The Alchemist

The Alchemist is the magical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure as extravagant as any ever found. From his home in Spain he journeys to the markets of Tangiers and across the Egyptian desert to a fateful encounter with the alchemist.

The story of the treasures Santiago finds along the way teaches us, as only a few stories have done, about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, learning to read the omens strewn along life's path, and, above all, following our dreams.

Years ago I remember seeing my mother reading this book. After she was done she wanted me to read her copy. Her copy was in Portuguese, so I declined. I know how to read Portuguese, but I prefer to read certain books in English. I thought that it would be too difficult for me to follow it in Portuguese. I may have been wrong about that...Anyway, she's been after me to read the book for a very long time and I finally gave in.

It took a while to get into the story. But once Santiago travels to Tangiers the story picked up for me. I felt drawn in to the story. The way the author wrote this fable was so simplistic but so beautiful at the same time. It reminded me of the fables that my grandfather used to tell me, simple to follow but the message is great.

The message I took from this book: you don't need to travel far to find what you want, just look into yourself.

I enjoyed it so much that I will be getting my own copy.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (5/5) Fiction: Fable; Published: HarperOne (4/1993); 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (95);