65 pages 2 hours read

Paulo Coelho

Eleven Minutes

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2003

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

In Eleven Minutes by Paulo Coelho, Maria, a young and intelligent Brazilian woman, travels to Switzerland hoping to better her life but ends up working as a well-paid sex worker. She hardens herself against emotional connections with her clients while saving money to return to Brazil. Her plans become complicated when she meets Ralf Hart, a famous artist, whose love forces her to reassess her choices and future. The novel discusses sex work and includes elements of BDSM.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Readers of Paulo Coelho's Eleven Minutes appreciate its exploration of complex themes like love, sexuality, and the human spirit through the protagonist, Maria's, journey. Positive reviews highlight its poetic and introspective writing. However, some critics feel the novel leans too heavily on philosophical discourse at the expense of plot development.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Eleven Minutes?

Readers who enjoy introspective and transformative journeys, as seen in Paolo Coelho’s The Alchemist, will find Eleven Minutes captivating. Those intrigued by themes of love, self-discovery, and the human experience, similar to those in Anaïs Nin’s Delta of Venus, will appreciate Coelho’s narrative and philosophical depth.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Romance

Modern Classic Fiction

Drama / Tragedy

Topics

Philosophy

Love / Sexuality

Relationships

Themes

Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Identity: Sexuality

Society: Immigration