The Winner Stands Alone Book

I have read some of the most rubbish books out there but i just couldn't get through this one. I tried really hard though.This was the first Paulo Coelho book i've ever read and i have to say, i'm really disappointed. The front cover with 'international bestseller' across the top really got my hopes up.

The writing was overly descriptive. There were so many details that i just didn't care about. You don't usually expect such purplish writing from an old man. When i first started reading i paid attention to these details because in crime books, some times the small seemingly needless details turn out to be clever subtle hints. Hearing about the expensive wine/clothes/jewellery/watches etc. was interesting maybe the first time, but the author talks about these superficial things OVER AND OVER again. Most of it doesn't end up having a decent purpose. I mean, no one really cares about the brand of a man's expensive sunglasses, especially when we can guess that he's about to die within the next three pages.

And that's another thing: the plot is very predictable. There were some very big ideas and criticisms in this book for such a boring and loose plot.

The characters were also bland. There were some qualities that SHOULD have made some of them interesting but for some reason i just didn't care.

A lot of the things that happen are also hugely unrealistic. A rich man gets pricked by an anonymous syringe and goes, 'Oh. It's probably just a childish prank. Chill guys.' SERIOUSLY? Even if it wasn't some toxic substance (which it would very likely be, considering he's so rich and that most people hate the rich) i would AT LEAST be concerned about some blood-born disease. A mysterious prick - AIDS ANYONE???

Another thing: some of the random ideas he sprouts like they're facts also irritated me. At the beginning there's a bit about how airplanes only make people turn off their mobile phones so that they'll use the plane ones which are heaps expensive. He said that turning it on won't crash the plane so it's no big deal. This wouldn't bug me if the author didn't say it like it was a cold, hard fact. But the reason phones have to be turned off is because they interfere with the plane's gps system. Just because the plane won't crash it doesn't mean you can be an idiot and do it. In the end he says that he consulted a lot of people in order to get accurate facts for this book, leading the reader to believe that they're mostly true. i wonder who he asked about the plane. Not only was this annoying, it was also irresponsible. People absorb a LOT from books.

I didn't get to finish this book. I did waste a few hours trying though and i wouldn't suggest anyone else follow my example. Time is precious, and yours is better spent elsewhere. Minus the research and the obvious Cannes experience that the author has, any intelligent, bored, frustrated fourteen year old could have written this.