Rating: 
Summary: A bunch of psycho babble.
Review: A short book (at 177 pgs) with large font should've taken me about a week or two to finish....well....this book took me over a month. Why? Simply because I DID NOT WANT TO PICK IT UP. I literally had to force myself to read it. Hearing conversations between my mother and older sister about how "this is a classic - a must-read" I thought 'why not?' I shouldn't have bothered. Endless droning about "listening to your heart" and "following your heart's path" intertwines with messages about "sometimes your heart decieves you" and "follow your destiny" made me want to scream 'P**S OFF!!!!' This book has nothing new to offer, no entertainment value and is in no way educational. I told my sister that I didn't like it and found it boring, only to be told that "[I] don't get it..". Oh no....I get it alright, I just don't give a crap. I didn't need to be told to "follow [my] heart" or to "be careful when listening to [my] heart because it can decieve [me]" 5389343602849758367056 times. This was the first Paulo Coelho book I'd ever read, and it will be the last. This book has tainted my view of the writer forever, and I am no longer interested in reading any of his works. Thanks Santiago, you dumb shepherd.
Rating: 
Summary: SUPERB ARTICULATION OF A M,AGICAL TALE
Review: British stage and screen actor Jeremy Irons is a beguiling reader whether sotto voce or thunderous declaration. His crisply articulate delivery is especially well suited to this contemporary fable reminding us of what is truly important in life. Santiago, a shepherd boy, dreams of treasure hidden in Egypt. So, he leaves his home in Spain to search for the most precious hoard imaginable, in other words, he follows his dream. His quest takes him to the markets of Tangier and across the Egyptian desert to forage among the Pyramids. During his journey he meets a Gypsy woman, a self proclaimed king, and an Alchemist, all of whom offer Santiago directions. Listeners do not know what the treasure is that the boy seeks, but they do learn that riches are not found in possessions but rather within our hearts and minds. Mr. Irons has already been lauded by his peers - he is the winner of an Emmy Award, an Academy Award, and a Tony Award. This reading will simply add luster to his already stellar accomplishments.
Rating:
Summary: Fans of Jeremy Irons beware
Review: Fans of Jeremy Irons beware. Although he is great, as usual and expected, reading this book, the writing itself is pure New Age, self-help drivel. If I hear "YOU MUST FOLLOW YOUR PERSONAL LEGEND!! LISTEN TO YOUR HEART!!" booming out of my car's speakers one more time . . . The scene where the boy and the Alchemist cross the desert is a stellar example of poor, fuzzy-headed writing. "You must always listen to you heart" begins this long, tiresome set-piece. But sometimes your heart prevents you from achieving your personal legend, so sometimes you must NOT pay attention to it. Oh, but other times, it is only listenting to your heart that will allow you to achieve your personal legend. Oh, it goes on and on and on, back and forth until you just helplessly shout "UNCLE"! And then there is the crystal seller who, oddly enough, talks as if he has been going to group therapy for the last year -- "I can't *deal* with being rich." Come on, Coelho, at least make an attempt to keep us inside the fantasy, instead of just trying to pass off your ad-hoc, pseudo-Judeo-Christian, self-help babble as actual literature. Jeremy, Jeremy, Jeremy. Tsk. I expected more discrimination from fabulous Humbert Humbert.
