Eleven Minutes by Paul Coelho

Maria, a beautiful Brazilian girl, brought up far from Rio - scarred by the rejection of her first love - the boy who offered her a pencil, which she failed to take - walks the inevitable path from country isolation and unappreciated beauty to the city where her looks bring her the coveted ticket to the rich West.  How is a girl like this to survive if she is not educated?  So yes, the oldest profession beckons in Geneva.  Maria finds she has an aptitude, she is disengaged, she even enjoys it and yes, it is only sex to her.  The book discusses her journey, how she remains true to herself and finds her love. 

The discussion of this book didn't center on the sex, but on Maria and her journey.  It elicited various and differing opinions.  It might have been that the translation didn't make the prose as lyrical as it should be, but most felt that the diary entries were leaden in comparison to the story. Having said that a number really didn't like the book.

Words used to describe it:      pretentious and humourless, pointless, unexpected, enlightening poetic, disappointing, premature ejaculation, simplistic, I've only come for the wine, could have been more.
Marks out of 10 - between 3 - 8 with 4 people giving it 8 - so the harsh remarks may not reflect the actual enjoyment of the book.

Next book

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

Next Meeting

Thursday 5th September 8pm 

at

130 Harbord Street