. His
books have sold more than 130 million copies in 160 countries and have
been translated into 72 languages. In 2007, he was named a United
Nations Messenger of Peace. He lives in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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