Esther, a war correspondent, is married to a celebrated novelist, the narrator, who is living comfortably in Paris. One day she disappears. For some time he is under suspicion himself, and then he settles into a life with his lover while continuing to think about her. He grows obsessed with the Zahir, a term from Islamic mysticism for something that once noticed consumes the mind. A young man called Mikhail, who knew Esther, may hold the answer, and the narrator ends up traveling to Kazakhstan to find him. Coelho takes up ideas of love, marriage, and personal freedom.
A good pick for fans of The Alchemist who want a longer novel with a modern frame. It will appeal to anyone who has been unable to let go of an absent person.
Inward-looking; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Empathetic Explorer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2005
- Language
- EN
