Paulo Coelho, a Glass of Rioja, and a Memory That Resurfaces

I’ve read all of Paulo Coelho’s books. Yes, every single one of them — from the magic of Brida to the relentless rhythm of Eleven Minutes, from the hidden power in The Witch of Portobello to the breathless suspense of The Spy. And then there’s The Valkyries, with that feminine esoteric mysticism that stays engraved within, and even Confessions of a Pilgrim, perhaps his least-known book but also one of the most intimate.

It was inevitable, then, that my blog would have a category entirely dedicated to him: Paulo Coelho. Because his writing has been a constant thread throughout my life, weaving itself into personal experiences, loves, solitudes, and rebirths.

And, as often happens with Coelho, life never stops surprising you. This Saturday I have a birthday party, and a month ago I had decided that the perfect gift would be a bottle of Coelho’s favorite wine: Rioja Campo Viejo. I had even thought about ordering one for myself, to sip while writing reviews of his books. But I forgot. For weeks I tried to remember what that gift was supposed to be, and only today did it come back to me.

The problem? No website guarantees delivery by Saturday. So what now? As Coelho says, “everything happens for a reason.” I’ll probably have to choose an alternative. I found two wines that inspire me and could replace — or maybe even make up for — that original idea:

• Option 1 on Amazon

• Option 2 on Amazon

Maybe I’ll buy both. Maybe this little setback will make the gift even more special.

And who knows, maybe on Saturday, after the party, I’ll reopen my complete collection of Coelho’s books. Maybe I’ll just reread a few pages here and there, because some passages have remained etched in my memory. Brida, for example, which always makes me think of my partner — boyfriend, friend, business partner, and lover, all in one.

I’ll let you know how it goes, with the wine and with the party. And in the meantime, I’ll start writing a thorough review for each of Coelho’s books: a journey into the words of a man who knew how to turn life into literature, and literature into life.