The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho
Pages : 167
Internationally best selling phenomenon I could not agree more. With it’s minimal pages, one is able to finish the novel in a day, but I found myself reading it sparingly. It was like reading something spiritual, that helped replenished my whole existence when times were difficult. You’ll understand when you start emerging yourself into the story. It was more like traveling through words, about learning the meaning of life and most importantly, your own achievements, failures, goals and dreams.
Follows the life of an Andalusian shepherd boy, named “the boy”, who makes a courageous decision to travel from his home country to Egypt. His decision started from a given dream, of the Pyramids where he would find buried treasure. Along the way he meets peculiar characters, who assists him with his Personal Legend and what it means to follow your heart.
There are criticisms about this novel, in particular to the idea of ‘following your heart’. I honestly understand where they are coming from. Some may say that logic is more important these days, as it will save you a lot of trouble if you ‘think things through’. But that’s where it is debateable, you may be a logical person but can also get things wrong. This story was written as a magical fable and is open to interpretations. You don’t have to follow it like, it was written by something supernatural. It was written (in my opinion) as a suggested guideline, to give hope and courage. It is ultimately up to you, like what the book states, that through action one is able to become sapient.
So glad, that I’m one of the millions who had the experience of reading this beautifully written novel.
Purple Curiosity 