Salocin

Eleven Minutes by Paulo Coehlo

I read this book and a few others besides on a recent trip to South Africa. This one certainly gave me the most to think about, while using the fewest words and the clearest exposition.

Paulo Coelho stays true to his parable-telling style, while venturing into the more traditionally fraught territory of sex and relationships. His heroine, a Brazilian prostitute in Geneva, provides the lens through which the spirituality of relationships is unwrapped and examined, providing an elegant expose of Coehlo's views on subjects which are quickly taboo if mishandled. Without pulling his punches, Coehlo manages to navigate these dangerous waters with poise, without seeming to lecture or resorting to clichés. This story provides enlightening (though sometimes disturbing) insights into human nature and our masochistic search for suffering, as well as an inspirational take on how a more pure love might be felt, expressed and experienced. Simple and quite unpretentious, Coehlo's books remain as accessible as always, even when dealing with issues that often threaten to polarise opinion. He has a delicate touch with words.