The Alchemist
byPaulo Coelho
The overall story is redundant and sermonic. The book does not give light to the complexities of life nor the individual. The characters are flat. Every other sentence contains at least one reference to either "The Soul of the World", or "The Personal Legend", or "Follow Your Heart". The Alchemist has been translated into many different languages, and regrettable, it feels like it.
While I am critical, certain points from Coelho’s book were not lost on me, I simply view life as a complex puzzle with endless possibilities for learning and growth. For the life of me I cannot understand how some individuals imprison their dreams like they are unspeakable taboos.
Coelho offers the same story we have heard a million times over, in fables such as; Sinbad, the Prince and the Pauper and even the 1983 movie Trading places, with Eddie Murphy, yet not as entertaining.
The Alchemist is the story of Santiago, the shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. First, like Sinbad, Santiago wants to change his social economic standing. Santiago has dreams. Like the Prince and the Pauper, Santiago finds the treasures of his dreams very different from reality. Finally, like the movie Trading places ,Santiago learns, the grass is not always greener on the other side and money can’t buy happiness.
By the end of the novel I was skimming most passages and praying for closure. Happily, it came and I closed the book shut.
T Portlock review
2012
Note:
During a Misfit book club meeting one of our members pointed out author Coelho targeting a younger audience. And truthfully I hadn’t considered the audience the author was aiming. Something I did not consider.
This was my thoughts on the book, what are yours?
byPaulo Coelho
The overall story is redundant and sermonic. The book does not give light to the complexities of life nor the individual. The characters are flat. Every other sentence contains at least one reference to either "The Soul of the World", or "The Personal Legend", or "Follow Your Heart". The Alchemist has been translated into many different languages, and regrettable, it feels like it.
While I am critical, certain points from Coelho’s book were not lost on me, I simply view life as a complex puzzle with endless possibilities for learning and growth. For the life of me I cannot understand how some individuals imprison their dreams like they are unspeakable taboos.
Coelho offers the same story we have heard a million times over, in fables such as; Sinbad, the Prince and the Pauper and even the 1983 movie Trading places, with Eddie Murphy, yet not as entertaining.
The Alchemist is the story of Santiago, the shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. First, like Sinbad, Santiago wants to change his social economic standing. Santiago has dreams. Like the Prince and the Pauper, Santiago finds the treasures of his dreams very different from reality. Finally, like the movie Trading places ,Santiago learns, the grass is not always greener on the other side and money can’t buy happiness.
By the end of the novel I was skimming most passages and praying for closure. Happily, it came and I closed the book shut.
T Portlock review
2012
Note:
During a Misfit book club meeting one of our members pointed out author Coelho targeting a younger audience. And truthfully I hadn’t considered the audience the author was aiming. Something I did not consider.
This was my thoughts on the book, what are yours?
I agree. Great movie
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