false 4794161 0061233846 9780061233845 29 9 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1224075078m/4794161.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4794161.The_Alchemist 566 Paulo Coelho 180345 17266 The narrative's rather annoying. It keeps repeating the same thing over and over. 0 2009-06-13T08:24:40-07:00 881476 65 2009-06-13T08:24:40-07:00 It's been sitting so long on my shelf that it's bugging me. Let's see what's the fuss about. 0 2009-06-11T08:54:53-07:00 873420 9 2009-06-11T08:54:53-07:00 1 0 false Sun Jun 14 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sat Jul 21 22:50:27 -0700 2007 Sun Jun 14 07:20:00 -0700 2009 1 at all. The prose was annoying, the ideas so . . . quaint and wishy-washy and it attempts so hard to be deep.

The cover says the book is an "international bestselling phenomenon". Is this really what people enjoy reading?

I have nothing against following your heart and achieving your dreams. I'm just against it when it uses this kind of prose (halfway through the book I simply skimmed the pages because the sentences didn't seem worthwhile to digest -- too simple and too repetitive), or being a self-help guide hidden in mythical mumbo jumbo.

I skipped the whole "insights, interviews and more" section at the end because I just want to shuffle this book off my shelf and never see it again.

Rarr. I'm staying away from Coelho after this, no matter how much he comes recommended by some friends.]]>