The Winner Stands Alone

The Winner Stands Alone
By Paulo Coelho
HarperCollins, 2008. 343 pgs. Fiction

Once again Coelho affirms his place as master storyteller. In The Winner Stands Alone Igor is a Russian multi-millionaire who vows to convince his ex-wife, Ewa, that he will do anything to prove his love for her--and he does. The novel comprises a psychological exploration of three subjects: the mind and actions of a serial killer, the outward glitz and glamour of the film and fashion industries, and the true nature of love and evil. Extremely fast-paced and compelling, the entire story takes place within a 24 hour period, beginning at 3:17 am and closing at 1:55 am the following day. Set in Cannes during the world famous film festival, this work contains the excitement of a thriller with the literary depth Coelho is known for.

This is my favorite of Coelho’s repertoire since The Alchemist and I couldn’t put it down until the wee hours of morning. Yet, his final analysis of love and nontraditional relationships was unsettling and though the action is riveting the conclusion is disheartening. Conservative readers be warned. Coelho decries the evil of Igor's twisted love, juxtaposing it against what he writes as a more pure and holy version of love--that found between a female, teenage model and her female photographer/agent.

DAP