Paulo Coelho's The Winner Stands Alone: In The World of Fame, Fashion, and Glamor

During the Cannes Film Festival where well-known artists in cinema, fashion, and everything luxury, there are people who wants to stand out. Can love get the chance or fame gets the world upside down?

The Winner Stands Alone by best seller author, Paulo Coelho revolves around Igor Malev, a wealthy Russian businessman and how he tries to take back his love of his life Ewa, in this world of the so-called Superclass. 

There are so many information in this book and there are so many characters involved. Igor promises to destroy worlds just to get back Ewa. Worlds as he describes it, are the life of people who he wants to stop their suffering. As we all know, people have their own nightmares to deal with and overcome. Olivia Martins, a victim of love who was abused by his boyfriend physically and emotionally. A person who wanted freedom but still tied to the perception of love. Javits Wild, a film distributor who has the fortune and respects. He has everything he needs but still feels lonely and still searching for that missing piece that will make his life worth living. Maureen, a frustrated film-maker who went to Cannes to talk to Javits. These three are the ones who taken misfortune and the worlds that Igor was talking about. Igor fought in Afghanistan. This is why he knows anatomy of killing and the delicate processes.

Igor is stupid though. He can not retrieve the feelings that has once lost. But I can not blame him either, he just loves. We do all things in the name of love to the extent that we got insane. He kills people, to him this is right. It is his way of cleansing the world and making it a better place. Coming from war and having this thinking is somewhat reasonable for a person who has traumatic experience. We all like to live in a world of righteous and peaceful, isn't that right?

Hamid Hussein, a famous couturier and the now partner of Ewa. He worked hard and never gives up for his dream. He met Ewa in the same category. They both love fashion and they fell in love. Hamid is just a simple human being. He just falls in love. He has never been a home-wrecker. He tries his best to please Ewa and to make her happy. I think all the problem is on Ewa. She is selfish. She has never been contented. But I know where she is coming from. She felt alone despite of all the money, the business, and the success she had. She still needs passion especially from her husband Igor. Though Igor spend lesser and lesser time with her, I know that it was not his intention. He just wants everything for his wife. They both lack communication. Ewa just slipped away and live with another guy, Hamid, who she thinks can give her the desires that she needs.

Aside from where the story had focused on, love, there are added trivia in between. Just like how authors has been tricked by the movie-makers to make their writing into film. The ways that the models go through to be known and to walk in runways. And, how the celebrities almost give up their dignity just to be famous. There are mind blowing scenarios that is true and happens in reality.

This is what I like about Paulo Coelho's writing in general, he opens your mind. He let you see the things that you may not see. He gives you wisdom that you may not been tought. He can also give you freedom and liberty even in his works. He touches lives and continues to do so.