The Alchemist

Those that know me well already know that I have a propensity for being the last one in on a fad. That is to say, no, prior to this, I had never read "The Alchemist." But several friends told me I needed to, and so I finally got around to reading it.

I put this book in the same category as I do the "poetry" of Maya Angelou, or the "star appeal" of Britney Spears. OK, so what's all the fuss about? If that's poetry, then so is all the scribbling on bathroom walls, and if she's talented, I'm the next Emperor of China.

The only good thing I can say about this book is that it was mercifully short. I almost quit around page 80, but I thought, "well, I'm halfway through it: maybe the good parts are at the end."

Alas, such was not the case. There is, I believe, a fine line between true mysticism and pop-psycho-quacketry. (Don't look that up: I just invented the word.) This book simply ignores the distinction. To put it, as the Brits might, succinctly: What a lot of claptrap.
When I had finished the book I read all the accompanying articles in the book, including an interview with the author, in which he proudly states that Bill Clinton was seen reading the book and that Julia Roberts had declared it to be "the most amazing book!"

I wish I had read that interview first: had I known that THOSE two luminaries praised the book, I would have known better than to have read it myself....

Paulo Coelho weaves a masterpiece confronting the very basis of the way we live in society today. He tries to show that if you follow your, "Personal legend" which is what your deepest dream is, and what God has planed for you, you will achieve true happiness.
Paulo Coelho was born in Brazil. He has always been devoted to art of literature. He was once captured by paramilitaries because of his deep faith in freedom of speech. He started writing at age 27, and his first book was not much of a hit. When he wrote the first edition of the Alchemist it only sold 900 copies. He brought it to a different publishing company. It caught on like wildfire and sold more than any other Brazilian literature. Since then, he has continued to write books and has sold more then 65 million copies in 150 different countries in 60 different languages of his various novels.
Paulo Coelho does an amazing job of showing his perspective on how life should be lived. He writes a vivid story of a Shepard that gives up all he can to find a treasure. The Shepard is constantly challenged along the way and has to overcome these challenges. Coelho focus greatly on following your heart and omens from God in order to achieve your personal legend. Personally, as a high school student, I think that it is a good book, but can seem a little far-fetched, as far as the ideology goes, to some people. I think that it takes an intelligent individual to understand the book for what it truly is.
This book is written extremely well and is full of very insightful wisdom. I agree with him when he states "To realize one's destiny is a person's only obligation." However, this can be quite hard to do in today's society. Overall a very good book.

I read the Portuguese version and I loved. I gave the English version as birthday gift to my American girlfriend and a friend and they both loved it. This book is full of wise lessons and easy to read (I finish it in 4 days). Once you start you never stop. I recommend to read it with a marker to highlight the life lessons which you are about to learn.

I know a million other people have already talked about how great this book is, but I had to add my own review too. (I just started reviewing things on Amazon and now I can't stop!) Read this book. It's really good, and really uplifting.

'The Alchemist' is essentially a fable that crystallises an age-old theme - that of stepping beyond one's comfort zone in the pursuit of one's dreams. The moral of the story is illustrated by Coelho with an unwavering single-mindedness. This is clear right from the onset when our protagonist, the shepherd boy Santiago, receives the 'calling' to pursue his dream, till when he finally attains it after many a trial and tribulation. Along the way, he is aided by the Alchemist, who is really a personification of the boy's conscience and an expression of the ideals he works towards. Neither the story nor the message is new. Nonetheless, what the book offers is a clear and uncluttered narrative, written in an accessible style, that serves to accentuate the author's key message.

The fable-like style of Coelho's storytelling, however, makes for a rather colourless read. The plot and the characters are forgettable. Even the stark settings conjured by the author - the chaos and commotion of the bustling port-side towns and the loneliness of the vast North African desert - become increasing pointless when set against the thin narrative and unremarkable cast of characters. Furthermore, the brand of spirituality proffered by the author, in all his ecumenical eagerness, ends up confusing the key message by failing to offer any concrete religious philosophy from any of the spiritual traditions that he draws upon.

This book is a clear and `feel-good' reminder about pursuing one's dreams, but otherwise an unremarkable piece of fiction.