So Ironic, ’’The Alchemist’’ happens to be my favourite book....as it took me this long to pen down my thoughts and pay my respect for it!
I eat a number of books ranging from psychology, social topics, romance, thriller etc...Some of the books, I admire I have mentioned them in one of my reviews. From that day I bought this book, I have read this book ’’n’’ number of times! This book has always appealed to me in a positive way!
In fact all these day, I did not write a review on it, was because I was not sure if I could do justice with the review! But now I am leaving India, and hence, might not be able to stick in my reviews...so I thought why not write on my most favourite book!
’’The Alchemist’’ starts with our hero ’’santiago’’...with his flock of sheep, lazing , sleeping, grazing around. It is the journey of Santiago and about his quest for something unknown.....some distant Dream. Above all, its a story of a dreamer....of every dreamer, who has read this book and loves the simplicity with which it has been put forward!
Santiago is a dreamer, who unlike his father and forefathers has a desire to venture into the unknown lands and explore! His father is obviously against his wish, as he is sceptical about his son’s success! This must have happened with every guy/girl, who has had to struggle to get their father agree upon, when they told him about going out of town! But didn’t we come out on our own! And aren’t we the ones who followed something unknown yet promising to us?
Later, he chooses to be a Shepherd, as this way he gets to visit number of places, gets to know different people. But he still is haunted by a dream, which tells him about a hidden treasure somewhere in the Pyramids! This I belive is the depiction of our attempts to become man of the world..i.e. street smart. When we venture into a new world and start learning how the world behaves. At this stage we are still naive..but we are managing!
There is a village, where Santiago goes every year to sell off the wool that his herd has. Thats where he meets his muse. I have found this part most romantic one! Although, he doesnot end up marrying her..but still the beautiful references, which have been made to that girl are lovely! he keeps dreaming of that girl, who is also the daughter of the Merchant! We all at some point or other would have had such innocent infatuation. Thats what keeps the romance in our lives alive!!!
Santiago meets up a shabbily clad old man, who later discloses that he is the king of Andulasia. This old man is first ignored and even treated with indifference by our hero..only to find out later that the old man knows about his dream and has information, which he can use! Now, this happens with us too...in various phases of our lives! Things, people we ignore assuming that they are of no use or value, at times turn out to be the ones, which possibly give us an entire paradigm shift.
It teaches us exactly the same logic, which we can find in ’’Seven habits of highly effective people’’ about paradigm shift. During this conversation, the old man gives the first best line of the book ’’When you really want something, the entire universe conspires with you’’.
He comes across a small Glass Merchant, who has lost out in terms of prosperity of his business and seemingly has given up on dreaming too! With the good luck that santiago brings, his shop starts churning profit! This makes the Merchant realize that what he needed was change! A change with respect to the times...providing what is needed to people rather then trying to sell what they dont have value of! This seems like a beautiful lesson in terms of Business! Either you adapt with the changing times or die! This reaffirmed my faith in ’’Change is the only constant’’.
Later, he leaves the place....after a big turmoil with his inner self..about should he or should he not...leave the otherwise prosperous life he is living at the Glass Merchant’s. But yet again..the Dreamer in santiago..tells him to move on till he reached his goal! Need I say more! lol
There Santiago meets the love of his life! The romance has been delicately handled. The girl happens to be a Muslim and utterly devoted. This reflects from the language of Paulo...he tries to imbibe the belief in Allah, the almighty and the 5 most sacred duties of a true muslim! No harm in it...it has been blended perfectly with the story.
Now, one of the most crucial parts in Santiago’s journey....that is of reading ’’Omens’’. I am sure, all of us who have read the book, or shall do so in some time...must have wondered about the term. Omens....yes, I have experienced lots of them...some I have ignored as they made me feel uncomfortable and some have helped me! I am not trying to be some super natural person here...just plain simple truth...dont some events make us feel comfortable or just give us a smile! zyada ho gaya shayad! lol
Santiago reads an omen, which in turn saves many lives at the Oasis. At this juncture he meets ’’The Alchemist’’..who educates and enlightens him of the facts and the rumours doing round about being an Alchemist. This explanation is too simple to understand yet takes a lot of time to sink in. And Probably won’t sink in to my system atleast....knowing all that I am still a materialist Co-ordinator...earning pounds and pounds evey day but still not satisfied! :))
Santiago...after another turmoil....leaves for the Pyramids along with the Alchemist, leaving the love of his life behind. Now this is where it gets a little debatable!
Is it that women can not have dreams of their own? , wouldn’t a girl want to pursue her own destiny..? and will she be taken in a right sense by the society?
Or was it simply coz this is a story about Santiago...so Paulo kept all other characters below a certain level of prominence? Let there be only one dreamer!
The theory that Fatima (santiago’s love) being a woman of dessert...will wait for him to come back or just die waiting for him!!!! Ouch! that hurt a little...but only if you think of it in our so called liberal society..! Otherwise, it goes with the story, toh chaltha hai!
On their way, they meet a monk , who provides them with shelter etc. Now, this is where the second best line of the book appears! While parting ways with the monk, the Alchemist distributes Bricks of Gold among himself, the monk and Santiago. Upon receiving his share of brick Santiago tells the Alchemist that ’’I dont think I deserve this Gold’’. Now this my friends, according to me is the second best line. It has so much depth in it!
Just eat this book, and eat it bit by bit each day!
Yeah..another unrelated part is that I am flying next month to Andulasia, which is at a walking distance form Gibraltar!
Hoping to catch up with an Alchemist!!! LOL