Rating:
Summary: Fans of Jeremy Irons beware
Review: Fans of Jeremy Irons beware. Although he is great, as usual and expected, reading this book, the writing itself is pure New Age, self-help drivel. If I hear "YOU MUST FOLLOW YOUR PERSONAL LEGEND!! LISTEN TO YOUR HEART!!" booming out of my car's speakers one more time . . . The scene where the boy and the Alchemist cross the desert is a stellar example of poor, fuzzy-headed writing. "You must always listen to you heart" begins this long, tiresome set-piece. But sometimes your heart prevents you from achieving your personal legend, so sometimes you must NOT pay attention to it. Oh, but other times, it is only listenting to your heart that will allow you to achieve your personal legend. Oh, it goes on and on and on, back and forth until you just helplessly shout "UNCLE"! And then there is the crystal seller who, oddly enough, talks as if he has been going to group therapy for the last year -- "I can't *deal* with being rich." Come on, Coelho, at least make an attempt to keep us inside the fantasy, instead of just trying to pass off your ad-hoc, pseudo-Judeo-Christian, self-help babble as actual literature. Jeremy, Jeremy, Jeremy. Tsk. I expected more discrimination from fabulous Humbert Humbert.
Rating:
Summary: This is the best book I've read in a long time
Review: I haven't been so moved by a story of courage and destiny since Hemingway's Old Man and the Sea. This is the type of book that not only adds hope and vision to it's readers, but it also adds hope to the literary world. So many other authors fall short of this type of inspiration in their stories. Coelho has established a new standard among all authors who dare to inspire their readers. It's no wonder why this book is an international best seller. I guarantee your life, as well as your standard for good literature, will change after reading this book. Nate
Rating: 
Summary: Thought-provoking experience.
Review: I listened to this on unabridged audio while travelling back and forth to work. From a plot point of view, this book is very, well, linear. Boy Shepherd has a dream, gets it interpreted, learns of treasure buried by the pyramids, talks to a wise king, learns he is on a quest for his personal legend, travels to Egypt, etc etc. There are no real plot twists (beyond one near the end), and the story is simple and straightforward.
And, still, somehow, both spiritually interesting and thought-provoking. It has the sense of a legend or myth in and of itself, and had some wonderful lines to it ("What goes into a man's mouth is never evil, but what comes out of it is often so," and so on). It made me think a few times, and that's always welcome. The notion that everyone has a Personal Legend - and that the universe will try to get you onto the path of said Legend, is a very solid piece of interesting writing.
I think I had less of a "this shall change my life!" reaction than most I've spoken to who've read this, but at the same time, I quite ended up thinking about it for a few days (I only now just write this review, but I finished it last week).
Definitely recommended.
'Nathan
Rating:
Summary: Thought-provoking experience.
Review: I listened to this on unabridged audio while travelling back and forth to work. From a plot point of view, this book is very, well, linear. Boy Shepherd has a dream, gets it interpreted, learns of treasure buried by the pyramids, talks to a wise king, learns he is on a quest for his personal legend, travels to Egypt, etc etc. There are no real plot twists (beyond one near the end), and the story is simple and straightforward.
And, still, somehow, both spiritually interesting and thought-provoking. It has the sense of a legend or myth in and of itself, and had some wonderful lines to it ("What goes into a man's mouth is never evil, but what comes out of it is often so," and so on). It made me think a few times, and that's always welcome. The notion that everyone has a Personal Legend - and that the universe will try to get you onto the path of said Legend, is a very solid piece of interesting writing.
I think I had less of a "this shall change my life!" reaction than most I've spoken to who've read this, but at the same time, I quite ended up thinking about it for a few days (I only now just write this review, but I finished it last week).
Definitely recommended.
'Nathan
Rating:
Summary: the truth
Review: i read "the alchemist" in the morning today and as i read through each page i was totally fascinated by the story. I myself have sometimes felt the power of talking to the cosmos. When I was at it's height i saw telepathy to work, how to control the weather. it may seem like madness to many but it happened to me.v1165@rediffmail.com
Rating:
Summary: the truth
Review: i read "the alchemist" in the morning today and as i read through each page i was totally fascinated by the story. I myself have sometimes felt the power of talking to the cosmos. When I was at it's height i saw telepathy to work, how to control the weather. it may seem like madness to many but it happened to me.v1165@rediffmail.com
Rating:
Summary: Blown Away
Review: Please give this author a try. This was my first book by him and I need to get more. Thoughtful.
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