It's one of those books I couldn't put down once I started reading. Despite being in publication for 20 years already, The Alchemist by Brazilian author Paulo Coelho is still a compelling read. A gist of this 175-page novel before I go any further:
"This story is about an Andalusian shepherd boy called Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in direction of his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles along the way. But what starts out as a journey to find wordly goods turns into a discovery of the treasure found within."
In all honesty, it has quite a simple plot. What makes it good, however, are the pearls of wisdom interwoven within the story - of hope and faith, dreams, courage, love.... and many other things we tend to take for granted in this fast-paced world.
A book of symbolisms brimming with stories within a story, it is simple yet thought-provoking.
Cynics may think the reason behind The Alchemist's popularity is attributed to Coelho's acknowledgement of what his readers want to hear. Perhaps so, to some extent. Nevertheless, one cannot deny its appeal to many - we can identify ourselves with the protagonist at some point or another, we all have dreams, and we LOVE it when someone tells us that our dreams may one day come true.
Simplicity has never been so beautiful.
Title: The Alchemist
Author: Paulo Coelho
Price: AUD24.99
In short: Inspiring.
Labels: Leisure and pleasure, Reviews
