Rating: 
Summary: A Best-Seller Seminar
Review: It has wisely been said 'Nothing succeeds like success'. Coelho proves the validity of the theorem. His 'Alchemist' is a masterpiece of how to write a best seller. Simply, follow what has worked before. The basic rules are five. 1. Have a hero of wide appeal. 2. Have a story most people can identify with. 3. Appeal to the heart. 4. Have a happy ending. And (and this is really the GOLDEN rule) 5. Keep it simple. This is the formula that brought us 'JL Seagull'. On to 'The Alchemist'. Everybody knows stories about children sell, that will do. So this book is about Santiago, a Spanish teenager. Who is he? Umm, make him a shepherd, that has worked before. Also has many positive connotations attached to it. What is he to do? Must be something admirable - but not too far fetched, so we can all identify with it. So Santiago is to follow his heart and set out on a quest to realise his dream - who among us would disagree with such a noble pursuit? It is something youngsters would like to do while for the older it brings back sweet sabbatical memories. But what exactly is Santiago to do? Easy, he is to journey to the Pyramids to discover a hidden treasure. Beautiful, it unites the romantics of the world. Set everything in an undetermined period to avoid unnecessary research and allow creative latitude and you're ready for characterisation and plot. Here Coelho goes a bit wrong. His supporting cast is a bit one-dimensional and the plot follows the simplicity rule too rigidly. But overall, Coelho succeeds admirably. He improves on the success of 'Love Story' by avoiding the pitfall of a somewhat Western-hemisphere story and a sad ending. His hero comes perilously close to death but he not only survives, he finds his treasure. He also gets the girl; Fatima, whom he has met in the desert and fallen in love with, has pledged to wait for him until he returns from his quest. I am actually quite impressed by the way Coelho furthers the appeal of his book. He expertly laces a western-culture message of 'You are the master of your destiny' on an Oriental background of things predetermined and evidenced by omens. An amazing feat, with the result that both Western Executives and fate-believing Easterners proclaim this to be their favourite book. Coelho is also careful not to overclarify his hero's objective. If you are so inclined, you can very well see Santiago's quest as a one of self-discovery and improvement. A touch of spirituality does wonders for sales these days. All the elements are there, then. But Coelho's major achievement is not so much his adherence to the formula as his treatment of it. He focuses on the word 'simple' with exemplary single-mindedness. It is not just the story, nothing else in this book is taxing. The language is easy, conversational even: no uncommon words, no artistic syntax, no long phrases. And its length (less than 170 pages even with big-point size characters) means you can read it in one sitting. With the 'Alchemist' Coelho truly gives the word 'simple' new-found depth. It is the only deep thing in this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: I came across this book by chance, I purchased it in a record store. The title drew me to the book and I'm so glad it did. I have not read such a good book for quite sometime it is a beautiful thought provoking story which anyone trying to find there way in the world should read. I liked this book so much I have just purchased another of the authors titles Veronika decides to die which is proving to be another brilliantly thought provoking book!
Rating:
Summary: Too much hype II
Review: Yes, I have to agree with the review entitled "Too Much Hype". If you are a careful and thoughtful reader who appreciates literary style and creative, artful expression through writing, you'll likely be disappointed with this book--as I was. The writing style is disjointed and hard to follow, although it is written at a jr. high school or high school level. It is truly amazing to me that this person is a best selling author. A real credit to marketing, packaging and understanding the mystery of what will satisfy the hunger of the masses. Who knows, maybe it was just his 'Personal Legend'. After reading this book, I thought even I could do it...... To be fair, the author did include some insights (albeit fairly commonplace) towards the end of his story. But I always appreciate being reminded of those kinds of things..and since I spent the time and money, I had to choose to get something out of it.
Rating:
Summary: I love you because the whole universe conspired for me...
Review: This is an extraordinary story about optimism, hope, courage and perseverance. It is about finding out what is our 'mission' in life, about destiny and following our dreams - whenever one wishes something, the whole universe conspires to its realisation. Everything is possible as long as we really want this to happen. At the first level, the story seems to be very simple, and as Coelho himself said it, "simple things are the most valuable and only wise people appreciate them". But it is by far a very complex story with very deep meanings.
One of the things suggested here is that people who don't dare to follow their dreams, their 'Personal Myth', will have a superficial and empty life. It is also about being courageous to meet your destiny, to dare making your dreams come true and following the road that has been made for them, and find God while searching for their destiny and their mission on earth. Another important issue in this book is finding your soul-mate and love - the core of existence and creation. When we are in love we try to improve ourselves: "I love you because the whole universe conspired for me to come close to you." I think this book can be enjoyed by everybody, because we all find ourselves in Santiago, the main character of the book - we all have dreams, desires and perhaps some us dont have the necessary courage to follow our dreams - and courage is the language that helps you most in understanding the world. I recommend this book to everybody who thinks that life is still beautiful and even to those who believe the opposite - Im sure it will make you change your minds.
Rating: 
Summary: Too Much Hype
Review: I usually pick up books on the recomendations of others, and enjoy books that offer life lessons. Reading all of the other reviews here I thought this book was going to change my life! I spent the $... (steep) and finished the book in about four and a half hours time. All that I really learned from this book is that it is possible to take good teachings from the holy books of several religions, add a tenth grader story telling twist to it and....VIOLA.... instant hit! Sorry - would only recommend to keep you occupied during a short flight, but spend your money elsewhere....
Rating:
Summary: A delightful experience
Review: I picked up a copy of The Alchemist because it was well reviewed and looked interesting. I decided to chance a purchase on the hope that it would be a good book. I was not disappointed. While many negative reviewers of this book have critiqued its poor character development, it is written as a fairy tale, which is more plot-based than character-based. This should not be construed as a flaw. It's a simple book, finding no necessity in telling you what color hair the general that Santiago meets has. The important aspect of this book is the journey. And journey it is, taking Santiago the shepherd boy from Spain to Egypt and back again, without a boring moment between. Santiago discovers many truths along his journey, the most critical being the importance of the journey itself. If you like fairy tales, are feeling disheartened, or still consider yourself a dreamer, this book is for you.
Rating:
Summary: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Review: A view from a first-time reader in its original Portuguese language, and some years later in English. First of all, nothing has been lost in the translation to English. My compliments to Mr. Alan Clarke! The beauty of this book is that the story is short and deceptively simple, yet so craftily woven that it entertains and captivates the reader while at the same time contributes to a sense of greater self-knowledge. In other words, it doesn't feel like a self-help book, but rather more like magic. It makes one want to stop and think, and re-evaluate everything in one's own life. The secret is that most people can identify with the story in one way or another because it deals with fundamental lessons we should hopefully all be learning! A new twist. Try this: read it and put it away. A few years from now, take it down from the shelf and read it again. You may just find as I have, that each time you read it the insight becomes deeper. However, it still feels as if you were reading the story for the first time, but with a wiser mind. And perhaps because of this, each time you do, you may experience a new discovery.
Rating:
Summary: MUST READ
Review: This is a book that everyone should read.
Rating:
Summary: A journey of Dreams
Review: Paulo Coelho like an alchemist have found the right ingridents to tell a story that is a masterpiece. An exotic journey of a boy which started as a dream but finished in a manner which was fulfilling for the shepherd boy and the readers as well.
Rating:
Summary: Detachment, Love & Enlightenment.
Review: The knowledge of the Veda for the common people.
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