Paulo Coelho has written a beautiful story about love and forgiveness. It a a perfect demonstration of how true love will transcend time and cirucmstance and will remain with us. The novel, true to Coelho's style is laced with spirituality, which Coelho does brilliantly. The search for true love and the search for truth in religion is closely interwoven and a integral part of the plot. The novel clearly demonstrates how when we are touched in our youth by love and religion if it is lost we will be compelled to seek it out even when our youth has faded into memories.