The Alchemist

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It's a hit!

I love Paulo Coelho and the Alchemist does not dissapoint. A lovely, quick and easy read with lot's of meaning behind it. Very inspirational.

 

 

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No, it's a flop!

While looking over the other reviews of this book, I was please to see that I was not the only one dissapointed with it. It did not live up to the... (show more)

While looking over the other reviews of this book, I was please to see that I was not the only one dissapointed with it. It did not live up to the hype that it is receiving. The story was very repetitive and the same morals kept getting enforced. In the beginning I felt badly for not pondering every single metaphor for the wisdom that I felt it was trying to portray but very quickly the same sentences and points were repeated over and over again. To the point where different characters (the King, the Alchemist) were using the same sentences, word for word.

I have never studied philosophy nor am I very religious and maybe those are two reasons why I did not enjoy this book. I get the point, I truly do. We all have a purpose and to otain true happiness in our lives we need to live with that purpose in mind. That in doing so everything in our lives will improve. That we create our own destinies and can't settle for less than our dreams. I get it, I really do but the book did not inspire me to make any changes in my own life. (show less)

 

 

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  Ruined by expectations? After been told dozens of times that I should pick up this book I finally did. Coelho's international bestselling phenomenon is a truly unique book.

  The best thing about this book for me is its lush and vivid depiction of the Andalusian mountains and the North African desert.

  However, while many people have said that they found the book inspiring, I find the book to be, well ... rather cheesy.
  While I will agree that it is full of beautiful passages and symbolism, ... (show more)

  Ruined by expectations? After been told dozens of times that I should pick up this book I finally did. Coelho's international bestselling phenomenon is a truly unique book.

  The best thing about this book for me is its lush and vivid depiction of the Andalusian mountains and the North African desert.

  However, while many people have said that they found the book inspiring, I find the book to be, well ... rather cheesy.
  While I will agree that it is full of beautiful passages and symbolism, it just simply failed to get me 'in the mindset' of the fantasy/spiritual reader that seemed necessary to thoroughly enjoy the book.
  There was an important part about when the boy had to 'talk' to the sky and the sun so that he can turn himself into the wind (to save himself from execution, nonetheless) ... a part in which I was completely confused about what was going on.

  If could just be that my mind is not creative enough to enjoy this book, as it seems that millions of people around the globe did.
  Pick it up, least you owe it to yourself to know what all the buzz is about.
  For me though, in the end it was a decent book in which the author tries to tell us we should not give up our dreams; and in the back of my mind I feel he used too many pages to drive home that point. (show less)

   

   

  by Andi Heryanto on Jan 03, 2009 at 08:34PM

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  I didnt find it as impressive as many others. but i loved the journey Paulo had taken us on. a quick read and a fun ride.

   

   

  by Neha Bharadwaj on Feb 18, 2008 at 02:23PM

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