Rating: 
Summary: All is not gold that glitters!
Review: Paulo Coelho's "The Alchemist" begins his allegory (it's religious in nature)/fable (it teaches a lesson and animals do some of the talking!) in a strong Hemingwayesque fashion: short, choppy, easy-to-read sentences and easy vocabulary (also set in Spain!). It is the tale of a young Andalusian shepherd boy who decides to do something about his fate, his destiny. He has his future told in a local village, after he becomes agitated over a recurring dream. He is told that he is destined to find a great treasure--in the Pyramids of Egypt. Shortly thereafter, he meets "an old king" who gives him added impetus to find this treasure. He sells his sheep and heads for Tangiers, assuming that since it is in Africa, it must be close to the Pyramids! Every day, every mile teaches young Santiago lessons, lessons about life, about love, about destiny. His odyssey may be on sand (through the desert) but it is filled with almost as many distractions and lessons as Odysseus ever found--and it took Odysseus 20 years to make his trip to Troy and back!). Coelho's insightfulness is quite to the point. "It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting," Santiago muses early on in the book. And Santiago learns the lessons of his life to enable him to find his treasure. A good read--one that isn't drawn out forever (only 177 pages!). (Billyjhobbs@tyler.net)
Rating:
Summary: simple fable, destiny, omens, magic
Review: I found this an enchanting tale of a boy who follows his heart and sets out to follow his destiny. The book is written in a simple language with no deep character development or intricate descriptions etc because it is not written to be a piece of literature or to reveal the meaning of life, but a simple book with simple messages which anyone can understand.It has been written specifically so that it can be accessible to anyone. It also introduces alchemy on a basic level. I think that the author may also intend that if the ideas presented (the soul of the earth etc) find favour that it may spark off your interest in alchemy, which you may then pursue further.It is interesting to note that the Man he meets on his journey to meet the Alchemist, who has studied alchemy, really had got bogged down in the dogma of his beliefs and missed the points which are themselves simple. He really couldn't see the forest for the trees. This is an important lesson not to be missed. 5 stars for a simple, enchanting, wisdom tale which is more of a reminder of what we already know rather than something new, but which can refresh and renew your purpose or destiny in life.
Rating:
Summary: A Deceptively Simple Fable
Review: I borrowed this book from a friend of mind and finished it in just a few hours. The language wasn't particularly difficult nor was the print very small. At first thought, it seems like a very simple tale. Not so. Like Hemingway's "Old Man and the Sea", a simple story is telling us story but the emphasis is not on the beautiful scenery and the clever characterization. The story is what will hold the focus and open a wisdom which is simply stated, but very deep. The book is about following your dreams. Some of the key points are that it doesn't come without pain and misfortune. Even though the world may be conspiring to help you, it will not be easy. There will be the beginner's luck and there will be the seeming loss. You must remain focused and listen to your heart if you want to reach the goal. Many times, the shepherd boy had wealth and thought of settling for that. He felt he had the money to buy some sheep and go back to what he knew. He didn't however, which leads me to think that this fable is not about personal wealth. The fact that treasure lies at the end of his journey is more allegorical than literal. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who would like a happy ending and anyone who want affirmation that we can be rewarded for following our dreams.
Rating: 
Summary: It's not only about the end, its in the process
Review: It is truly an amazing book that captivates my full attention to it, even in middle of the night. It is highly inspirational with aplenty of good "life's learning lessons" as I would describe it! Its about a boy, who learns the art of listening (or rather feeling) the Language of the World. No doubt the book is an excellent buy, but the ending left me dumbfounded. It took a star away. It's up to you to decide. For if its your destiny, the whole universe will conspires in helping you to attain it!
Rating: 
Summary: New Age Blather
Review: The most mysterious part of this book is its popularity. I understand that it's a simple fable and I'll even grant the "follow your heart" message may be a virtuous pursuit. But the manner in which this message is delivered is tortuous. The characters are passive and hollow and the plot is so contrived as to render the story ridiculous. Instead of having to resolve significant conflicts himself, Santiago floats through the story guided by a sequence of serendipitously fortuitous events. Coelho attributes this to the "universe conspiring" to help him attain his Personal Legend. I attribute this to weak writing. The underlying message of this book is also troubling. Rather than finding happiness in the journey itself, it suggests that salvation lies in attaining one's Personal Legend--in this case material wealth. The implicit flip-side of this lesson is that if you don't reach your goals, you're either not trying hard enough or not following your "true calling" -- when in reality one's failure is more often attributed to a bunch of external factors over which one has no control. Those who find this book inspirational probably also find wisdom in fortune cookies and horoscopes.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely annoying
Review: This book belongs to the newly-fashionable trend according to which, the worse-written and emptier a book is, the more "wisdom" and "life teachings" it is reported to contain! Please! It didn't tell me anything I didn't know since I was five - and it's not even as touching and delicate as "The Little Prince"!
