's
narrative choice to use direct address in his novel is a particularly
effective way to reach Coelho's audience.
First, this method of address makes
the story take on an immediacy (and "intellectual adjacency"). The ideas and precepts
do not necessarily take place in the past, but appeal to the modern audience as if the elements
of the novel could be taking place heretoday
and anywhere in the world. This timelessness
adds to the credibility of the story, which is not restricted to a particular culture, race,
religion or intellectual group. The book's themeslife truthsare universal. The manner of direct
address allows the reader to feel Coelho is speaking to each reader personally, and this creates
the story's credibility.
The author's choice of direct address makes the
reader feel as if he/she is being addressed almost conversationally. At first glance, one could
believe that this might rob the story of its subtle elegance. However, the
author's ability to speak so succinctly and clearlywhile presenting themes of enormous valueis
accomplished with grace and is something of a surprise. Interestingly (and worth noting), it is
not until the reader sits down with the book a second or third time that he/she realizes that
this is not a one-dimensional story, but something with multiple layers.
Each time we read the book, we learn and internalize something new. The method of using direct
address puts the reader at ease. We do not feel as if we are reading a technical journal or a
textbook, but we are reading a book about life. One might anticipate that the presentation of
such significant ideas might be much more sophisticated, but in avoiding a
tone of heaviness, the author can appealreach outto a wider audience. And although the reading
seems straight-forward and almost effortless, the depth of meaning is waiting beneath the
service if only the inquisitive mind chooses to pick it up and look for personal meaning between
the pages.
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