Santiago is a young shepherd from Spain. His purpose in life is to travel. On a trip to a merchant’s village to sell wool, he encounters a gypsy. Taking advantage of this, he tells the gypsy the dream he has seen more than once. The gypsy woman tells him that he has treasure hidden at the place he saw in his dream – the pyramids of Egypt. His ordinary trip to the village turns into an extraordinary journey to another continent where he has to overcome many obstacles in order to reach his destined location. On his way to the Pyramids, he meets many people who give him the wisdom and courage to accomplish his goal. This adventure-filled book overflowing with wisdom about listening to your heart will leave you begging for more.
- Reviewed by Ani M., grade 9.
2 comments:
In The Alchemist, the author Paulo Coelho shares his own understanding of the world and what he has learned from life with readers. Through the journey of an Andalusian shepherd boy chasing after his “Personal Legend”, the reader learns the true meaning of life, and the importance of determination to achieve a great destiny. The story begins when Santiago, the boy, decides to sell his valued sheep and escape his comfort zone to travel the world as he had always dreamed of. On the way he meets a Gypsy and a King who tell him to follow omens on the way to the Pyramids where he will find a treasure. As the plot progresses, the boy discovers much about the universal language of the world which is love, and gains many valuable life lessons by interacting with the nature and people he meets on the way. By the end he understands his priorities and that following through with his goals will have its own reward.
Although this was a physically short book, the depth of it made it a slow read. Not only was it an interesting story about a shepherd, but it was also an eye-opening experience for me because of its philosophical component. Out of all the books I've read this one sparked a part of my brain to begin questioning the different aspects of a person's life. I would not recommend this to those who are looking for a fun, quick read. Rather, those who are tired of the typical fictional stories and want a new perspective on life would appreciate this book. In my opinion, the author had too many ideas that he was trying to convey metaphorically and at times he did not do a good job of tying up loose ends and properly structuring the story. Yet the book was so beautifully written and rich with metaphors and figurative language, that the slightly overwhelming amount of ideas were not as much of a distraction. Reading this was well work my time because it gave me a more positive outlook on life and taught me that if you wants something bad enough, "the entire universe conspires to help you achieve it" (Coelho 22).
Reviewed by Collett, Grade 11
Montrose Library
The Alchemist by the Brazilian author Paulo Coehlo is an iconic, inspirational novel that centers around Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd who, after speaking to a fortune teller, realizes the dream he keeps having is actually a prophecy that he will find a a treasure if he travels to the pyramids in Egypt. Throughout his journey of self-discovery, he meets multiple people who change the course of his life forever. Read to find out!
Wow. That's the only word that can describe The Alchemist. This is truly one of the greatest books ever written. Centered around destiny and finding yourself, the novel truly serves as a guide to life and how to live one's best life. The theme of a "personal legend" shows up a lot and it basically means that everyone has a certain destiny that is already written for them Coehlo does an amazing job of weaving words together to create the absolute art that is The Alchemist. Usually, I would winnow it down to a certain genre, but I am wholeheartedly saying that all readers of all ages would adore this book. I highly recommend it
Reviewed by M.S., Grade 11
Montrose Library
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