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The Alchemist

Paulo Coelho

Start date: April 1, 2016

Finish date: April 30, 2016

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What Members Thought

May 06, 2014 Rachel rated it really liked it

loved it, loved it, loved it! It won't take you long to read at all, and i think everyone should.

MY REVIEW: POSSIBLE SPOILERS!

The alchemist is one of the many novels by Paulo Coelho and seeing as it is the first one that I have read it has certainly earned my approval. Whereas it might seem small and short with only 177 pages, each and every word is beautifully poetic, not to mention the messages throughout which have the power to inspire nations and transform people’s lives and outlooks indefin loved it, loved it, loved it! It won't take you long to read at all, and i think everyone should.

MY REVIEW: POSSIBLE SPOILERS!

The alchemist is one of the many novels by Paulo Coelho and seeing as it is the first one that I have read it has certainly earned my approval. Whereas it might seem small and short with only 177 pages, each and every word is beautifully poetic, not to mention the messages throughout which have the power to inspire nations and transform people’s lives and outlooks indefinitely.

The story follows a Shepherd by the name of Santiago – who is referred from then on as simply ‘the boy’, perhaps for Coelho by leaving him nameless the reader can take on his role easier and see things through his eyes as their own. The first line of every new section in this novel is written in block capitals, this may just be due to layout but to me it seems that it is intended to present to the reader a new life lesson to be learnt. Coelho also writes his novel in two parts and a prologue, instead of using chapters and writing it like a story. There seems to be no way of knowing what will happen, because just like life itself, the book also tells us of things happening unexpectedly and how we should respond to them. He teaches us to listen to our hearts and encourages us to follow our dreams and believe in such things as magic, destiny and omens, because our life’s path is in fact littered with them, we simply have to learn to recognise and appreciate them.

Throughout, the alchemist provides insightful quotes which invoke the reader to really think about what he is trying to say, he strives to encourage us to see things from a different point of view through the Sheppard’s eyes and the people he encounters.

The novel is also about faith, luck and coincidence, and so depending on the reader and what values they follow it depends on the lessons that can be learnt. For example if you are superstitious then when the Alchemist says at some point through the book ‘”Everything that can happen once can never happen again. But everything that happens twice will surely happen a third time’” it is just a more in depth way of saying that bad things happen in threes. On the other hand if you are not, then it is just another teaching to be prepared for life’s misfortunes and to always have a backup plan. According to Muslim teachings, the future is already written by Allah and through this young Santiago learns about Maktub: the reason for everything happening when and as it does. This word describes the way that each of our destinies is written in the earth but “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”

The soul of the world is felt through our hearts and the language of the world is its unspoken dialect. Happiness is trusting in God and finding your own treasure, which is not always materialistic and Coelho does an extraordinary job of telling a story that will appeal to the hearts and minds of any reader, because everything also applies to them. However, by the end of the novel, the boy discovers that "treasure lies where your heart belongs", and that the treasure was the journey itself, the discoveries he made, and the wisdom he acquired.

In my opinion, this novel is simply too beautiful to be missed, it is not lengthy and will take hardly any time at all to read, but I promise that it will change your outlook on everything and could one day help to not to give up on your own dreams. It is bursting with optimism and a real small piece of treasure in itself, as Coelho states "simple things are the most valuable and only wise people appreciate them".
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Dec 28, 2012 Kris rated it really liked it

Shelves: energy-spiritual-metaphysical, self-development

This is a pretty good book. I liked the positive aspect of the boy's view of his accomplishment's of his journey. Alchemists are change agents in our world. Favorite quotes:

"It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting."

"Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own."

"...when each day is the same as the next, it's because people fail to recognize the good things that happen in their lives every day ...more

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Aug 12, 2009 Sir rated it it was amazing

Shelves: old-books, 2009

I love this book
I've read it over 80 times
Some people get it, some don't
I have it in audio, nook and paperback.
...more

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Nov 11, 2014 Rosabelle Purnama rated it did not like it

Shelves: general-fiction, ebooks

Okay, I decided not to finish this book. I got home and continue reading this book where I left off last night, and after a few pages, I just stopped. I don't think i can go through reading this book until the end. I'm maybe one of the few people who didn't find this book interesting. I just don't get the story, and didn't like the characters! I've read Paulo Coelho's other books, which is okay for me, but this one was the worst. After this, i don't feel like picking up any Paulo Coelho books fo ...more

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May 29, 2010 Lowed rated it did not like it

It's either am a shallow person or just plain dumb. I just couldn't get the praise this book got from famous people and ordinary people alike..

Am sorry, but my best book by Paulo Coelho is still By The River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept. ...more

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