Coelho, Paulo. Eleven Minutes (New York: Perennial, 2005) 273 p. Translated from the Portuguese by Margaret Jull Costa.

Maria, a young Brazilian woman is tricked into a life of prostitution in Switzerland. One day she happens into a public library where the librarian tells her to “forget everything you've been told about books and just read.” (p. 49). The librarian, Heidi, guides and encourages Maria's self-education. They become friends. Heidi in turn, begins to learn more about sex and explore her own sexual nature.