From the Bookshelf of Reading List Completists…

The Alchemist

Paulo Coelho

Start date: November 1, 2018

Finish date: November 30, 2018

Discussion: Group Reads

Why we're reading this: November 2018 Reading List Completests Group Selection
[close] November 2018 Reading List Completests Group Selection

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What Members Thought

Nov 04, 2018 Matthew rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018, audio, completist-book-club, library, classic

3.5 Stars

The Alchemist is an interesting little spiritual fable. A little bit of several religions have an influence on the journey to enlightenment. Not a whole lot of exposition as the author gets right to the point throughout. It should be a quick read (unless you don't care for it - and I have seen many less than satisfied reviews).

When I read this I was reminded a lot of Siddhartha. I read that one earlier this year so I have it fresh in my brain. Both of them are short novels (novellas, re ...more

158 likes · Like · see review

Jun 27, 2017 Carol rated it liked it

Shelves: 100-books-they-never-told-us-about, mount-tbr-2017, modern-day-classics

I guess it was okay. It was fairly predictable. I'm willing to read another one of his books to see if I like him as an author. I tend to like spanish works and the magical realism. ...more

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Jan 20, 2018 Elaine rated it liked it

Shelves: 2018

It was late at night and I could not sleep. After tossing and turning I remembered that the Alchemist was sitting in my to-read pile as the monthly submission for a newly starting up Aspirational Reads at my Library. Not my cup of tea as I find most self help books overly simple but I had decided to try some new things this year, which included ticking the box that I would attend the newly starting up book group.

The good news is that the book is short, and slim and almot 200 pages really feels l ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Dec 15, 2020 Ev rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

If ever there was a more opportune moment for my brain to scream at me, “Why haven’t you read this book before now?”, it is bellowing this question now as I contemplate the ways I can sing the praises of The Alchemist.

This novel is one of the rare types that I plunge into without reading the description first, resulting in my stunned realization that I enjoyed it more than I imagined I would.

The Alchemist is packed with loads of memorable quotations, tidbits of wisdom, characters with distinct ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Feb 17, 2018 Jess Penhallow rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: spain, egypt

What did I just read?

I got off on the wrong foot by the authors self congratulatory foreword and there was little to redeem this book from there.

Somehow it was too rushed and too wordy at the same time. There was a half decent story hidden in all the pretentiousness but if this was longer I would not have finished it.

Edit: After reading some other 2 star books that have many problems but were better than this, I am downgrading this to 1 star.

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