BRIDA

BRIDA BY PAULO COELHO

The book revolves around the Irish girl named 'BRIDA' whose thirst for spiritual knowledge and wisdom drags her into a different world. A normal girl engaged in her day to day life and job work goes in to a mysterious world of magic to find her own self. Her wish to listen to her inner voice and to get answers of all her spiritual questions she needs a teacher. Brida meets Magus, a renowned magician who teaches her- The tradition of sun and The tradition of moon. How nature and it’s elements affect human beings was tactfully experienced by Brida throughout her journey in the novel.

The most part of plot is set in woods which is my favourite location as an animist. Magus leaves Brida alone in the woods and as a consequence Brida happens to meet a witch named Wicca. Wicca being a woman helps Brida to understand many hidden secrets of life. She learns The tradition of Moon from Wicca and through rare meetings with Magus she happens to learn The tradition of sun.

Paulo coelho who is famous for his narrative techniques depicting how vulnerable and pitiable humans may feel in a total new world is skilfully portrayed by him. Same happens with the girl and at times she feels like engrossed in a total contradictory world where she entered with her will but could find no escape easily. Coelho with his story has proven his ability to encapsulate various factors like sun, moon, body, sex, nature and spirit in a single book with vivid description.

The main theme of the novel is recognition for your soul mate and search for one’s own self which absolutely filled my criteria for reading. Brida on her way of learning and evaluating magic comes to know how magic proves to be a bridge between visible world and  an invisible world.

The life of Brida chances as her relationship with a man who she loves is changed. The book is comprised with many quotes and life changing words. According to Coelho, the process of finding one self is love. Brida tries to find her unknown self and successfully did it so.

Unlike his other Novels, Brida has got the simplest form of writing style and description. With almost a light way of narration, writer has successfully conveyed the meaning. It’s a teaching based Novel which conveys to have faith in God and most importantly faith in ourselves.

The location of mountains, rivers and forests sounds soothing while reading. The progression of a human soul is as essential as the growth of body. Progression of soul can be achieved with expression of one’s emotions, actions, memories, choices, surroundings and much more. The atmosphere created in the novel is mysterious at the same time conscious. Brida has become a representative of all those who oscillate between inner peace and outer temptation.

Each and every human needs certain amount of love. We can wholeheartedly devote ourselves to only one person who feels like a soul mate to us. Brida goes under many circumstances where she wants to quit and submit herself to a lone path with no partner.

Coelho has beautifully conveyed the intimate relations and it’s meaning. Why the book is so different from all other books of his? Because it covers the themes of self discovery, witch craft, spiritual knowledge, religion, soul mates and mysticism.

I would recommend this book to all the Paulo coelho fans and to all those also who are fond of books and mysticism. The story has it’s ups and downs but over all it’s a good read, you won’t regret reading BRIDA.