Apr 09, 2003 10:44 AM
4627 Views
(Updated Apr 09, 2003 10:51 AM)
At the risk of sounding somewhat rash, I’d say that regardless of his/her tastes in reading everyone must read The Alchemist. There are rather slim chances of anyone disliking it. This Paulo Coelho novel has been universally loved and appreciated, with over 20 million copies sold across the world and translated into 42 different languages.
Light philosophy by genre, yet the thoughts aren’t in your face or preachy, instead are skillfully interwoven into a surreal story. Reading straightforward sentences like, “Make you own decision”, “choose your own destiny” seem hopelessly bland on their own. But when peppered in the course of a magical story that unfolds within the pages of a speedy yet dreamlike novel, makes a brilliant read.
The theme is simple and straightforward. Those who do not have the courage to follow their dreams and desires are doomed to a humdrum life of emptiness and misery.
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The Alchemist appeals because like the main protagonist Santiago, the shepherd boy, we all have our own dreams but limit ourselves from actually achieving them. Santiago has a recurring dream of obtaining treasures from the Egyptian pyramids, but instead gets stuck cleaning crystals in a shop.
He eventually he leaves Spain for Egypt where he meets an Alchemist. The way the Alchemist goads the boy to follow his dreams is easily the best section of this book. Does Santiago eventually find the treasure despite the tribulations he encounters? And what is the treasure anyway?
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People tend to avoid their desires for achievement for fear of failure, and settle for second best. But, their true desires keep haunting them imparting a sense of frustration. Paulo Coelho almost pushes readers to get out of their cocoons and achieve their dreams.
The novel is abstract in form, with characters getting introduced and exiting at the same sudden. The book is of barely 177 wide margined pages with large fonts and can be done within a night or at the most two.
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Though the ideas in this book can be found in others (some are very akin to those found in The Gita), Paulo Coelho presents them with a pizzaz that sets The Alchemist apart. Another of Paulo Coelho must read is ’Veronika Decides To Die’ a more contemporary and equally great novel.
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Some of my other favourite take-aways from this book
“Every search begins with beginner’s luck and every search ends with the victor’s being severely tested.”
“Everyone when they are young knows what their destiny is. At that point in their lives everything is clear and everything is possible. They are not afraid to dream, and to yearn for everything they would like to see happen to them in their lives. But as time passes, a mysterious force begins to convince them that it will be impossible for them to realize their destiny.”
”Very few follow the path laid out for them - the path to their destinies, and to happiness. Most people see the world as a threatening place, and, because they do, the world turns out, indeed, to be a threatening place.”
