The Witch of Portobello

This was incredible. It was bought for my wife by a good friend of ours about 12 years ago and sat on the book shelf for as long.

The timing was good for me as the spiritual elements of the book tie in nicely with some of my philosophical meanderings right now.

“I dance when ever I can, but music only exists because the pauses exist, and sentences only exist because the blank spaces exist. When I'm doing something, I feel complete, but no one can keep active twenty-four hours a day. As soon as I stop, I feel there's something lacking. You've often said to me that I'm a naturally restless person, but I didn't choose to be that way. I'd like to sit here quietly, watching television, but I can't. My brain won't stop. Sometimes I think I'm going mad. I need always to be dancing, writing, selling land, taking care of Viorel, or reading whatever I find to read. Do think that's normal?”

I definitely enjoyed this book more than The Zahir and really liked the ending. Athena, the main character of the book, was definitely a complex character and I liked how her complexity was consistent. The only simplicity she had was that she just loved. She didn't give it a reason or any type of definition... she loved because she did and that was it.

Although the theme seemed to be about love in the end... I have to say that what really stood out and what became my favorite lines in the book were: “Anyone who believes they have failed will always fail. Anyone who has decided that they cannot behave any differently will be destroyed by routine. Anyone who has decided to block all changes will be transformed into dust. Cursed be those who do not dance and who prevent others from dancing!”

I definitely recommend this book.