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The Alchemist

Paulo Coelho

Start date: April 1, 2020

Finish date: April 30, 2020

Discussion: New School Classics- 1915-2005

Why we're reading this: April 2020 New School Classic Group Read
[close] April 2020 New School Classic Group Read

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New School Classics- 1915-2005

Farewell, My Lovely - Spoilers
By Sara , New School Classics · 19 posts · 49 views

last updated 15 hours, 33 min ago

The Stepford Wives - Spoilers
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last updated Oct 25, 2025 07:41PM

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What Members Thought

Apr 18, 2007 Suvi rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: novels, 1970-1999, _africa, _latin-america

Meh. I browsed through the book recently and I can't believe what I was thinking when I gave this three stars. I mean, it isn't really horribly written but still a pretty ridiculous peace of work. ...more

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Apr 23, 2012 Melissa rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, global

The book follows a shepherd from his pastoral wanderings in Spain, to Tangier where he finds work with a crystal merchant, and then accross the desert into Egypt as he falls in love and looks for a treasure, with the help of an alchemist.
The book has a lot of familiar fairytale elements (peasants, omens, treasure seeking, journeys, mysterious strangers) but also some Biblical elements (Melchizedek, shepherds, Urmin and Thummin). When the shepherd arrives in Tangier he encounters an Islamic cult ...more

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Jul 25, 2012 Narine rated it did not like it · review of another edition

a complete waste of time :/

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Aug 03, 2010 claire rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The few of us who read this at a similar time & age (late-20), reflected that it would have been preferable or perhaps more meaningful at an earlier age. Very mystical.

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