* ~ * The Winner Stands Alone - Book Review * ~ *. Review on Winner Stands Alone, The - Paulo Coelho

Can you tell me one word which causes the present day Recession? I think the word is CHANGE. Change doesn't come free and there is no wonder to see people who called Change for the sake of Change pay the price of it. Software, Mobiles, Automobiles, yes, we know them! FASHION is a synonym to Change.

'This is not a thriller, but a stark portrait of where we are now', says Paulo Coelho in the preface to this excellent book called 'The Winner Stands Alone'. I found the novel otherwise. An excellent thriller and found the Author standing tall accepting all applauds!

The name of the book was my first attraction to buy the book along with the cover design of the book. The book has the typical Paulo Coelho stamp in the thoughts, vision and direction where it was also a wonderful page turner, a complete thriller which keeps the reader in the edge of suspense and anxiety.

Paulo Coelho's 'The Alchemist' was beautiful and simple like a sweet wind carrying nice odor from the nature's garden. In The Winner Stands Alone, the same wind turn to be a typhoon and storm west. That is correct. The typhoon's colour is black and red. It smells blood. No it lives blood.

The novel begins at 3.17am and ends at 1.55 am the next day, in Cannes, the capital of films, during the film festival. Paulo Coelho leads the readers to bright and dark corners of Cannes. Beautiful beaches, heavy streets and dark corridors. Igor, a Russian Millionaire is following a run away wife to tell her that how important she is. One who considers each person is a universe decide to end some universes to get back her love. Ewa, is now with Hamid, a world famous fashion designer from Middle East. How many murders Igor will commit to reach to Ewa? Will he get caught in the process? Does Igor manage to get back Ewa and how? (if yes) why not? (if not). Answers to these questions will satisfy the first hand reader of the book. The book is an excellent thriller in all accounts. A great detective is missing to call it as a detective novel, but read it- it is as good as a detective novel and more than that. To know, read further.

There are two kinds of dangersin the world. One we know it is danger and the other we consider as good. There are two types of enemies in the world. One, who are our enemies and we know they are enemies. Two, they are enemies but for us they are friends. The author creates a cold blooded silent villain to represent the growing danger in the world. Fashion. The silent killer who don't make a noise but approach with a soft foot and act like a friend, tempt you and take your hand only to push you to danger? Traps! – Traps of glamour and fashion - The temptations and promise – Victims don't consider 'No' can be an answer in the glittering light of hope. This is a trap.

Behind the bright lights and glittering dresses, everybody is struggling in the industry. The producers, directors, actors, models, make up artists, Agents, all falls in the same trap. (Lucky By Chance?) With hope they climb the mountains and when all at a sudden the hope finds no way forward, the next step they take is to down. Death! The friend turns your Super enemy!

My intuitions: Igor arrives straight from Dostoevsky's 'Crime and Punishment'. With him, arrives the 'Class' Theory and the murder is justified for a greater cause. Hamid arrives from The Greatest Salesman of the world, in part. . Ewa is none other than Zaher, Paulo Coelho's own book. Even when, there are similarities between the above said characters, Paulo Coelho only permitted them to live their old life for some time and after that he gives a new life with different vision and an interesting mission.

Reading Experience: Being a person who always tried to find the intentions and symbols while reading or traveling, the book was a treat! When I identified that the central character in the book is a symbol by mid way each turning page reconfirmed my assertions and magnified my satisfaction in reading. Even the other characters were representatives of a class, value or an approach. How do you compare Terrorism to Fashion? The writer gives enough clues by end to say that the characters are symbols or representatives and it makes sure that this book stands alone from other Paulo Coelho books! Death, fate, Power and despair joint hands in Igor, where Glamour and greed in Ewa, fight of conservatism and modernism in Hamid, Youth and wisdom in Jasmine, Creativity and determination in Gabriela and lot more.

Criticism: Unlike other Paulo Coelho novels, this book is one of the best book criticizing the system and calls for a change. The writer rip apart the mask each one wearing including the system. The quote in the beginning of the book says it all. 'I am not what you supposed, but far different' (Walt Witman). There had social criticism in other Paulo Coelho novels as well. However, those were not concentrated, not researched like this and were not sharp like this.

Minus points?: 1. We can hear Paulo Coelho speaking in the same tone through different characters in some places. 2. The stage for climax was set in hurry and a bit messy as well. However, as soon as the actors entered the scene, it was all normal. 3. At least in two places the sentences look continuous, say a big paragraph full. Not sure that was intentional but found odd. (May be it has something to do with the translator).

Message:Say No to a world which you do not belongs to. Let the Writers write books, film makers make films and poets write poetry. Don't fall in the trap of money, power or glamour. Follow Love. Follow your dream. Do you have a dream worth following? Check it. If you are chasing a false dream, abandon it and find new one. If you are chasing a true dream don't give your way. Life is a journey. Make sure you don't miss Love!!

When the purpose of art can be 'social change through attitude change' the book is a form of true art and the author is sure to save many universes. For one who read the characters for what they are and read the words for what they stands for, the book is nothing but a modern day CLASSICand Paulo Coelho Stands tall!