Paulo Coehlo the Brazilian born writer, has to enthrall his readers with numerous novels such as The Alchemist, Veronika Decides to Die and The Valkyries. Amazingly, Mr. Coehlo has published over 27 novels in as many years. His novel, The Witch of Portobello forces the reader to face moral, religious and philosophical questions. The story revolves around the central character born Sherine, but known as Athena. Athena was a Romanian gypsy who was left at an orphanage as an infant. She is adopted by a loving Lebanese family who moves to London.

The story is told through a series of interviews with those who knew Athena. Through most of the story the unknown narrator shares stories told during interviews with Athena’s ex-husband, her mentor, her calligraphy teacher, her adoptive mother,  her friends, as well as several others who both love and hate her, eventually it includes interviews with her birth mother. While I very much enjoyed the multiple views this method of writing was able to portray. Overall, I was not buying the message this story tried to tell.

The story covers the spiritual and emotional journey that the main character Athena engages on. Athena is raised catholic, but then begins a long journey of spiritual awakening. She embarks on this journey, with her child Viorel at her side. Her spiritual journey takes on a pagan/wiccan/earth religion concept. Athena practices odd dancing fits, and slips into an alternate type spirit or priestess named Hagia Sophia. Her alter ego is met with great religious resistance. I found the story unbelievable and forced.
The novel is a fairly quick and easy read. However, the numerous conversations in the Witch of Portobello seem very forced and unnatural. The relationships never seem quite right, which makes the characters hard to relate to. While, I think Paulo Coehlo raises a very interesting concept of furthering our spirituality, I think that he missed the mark with this novel. His main character was likable enough, but not real enough.

I think the main character Athena was a confused adoptee trying to find her place in the world and fill in the emotionally blank spaces in her life. However, the manner in which she did it hurt just about everyone that loved her. Her poor child almost seemed neglected because she was so engrossed in herself. In the end, she fakes her own death, in order to escape the chaos that she has personally created.

As a reader we are expected to buy into the very alternate religious concepts without rhyme or reason just because the author and main character expect you to believe. I realize that he is challenging the reader to find higher spirituality; but, we are educated people and need reasons or understanding before we should blindly believe. I will admit that it did make me question furthering my own spirituality, which may have been Mr. Coehlo’s whole purpose with this novel.