Rating:
Summary: What a huge waste of time
Review: What a load of crap. I read this book because my girlfriend bought it for me as a gift. I have to say that it is the worst gift I have ever received. This is nothing but a buch of new age spiritual mumbo jumbo. "The boy reached through to the Soul of the World and saw that it was part of the Soul of God. And he saw that the Soul of God was his own soul. And that he, a boy, could perform miracles." Ugh! Fortunately the book is short. When you finish you're just glad that it wasn't longer and wasted even more of your time.
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Summary: A Fable that teaches about persistance
Review: Here is a quick-to-read book that explores a boy in search of a dream. Santiago knows what he wants, but unfortunately is guided on a different path. He meets a mysterious person and decides to risk all he has to pursue his dream. This begins a journey full of all sorts of perils and happy moments. Santiago's journey is a metaphor of all of our lives, and as one reads the book, one cannot help but to think about the course of one's own life. Because of this, I can recommend this book. I think that there are other more interesting books to read on the subject of risking all you have to do what you really desire, but this one can be read quickly.
Rating: 
Summary: Pesimist's perspective
Review: I was not looking forward to reading this book. I wasn't ready to have a stranger barge into my head and tell me not to let anything get in my way of my dream. But I decided to read it anyway and see how Coelho planned on brainwashing his readers. As I began, I figured it would be about someone accomplishing his/her dream, but I wasn't prepared for the hidden messages inside. Once I began reading I got deep in thought with Coelho and started visualizing my dream. And whether or not that's what I wanted to do with my life. As much as I tried to keep this from happening, but his quotes began invading my head and it provoked thought. Especially the one where he stated; "It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting." This actually made me stop and think whether I want my dream to actually come true. Because it kind of frightens me to think that IF my dream comes true, where do I go from there? But if my dream doesn't come true, what have I been working for my whole life? I've been working for nothing. While I read the book I didn't really pay attention to the plot and what Santiago was doing, but rather I was relating the messages with my life. I wouldn't recommend this book to someone who is looking for a good fireplace story. But to someone who likes to be provoked in thought. One who wouldn't mind sitting down analyzing life and it's failures. As wells as it's failure it's accomplishments. And whether their " Personal Legend" is what they want to accomplish in life. To set things straight, this book did not put me on a whole new track of my life. I still see the cup as half empty. But what it did was it made me ponder and question life and it's true meaning. I can't imagine this book changing one's life but at the same time I wouldn't be surprised. This book would be a good reader for high school students. That's the time when teenagers are faced with day to day decisions that could rearrange their whole lives for better, or for worse. And if they were to read this, maybe it could help them identify their purpose in life. This book would also be suitable for any adult as well. But not for someone who doesn't like to face reality and doesn't wanted to be disturbed in their fantasy life. Coelho's writing was too unrealistic. That's why I found it appealing to me. I know that no king will ever appear and show me the path. Or no alchemist will guide me to my treasure. That's why I enjoyed replacing Santiago as me, but with a different treasure in mind. It was interesting to see how love and listening to your heart was incorporated. But the most important factor in this story was the way it provoked thought. What are my omens in life? What is my " Maktub"? Does it really matter what I do or is it already written? Reading this book won't give you these answer but it will question the ones you already have and it might intimidate you in the sense to change them. Like I said before, my cup is still have empty, but after I decide " Personal Legend" the cup will loose what it has due to the impossible obstacles I will face. Then it will rise due to the "omens" I receive. And then it will either crack and destroy my " Personal Legend" or it will overflow once I discover my "treasure".
Rating:
Summary: Fool's Gold
Review: Curious about the buzz this book has generated, I picked it up, prepared to be inspired. I wasn't. It's a nice little fable -- one that you could even read to your kids -- but I didn't find in it any wisdom for the ages. Here's the basic message: "Trust your intuition. Follow your dreams." Heard it before? Yeah, I thought so. There really aren't any deep thoughts in the The Alchemist. It's basically a kind of New Age fairy tale. It exhorts you to think big but doesn't really make you think too much. Some have compared it to Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet. Not even close. That thin volume makes you stop every few sentences to ponder its wisdom. It's not much of a story but it's definitely deep. The Alchemist is exactly the opposite: an endearing little story but no great strain on the intellect. Maybe it will cheer you up. Maybe it will give you the encouragement you need to chase your dream. If so, you probably didn't need much of a boost in the first place.
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