Alchemist

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T Howard, September 10, 2012 (view all comments by T Howard)
An Imperfect Gem
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho won’t change your life dramatically, but it will make you pause for a moment to consider the world. On the surface, it’s a simple fable about a shepherd who chooses to follow his dreams. If you can look deeper into the book, though, you begin to understand people’s fascination with it. The choice of whether or not to delve further into it is yours, but if you do, be prepared for a novel that you won’t soon forget.
The lessons The Alchemist teaches are ones most of us have known since we could tie our shoes--listen to your heart, work hard and reap the rewards, and most importantly, follow your dreams. Coelho has a way of sharing his philosophies without shoving them down your throat. Were there things I didn’t agree with? Sure. But I still thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It’s nice to take a step back and reflect on the basics. I stopped several times just to absorb what I had read. I was frequently touched by Coelho’s simple but whimsical words. The main character, Santiago, learns and grows so much through his journey, that you can’t help but feel like you grew a little bit alongside him.
However, no book is without its flaws--The Alchemist is no exception. It’s not an artful masterpiece. The characters aren’t complex enigmas. The language is blunt and Coelho’s lessons are clearly outlined parables. The plot is mediocre and offers few surprises along the way. But through these imperfections is still a small gem.
Imperfect or not, this book can remind us of the important things that your average day rarely does. If you want a book to touch you in a way that most can’t, I suggest picking up a copy of The Alchemist to see what you think of it for yourself.

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abebt, August 27, 2007 (view all comments by abebt)
What makes this book so popular is the simplicity that Paulo creates in his stories. Everyone in their life takes a journey - whether spiritual, logical, confrontation, for love, power, or other aspects. This may not be for readers who expect a story with complicated twists and turns. The reader who needs a break from the vast complex world we live in or to reflect on a life journey, this is a good one.

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readerbook, June 12, 2006 (view all comments by readerbook)
The author's fable about the boy Santiago is poorly written. What the author does well is keeping things simple. I guess that's what people love about this book. He does point out obvious things, and maybe once in a while we love to be spoonfed.

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Product Details

ISBN:

9780722532935

Author:

COELHO, PAULO

Publisher:

Libri

Location:

N

Copyright:

1995

Edition Description:

NEW ED

Publication Date:

19951113

Binding:

TRADE PAPER

Pages:

192

Dimensions:

196 x 128 in.