RATING: 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
Published: February 24, 2015 (First published in 1988)
Publisher: HarperOne
Format: Audio Book
Pages: 178
“People are afraid to pursue their most important dreams, because they feel that they don’t deserve them, or that they’ll be unable to achieve them.”
SYNOPSIS:
Combining magic, mysticism, wisdom and wonder into an inspiring tale of self-discovery, The Alchemist has become a modern classic, selling millions of copies around the world and transforming the lives of countless readers across generations.
Paulo Coelho’s masterpiece tells the mystical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. His quest will lead him to riches far different—and far more satisfying—than he ever imagined. Santiago’s journey teaches us about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, of recognizing opportunity and learning to read the omens strewn along life’s path, and, most importantly, to follow our dreams.
THOUGHTS:
Paulo Coelho is one of those authors that is on my bucketlist. This is the first book that I have ever read from him and I am a little hesitant because I have seen mixed reviews. But my curiosity gets the better of me and I decided to pick this up nonetheless.
In this book, we follow the journey of a boy named Santiago as he goes on a journey to follow his dreams. And just like any other dreams, it is not easy to get there especially if you did not know how.
I have read it in a time where I feel lost and I also did not know how to get to where I wanted to be which is why this book probably appeals to me. As the character goes to his adventure of self-discovery I feel like I am with him through it all. I feel like I am also in a journey to look for my dream and seek the path that would lead me to it.
Paulo Coelho’s words are beautiful. You can almost quote a sentence or two in every paragraph. And my favorite part of this book is the story of the oil in the spoon. This makes me contemplate on a lot of things after I have read that part.
However, as we near the ending of the story, I realized that the plot is lacking. It bores me and it felt flat halfway. The romance is also forced and the ending is unsatisfactory. And I really don’t get the alchemy thing.
I think the only good thing about this book is that you could pick up advised here and there about self-discovery and about following your dreams. But if you really look at the plot, it has nothing to offer. But I am still glad that I gave this book a try, at least I now know why there are mixed things about this book.
That’s it for this review. I hope to read other Paulo Coelho books in the future and I hope it is not as disappointing as this one.
Till next time!
Maria❤
A Daughter of Parchment and Paper 