The Alchemist

Title: The Alchemist

Author: Paulo Coelho

Date Finished: January 23, 2009

Personal Book Count: 6 out of 100

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Genre/ Subject: fiction

First Line: The Alchemist picked u pa book that someone in the caravan had brought. Leafing through the pages, he found a story about Narcissus.

Summery: Santiago is a shepherd who has a couple of dreams and is called on his personal quest. The story follows him on his quest, and the lessons he learns along the way.

Why did I pick this book? : I was working in an eighth grade class room a few years back, and was luck enough to be in English a couple of the days where the teacher was reading from this book a loud. I have be fascinated by the bits I heard ever since, and promised myself I would read the book one day. Not sure why it took me this long to get around to it.

Review: I liked this book. I’m glad I read it. This book contains lots of little stories with morals in one big story, also with a moral at the end. Many of it is advice we know, but good to be reminded of. This may be different if I had read it as a teen, but I think a good read either way. Although it is an easy read that one could shot straight through, I found myself slowing down to read every word, so as not to miss anything. I think this is one of those books that can be read on 2 levels. You and read it very simply, or it can be way more complicated, and you can get much more out of it. It also taught me the meaning to things I had heard of, but didn’t really know the meaning of (elixir of life, philosophers stone, and a Bedouin (am I the only one who though these were a fictitious Star Wars creature?)) Not an earth shattering read, but pleasant none the less.

Agree? Disagree? Recommendations? Any insights, suggestions, or comments on the book or format, or blog at all are most welcome. If you have read this and/ or review it yourself, please let me know. Can you think of any books like this? Give me a recommendation! =D