Picked up in a Healthy Planet Bookshop.

The identity of the central character and narrator is never revealed to the reader. He is a best-selling author whose wife, Esther, a war correspondent, disappeared without a trace. Initially he is a suspect in her disappearance but when no evidence of foul play is found he is released. Two years later he has a new girlfriend but despite living a successful,easy and wealthy life in Paris he is in despair because he is unable to pinpoint the exact reason for Esther’s disappearance: Did she leave him for another man and why did she vanish without telling him first? She becomes a Zahir, an obsession, and he won't rest until he finds her.

It is difficult to decide whether or not this was supposed to be a stand alone, moralistic tale or a piece of semi-autobiographical work based on real events in the author's own life, (a fact not really helped when The Alchemist is referred to on more than occasion). Whatever the case I found this was to be a generally lazy piece of wring that stands poorly in comparison with some of the author's other novels that I've read.

Hopefully the next reader will get more out of it.

Going out to Canada as a BookMooch. Enjoy!