THE ALCHEMIST

Not the Alchemist people may have been expecting, thinking of the other one has just given me an idea for a post, soon come.
No the title of this post refers to the book i copped a few posts back along with a promise to come back with some form of a review. Well i finished the book with relative ease, the fact that it has been translated makes for simpler language than Paulo Coelho originally intended. Therefore it's an easy enough read that anyone should be able to get through it in a few days being only 160 somethin' pages.
One of the main criticisms the book receives from online reviews is that it is a failed attempt at a fable-like tale. The setting, characters and nature of the novel all resonate a philosophical, fable, meaning of life type feel. However, Coehlo manages to address some deep topics without sounding too cliché. The book deals with themes such as chasing one's destiny, the universe, dreams and all manner of metaphysical happenings, similar to that shit you might expect in a Rakim lp. The biblical type setting in southern Spain and the deserts of Arabia heighten the sense of mystery and supernatural throughout the book. Yes at times how the morals and goals in the book are presented does appear simple. Though i think those that criticise the author are failing to relate certain aspects of each lesson learnt by our protagonist to their own lives. When reading only at the surface level it is easy to think 'yeah, yeah, chase your dreams, never give up all that crap we're fed by celebrities etc..' However it is the smaller, less obvious quotes and events that prove more insightful. It was most likely these inspirational features of the book that drove Will Smith and many others to bang on about this book so much. It's a simple tale, but it's lessons are timeless and should not be taken for granted.
Our protagonist, Santiago, is someone we can all relate to in that he toils over questions in life familiar to all of us. Love, work and life play center stage in his mind. A shepard from humble beginnings he wants to see the world but his heart becomes curious at the thought of there being more out there for him, a destiny, a treasure.
Ultimately this is an enchanting novel that has developed a mighty following all over the globe.....so why don't you go see what all the fuss is about!


This is not a proper review and although i could unload a million of those 'inspirational quotes' on you, I'm not going to. I would highly recommend checking the book out, although i would also suggest that you check out Will Smith's (youtube) rants on the book as a supplement before you read so you know just what to expect and get out of the book. What's more it's cool to see someone who really took the lessons of the book to heart and applied them to his own life......who are we to say it didn't work for him!