Recently a friend recommended I read a book he absolutely adored called The Alchemist, by Brazilian author Paulo Coelho. This friend of mine is one of life's seekers of light and treasure, and as such he is a deeply spiritual person – much like Paulo Coelho himself, as is obvious when you read his book. I'm different. I believe you make your own treasure and light in life. However, Coelho and I seem to agree on one point - the journey is the most important part of the treasure.
The Alchemist is a fable about a shepherd boy (named Santiago but referred to as just “the boy” throughout the book) from the Andalusia area of Southern Spain. He lives a simple shepherd life, herding his sheep from place to place, finding them good food to eat and clean water to drink, and occasionally selling their fleece to fill his purse. He is simple and innocent and his needs are few, but he craves excitement and adventure, and he wants to travel and see the world. One day he meets an old god/king (the fabled King of Salem, Melchizedek) who promises to tell him where to find treasure, in exchange for one tenth of his flock of sheep. The boy, believing in omens, and that the omens are guiding him, gives the sheep to the old man.
After giving the old man his share of sheep, he is told that he should listen to the omens and follow what they tell him to do. He must take the two hour ferry trip from the tip of Andalusian Spain to Morocco, and from there he must journey through the Sahara desert to the Pyramids where he will find his treasure. He has many setbacks but eventually he reaches his destination, however it is his journey that is his real treasure. He learns better how to read the omens and discovers their importance; they are the voice of the Soul of the World speaking directly to him. He learns how to listen to his heart, to understand when it is lying and when it is telling the truth. He finds true love, an unending perfect love, the kind of love only found in fables.
Although the treasure is the primary aim of this journey, it is only while on the journey that the boy gathers the skills and wisdom he needs to reach his goal. It is also during this time that he meets the alchemist, but this isn't any ordinary alchemist. This is Super Alchemist. Not only can he transmute common metals into gold, and create The Philosopher's Stone, like all alchemists, but he has the wisdom of the ages, can talk directly to the Soul of the World and can even become the wind. He rides a shining white steed and carries a large scimitar, while the image conjured up is not dissimilar to Rudolph Valentino's Sheik. It is the alchemist who guides our shepherd friend through the metaphorical jungle of indecision before leading him, quiet literally, through the desert to find his treasure.
Article comments
1 - sj
very accurate review. That's how I felt too about the overstated book. It's okay, though but I wonder why people are so crazy about it when there are lots of better books out there to be crazy about. I felt that the book was a romantic novel. Thanks for the nice review.
2 - ammara
comment is nice but you have told only the story but main theme and important phylosophicallessons have skiped in this review
3 - Ashu
U still did't get what this book is telling..
4 - rl
Its a ok- ok book...The author seems very confused to me. The first love spark of the boy didn't seem to make any sense. Also the whole book is based on omens...Its definitely going to put off any readers who do not believe in them.It seems like a complex collection of a few good things. Its more like a fairy tale we tell our kids ...only harder to understand.
5 - AZ KHAN
i jst only want to tell it exactly stike the bully eyes of reviw of alchemist
6 - pb
i think this is an excellent work....his book is full of wisdom..i adore his writing...any way the review above does not describe the book in the way it is
7 - Jackie_Evans
I loved this book, it was an easy read and made me think a lot about my life and personal journey, my dreams wishes and aspirations. I think that this book allowed for the reader to interpret exactly what they needed to from it after all we are all at different stages in our lives. I loved this book. For me this book had many levels and allowed you to delve as far as one needed to as individuals. This book offers gifts to us and weather or not we get them depends on where we are in our own lives... definitely a read
8 - kt
@rl - "The first love spark" makes sense because the boy had to make a decision either to go do what he was planning to do previously or to follow the new path that the King suggests.
9 - KHULETSX
ITS NICE
10 - manisha gautam
nice