WHY DO YOU WRITE?

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For a couple weeks I've been reading Paulo Coelho's book. This is the third time I read his books, of course with different titles. It was last summer, when I reached the highest level of boredom, I unconsciously burst out an intention to borrow book from a friend of mine.

'Do you have any book you could possible lend to me?'

'I have some.'

Since the idea was to escape from unbearable boredom situation, I did not take it very seriously.

'What is that book about?'

She told me it was about some shepherd, I could not remember the detail, but I remember that I was being suspicious about the book she told me, back then.

'It must have been like a fairy-tale story, like a kid story. The story must have been started with 'once upon a time' or alike, is that true?'

She denied it and I ended up saying I would try reading it. And I did read it, apparently. I was surprised with the fact that I haven't read such a magical book like that before. And that how the story begins. Now, I have to say that I am such a huge fan of his works, Paulo Coelho. I would not come this far, read three of his books, if I don't like it.

In Bahasa we have this phrase 'menjilat ludah sendiri,' wich literally means 'lick up your own spittle.' We normally use this phrase for people who happen to say not going to do something, related to a promise or commitment, but end up doing it anyway. 'Breaking his own word,' perhaps is the right word to explain it.

Having been reading three of his books made me realize how I idolize him very much. When I finished reading his book, it wouldn't make me enough of it. I want to read his book more. Since I have no money to buy books, I read them upon the kindness of my friends - who with big heatedly allow me to borrow them. Thanks to you friends. Some of them even allow me to read it first, even though she herself have not finished reading it yet.

The book I'm reading now, The Zahir, also has the same power -as the two other books of Coelho- to catch my interest. I try not to read it too fast. The other two books I could manage reading it in less than four days. Because what I worry most about reading a book is when I am about to reach its ending. I hate to encounter the ending that I'm not satisfied with. I hate it because the moment I finish it I don't know what new book I'm going to read. I hate it because I'm not ready to find the fact that the new book I'm going to read is not as enjoyable as the book I read before.

In The Zahir I found many good lessons. What's good about Paulo Coelho's book is that he always has something that we can get things from, besides that enjoyable stories. Well, we did enjoy it as an entertainment but also we get extra pluses here, we are motivated through words he created. He's such an inspiring writer. 

What makes me love his works even more is some messages within this book. I don't know if that just part of the story or it is his own explanation, excuse. He says the reason why none of his works have been adapted to movie, because he doesn't want it too. Many producers have been approaching him but he insists that his book is not intended for movie. 'There are many works out there that intended to be made for movie, and they deserve more'. Besides, he also emphasizes that he doesn't want it to be adapted to movie because he wants his readers to have their own movie in their mind, while they were reading. To have their own visualization in their mind. Now I'm closing my eyes and let my brain works on this word. I think I'm agree with him. I find it very amusing, I can capture my own movie version of his books in my mind.

The best part in this book for me is when he was interviewed by some journalist. In this book we are told that the narrator is a writer. I don't understand why he -Paulo Coelho- does this so often. In his other book, Aleph, the narrator is also a writer. I'm not sure if it means that the narrator is a writer himself. But in the last page of the book, Aleph, he tells the readers what is now Hilal doing in her life. What is her life looks like after that event. Oh, am I spoiling the story. My bad. I'm sorry. I will not do it again.

About that journalist again. He was asking a question 'why does he write?'. For the narrator this question is categorized as a automatic pilot question, which means he can answer it without even thinking. Yet, this time he decided to put a little effort on his answer, which I find very motivated. He decided to tell the story of his childhood. He begins telling his backgrounds. He says he was not a popular student. He is not good at anything, sport etc. He never worn branded-clothes. No girls want to be with him. One day he wrote a poem for a girl he has crush with. His friend stole that poem and read it out loud to the entire class. Everybody laughed, except the girl to whom the poem is written for. After that incident they went to the theater and the girl managed to sit next to him and held his hand. Then he realized that writing can realize what he wants. Before explaining this story he gave a short answer why he writes. 'Because I want to be loved,' he answered. Writing has realized his desire, to be loved.

I love writing. But I have not found yet what kind of color I belong to. I'm doing what I can do. I'm writing whatever I have in mind, regardless if it is good or not. I hope one day I can state my opinion to the public 'why do I write.' What I found very difficult now is writing something what other people want. I can't do it. I have no capability to be a delegated writer. I write only things that matter to me. In some way this is also what narrator has said in the novel when Mikhail wants him to write something, about Mikhail mission. The narrator said 'I cannot write things that I'm not in to.' That's how I idolize this book! :D :D

Update!

I wrote this article when I was about to finish the book. But I still have some chapters to go. When I finished it I found out that Paulo Coelho has already provided a page where he tells the reader about this book, about where he got inspiration of this book from. I highly recommend this book, especially for those who live away from home. There are many inspiring messages that we can get from this book. In fact, the story of Paulo Coelho's books that I've read -The Alchemist, Aleph, The Zahir- are all about journey. When we say journey there must be many struggles that we might face along the way. True, Paulo depicts it very clear in his books and also he gives us keys to deal with it. Am I being exaggerated? At least that's what I got when I read it. 

'I would love too,' that's my answer if anyone would ask me whether or not I want to read his other books. No matter if he/she is just lending it. :p :D