Skip to main content

The Alchemist Book Review

Paulo Coelho's fantasy contemporary classic has everything you'd expect of a Chosen One story: adventure, wise older men imparting wisdom, and a happy ending. A relatively short book, this one was a quick read for me, but I was just expecting more from this book that I'd seen everywhere and always heard good things about.

Paulo Coelho is the author of The Alchemist. He was born in 1947 in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Being the author of 30 books that have sold over 320 million copies in 170 countries, he has become one of the most widely read authors in the world today. Paulo Coelho is the recipient of over 115 awards and honours, including the Hans Christian Anderson Award, the Grinzane Cavour Book Award and the Chevalier de l'Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur, to name a few. 

Paulo Coelho's masterpiece tells the mystical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. His quest will lead him to riches far differentā€”and far more satisfyingā€”than he ever imagined. Santiago's journey teaches us about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, of recognizing opportunity and learning to read the omens strewn along life's path, and, most importantly, to follow our dreams.

Don't get me wrong, there was a lot that was enjoyable about The Alchemist. I didn't really mind all the philosophy and wisdom in the pages, even though it was often shrouded by Crazy Capitalized Concepts. I thought that a story about following your heart, and ending up right where you started but it being about the journey was a really wholesome one to read about. I found that the wisdom of the three supporting charactersā€”the king, the alchemist, and the crystal shop ownerā€”really made the book. 

This book is definitely cheesy and might not be for everyone. It's structured like a fable, so it has lots of simplicity, and might actually be best for younger readers. The style of the writing is perfect for those wanting to get into reading, and wanting something digestible to start with. The uncomplicated narrative and the relatively small cast of characters also helps with that. Unfortunately, for someone who is wider-read and was expecting something a bit more earth-shattering, this one wasn't as fulfilling as I thought, but still this all made it relatively enjoyable and a quick read. 

All-in-all, this one just wasn't for me. Which is okay! I think I may have liked this book more when I was in high school, or when I was reading The Little Prince because I definitely got that energy here. I can see why this book has survived for so long, as it has that timeless feel, and, who knows, maybe when I'm in a more generous spirit in the future I'll attempt this one again. 

*This review can also be found on my Goodreads page*

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Lovely Bones Book vs. Movie Review

The Lovely Bones book cover I am a firm believer that the book is always better than the movie/tv series. I could point you to multiple examples where the characters were botched on screen, or plot holes prevailed. The statement that the book is better than the movie usually holds true However, with the increased use of streaming services and the increased utilization of published book material being pulled into the movie/tv world, more and more of our familiar stories are being put to the screen, and hence being put to the test. Some pass: despite some alterations and plot changes, the story and characters remain relatively the same, which bolsters excitement from the fan base. However, others don't, and screenplays that drastically alter the storyline leave fans wishing for a do-over. I definitely have some conflicted feelings regarding The Lovely Bones  and its book-to-movie adaptation. I really did like the book. It's not my favorite, or by any means the best book...

The Queen of Nothing Book Review

A queen without a kingdom is really not a queen at all. In fact, her title wouldn't even have power or prestige behind it. Especially if no one knows that she's the queen. So what can she do? Well, why doesn't she start with exile! These are the immediate questions readers face when opening the thrilling conclusion to The Folk of the Air series, The Queen of Nothing  (and what a title, too!). This heart-racing finale is full of plot twists, provocative themes, and a show-stopping ending, making for one of the most captivating, magical, and wonderfully intense reads I've ever had.  Holly Black is the #1  New York Times  bestselling author of over 30 fantasy novels for kids and teens. She has been a finalist for an Eisner Award and the Lodestar Award, and the recipient of the Mythopoeic Award, a Nebula, and a Newbery Honor. Her books have been translated into 32 languages worldwide and adapted for film. She grew up in New Jersey, but now currently lives in New England ...

The Dark Artifices Series Review

I have been reading Cassandra Clare's work since I was a freshman, and have avidly followed the release dates of her Dark Artifices series. I felt like even just these past four years I could track all the amazing improvements she's made in her storytelling, world-building, and characterization. Being a writer myself, I know that there is so much that goes behind make choices for the novel or choosing the best paths for the characters. These decisions that can be extremely hard for the author, especially if you're an author as Cassandra Clare, and even more so when those decisions are made for the third book in a trilogy whose ending has been much anticipated.  Overall, I give Cassandra Clare's The Dark Artifices  series 5/5 stars. I loved the pacing of the stories and how intimate the storytelling is, even if I wasn't quite satisfied with the ending of The Queen of Air and Darkness , which is what I'll be talking about below. I enjoyed all of the plo...