Review: "MANUSCRIPT FOUND IN ACCRA" by Paulo Coelho

I would say that I’m fan of Paolo Coelho. I bought many of his books translated to English.

As with numerous of his readers, the first was “The Alchemist”. It was a small book but with a great effect and I liked it. After I finished reading it, the book disappeared from our house. I wouldn’t find it, it looked that someone stole it from me.

Later on I bought more of his books, sometimes I read them directly, and sometimes I left them to stay in my library longer.

I picked “Manuscript Found in Accra” for its distinguished cover and read it in a few hours. It was an easy reading.

As generally happening with me, when I search for some answers, book pop up and after reading, I’m clear. It happened also this time. I cannot remember what exactly I was looking for, but after reading this book, “need” for something disappeared.

I returned to this book days later and looked better. I was disappointed.

First impression – the book from best-selling author - the aura of glamour didn’t have a last long influence on me.

Yes, the wisdom of people who passed through the extraordinary (rather unpleasant) experiences is much needed for those who cannot find own inner power.

The words of hope and encouragement are sometimes the only what people need. But then supposed to follow their, own steps ahead.

If people are stuck on one place and cannot proceed, the books of encouragement and wisdom are helpful.

When the people forget that they must move forward instead of searching for another book of encouragement and wisdom, then the books become object of attachment, not inspiration.

Then people impatiently wait for the next, similar book to get more words of comfort. Those who understood, harnessed own power and moved on, don’t need them.

It is as with all “spiritual” matters. If people start to feel accustomed where they are, it is a sign, that there is something wrong with their spiritual development. If the readers of spiritual books just run for every new book on the market, they are not on their spiritual journey.

They are allured by the spiritual path of someone else. If person writes down personal realizations reached on own spiritual path – which is generally common sign – it means that they become his/her truths and doesn’t need to go over again.

The real spiritual path is a process, not a destination. If realizations are written in a form of intimate diary or as a fictional novel, is the matter of inclination and talent. But it is always imaginary border which people passed by writing it down, and they need to go beyond that border not back.

Paolo Coelho writes what supposed to be his realizations. The themes of searching for the enlightenment, wisdom, forgiveness, and love and life purpose are intertwined in all of his works.

However, he personally moving within one “box” and cannot get out. Wisdom and spiritual realizations are much wider and more abstract in a matter than the religion.

The religions are one of the directions – as are arts, music, help to others, but also personal tragedies, suffering and any seriously taken endeavor - which supposed to bring a seeker to a higher awareness.

Paolo Coelho evidently struggles within his own box of religion, trying to find a connection (or relation) between Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

Sometimes I think that he is trying to win over the readers from different corners of the world by incorporating specific elements to his works (Aleph and The Zahir was evidently targeting Arabic readers, The Fifth Mountain Israel, and generally Jew readers, The Pilgrimage all western believers, etc.), and mixes them with the magic, occult and mystery which are always attractive themes for readers.

But what is the evident result of his work is that he still didn’t find himself, given almost all his works are moving within the religions, he didn’t get out of his box, he didn’t move forward.

So why should people, seeking their own path, still read his books of inspirations, if he didn’t find inspiration to move on in his path, yet?

His last announced work in progress is his own biography. Did Paolo Coelho lose his clear vision or he is lost in the pride of “best-selling author”?

Did you notice that his every book starting with:

“O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for those who turn to You. Amen.”

Is it a kind of incantation, magical shield, pray for protection or request for success?

The “Manuscript Found in Accra” isn’t fictional novella. It is concentrated wisdom – from some exact level of personal life. However, the form in which it is brought to the readers is very poor.

Author says on the beginning that he “transcribe” the manuscript found in Accra around 14th century. If it was his intention or not - with all the pitfalls, which organized western religions in the world produced - we do not need any other scripture.

Yes, the book exactly imitates the form of scriptures. Scriptures generally record the statements of someone, later on pronounced as an authoritative or sacred. However, it a the record of spoken words.

In any way, spoken words need to be “altered” for the written form. Paolo Coelho didn’t make this effort. His book “Manuscript found in Accra” looks like work of high-school student.

Illusion forego best-selling author is not enough to hide the shoddy work.

I don’t know if Paolo Coelho has any word into what his publisher HarperCollins is doing, having in mind his words that his publisher own all rights to his work.

But it seems that publisher or author either is desperate to issue such a low level of quality.

Except the cover, which I personally like, I have objections against the format ( bigger than his usual books, making impression that this one is more valuable than others), fonts ( unusually big, just to produce a “tangible” book), layout (very dull), first “chapter” right away with the mistake; missing formatting which every other ”chapter” follow.

Numbers of the pages don’t follow one format, size and font.

I don’t know how long time it will take, but authors will consider giving off all rights in favor of exclusive publisher who might sacrifice author’s good name and reputation for profit - UK £9.99 – as it clearly happened with this book.

“Traditional” publishing houses playing safe bet. They own exclusive rights to publish author’s work and in contract bind author for producing similar works. They don’t want to risk. What works ones will work again.

But this attitude is not working well with personal development of authors and with the readers too.

Creativity is not bound in one form or one way of expression. When strikes, it doesn’t follow the contracts, expectations, or what readers want to read.

Naturally, authors supposed to write different works not similar.

In this manner “traditional” publishing houses limits creativity and deprive readers of new experiences.

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