The Valkyries

There's a lot of wisdom and truth presented here in this book. The question is, will you or can you understand it? I admit that several places in the book, I would go back and have to reread something, and still not totally get it. But a little further and BAM! -This beautiful piece of writing would pop out and be clear as can be. I am thinking that what you get out of this book most likely depends on several things, like how open minded you are, where you are in your life and where you are spiritually. It's a metaphor people! (to those reviewers who didn't get it so they wrote negative things about it, which makes me think of how a lot of times we [some/most?] are quick to condemn that which we do not understand?) The things that you don't conciously understand, you most likely (hopefully anyway) sub-conciously get. Get it? - Course that may not be the case for all. Book club choice? This book would make for interesting group discussion between the right people, -an open minded group who's not so quick to judge by skimming the surface. I think open discussions about this could bring a lot of hidden meanings out in the open because for example, one part that I didn't get could be clear as a bell to somebody else. I loved this and am planning to read it again. And I feel sure that I'll probably read it several times throughout my life. That's the kind of book this is. So, if you read it and don't understand, maybe it's not the right time for you? So many times, I have been drawn to exactly the books I needed for what I was going thru at that time. This proved that to me, once again.

This was my first book by Coelho and it was terrific! I've since read the Alchemist (his first) and The Pilgrimage. The Valkyries remain my favorite in what I found were interesting twists to the 'story'. I found it to be a metaphysical detective-like mystery novel. A little bit of cleverly outrageous in myth coming to reality in more than one situation. Note: If I read a news filler item correctly Shirley MacLean embarked on the same journey as 'journaled' in Coelho's The Pilgrimage. tvb... massachuetts

The Valkyries is a metaphysical tale, very much in the spirit of James Redfield, only this epic tale is authentic.This is Paulo Coelho's astonishing true story of his encounter with darkness, his search for the light, and the seeking of his personal angel. He chronicles his journey from Brazil, with his wife Chris, and their 40-day sojourn in the Mojave Desert, seeking the Valkyries. The Valkyries were rumored to be able to speak and to see their angels. Having fought a battle with darkness, Paulo has redeemed his life and is a seeker of the light. Paulo was also told that "people wind up killing what they love most" as he seeks to rectify certain, if not all, areas of his life.This book is journey of faith, of trust, of forgiveness, of love, of self-discovery, and of battling the darkness within ourselves, and wanting to change. As Paulo states, "Faith is a different conquest, and it requires daily combat in order to maintained." His faith is tested to the very end, as he seeks contact with his angels. His journey within transforms him as well as transforming his wife at the same time. Their two soul journeys will inspire you."We are responsible for everything that happens in this world. We are the warriors of the light. With the strength of our love and our will, we can change our destiny, as well as the destiny of many others." In this age of angel sightings, angel occurrences are happening with intense frequency. It is as if God is sending his messengers with a message and that message if one of love. The stories being written give hope to those in need of hope and bring home the message that there is another way - love."If on the other hand, we accept all that is wrong about us - and despite it, believe that we are desiring of a happy life - then we will have thrown open an immense window that will allow Love to enter. Little by little, our defects will disappear, because one who is happy can look at the world only with love - the force that regenerates everything that exists in the universe."This is an amazing book, which will cause you to think and revaluate parts of your life. I read the book in one sitting and had to keep going with it till the very end. If you are on a spiritual journey or even on a transforming journey at this point in your life, this is one book that you will want to read. As Paulo says, "God is love, generosity and forgiveness; if we believe this, we will never allow our weakness to paralyze us." I highly recommend this book.

This book really helped me to see how there are forces at work in our lives that we do not know about. Coelho has made me believe through this simple story that God is still present with us everyday, and active in our lives. He is not religiously pushy, however, like some writers in this genre. He leaves a lot of room for the reader to make his own interpretation of what is presented, broadening the prospective audience. This simple story of Coelho and his wife's quest renewed my faith in a lot of things. I had mixed thoughts about reading a religiously focused book when I picked up The Alchemist a few months ago, but the message therein really helped me put a lot of things into perspective, and Valkyries was no different.

I have read other of Coehlo's books, ie the Alchemist, The Fifth Mountain and Brida, and I have foud the Valkyries, to be his best book! I couldn't put it down since I began reading it. It is so simple yet so deep! It is all so true, how Coehlo describes us destroying everything good that we have in our lives, because we are always too blind to see it. The most wonderful part is to realize that we must always choose love over anything else and that we must forgive others and ask for God's forgiveness. It is a book that helps you regain hope in life, love and God in this crazy world we are in now. With so much war, so much hatred, so much violence, so many killings, so much hunger! Well, we must believe in God's love and protection, believe in our guardian angel to guide us and to protect us always. And it is up to us to change this world!