Rating: 
Summary: El Alquimista
Review: I first read this novel in English and loved it so much that I bought and read it in Spanish as well. It is equally good if not better for you bilingual readers out there. It has been 4 years now and I still think about how great this book was. Definitely worth the read!
Rating: 
Summary: the alchemist
Review: The Alchemist is about a shepherd boy who is content with his life. Until he starts having visions of treasure then one day he meets king who tells him he must fulfill his personal legend. So he gives up everything he has and goes on his journey, and the end the Journey brings him much more then the actual treasure he goes out in search of.
Rating:
Summary: Good Omen
Review: It was a good omen when I saw this book on Amazon and ordered it last week. It came in the mail today, and I read the entire book today. This book is great. No, it's not for everyone. It's for those of us who are following our dreams, or as the book says: personal legend. It's no surprise to me that some people fail to "see" the true lessons behind this story. It is because they fail to listen to their heart, and do not understand the "universal language." This book is a great guide for anyone who truly wishes to follow her or his dream. And even if you've already acheived your dream, this book will help you understand better the path you took to get there. Nothing is immpossible in this world, and nothing is possible without dreams!
Rating: 
Summary: garbage
Review: go out and rent the movie "wizard of oz" and forget even bothering with this load of garbage. Yah yah yah go home and see your home has been paved for a walmart and your gal is for rent at 20$ an hour. If this guy cant come up with something more profound than "there is no place like home" waste your hard earnd $$ elseware
Rating: 
Summary: Didactic and a bit heavy-handed, but the story flows
Review: Big words (the Soul of the World, the Language of the World) coupled with alchemy and simple story create an impression of a book that an alternative religious sect would distribute. The language, a bit rough, as though cut out of wood, evokes primitive art. Simple truths (follow your heart, don't give up) sound like an Idiot's Guide to The Meaning of Life. This does not leave a reader starry-eyed.One saving grace of the book is the story: it does flow and intrigue. It has adventure, fear, love, closeness of death. A few moments are quite poetic, such as when the boy feels the kiss on the lips of his beloved brought to him by the breeze, and thinks "It was the first time she had done that". And, of course, the treasure. The boy wants the treasure. And he does not stop when he has enough money to go back home and double his previous fortune. He does not stop after he has "50 golden pieces", he follows his heart and at last finds a chest full of gold and precious stones. Greed is good. He did not even stop when he found his true love. He was following his heart, which was not speaking to him of love, it was speaking of gold. And there's nothing wrong with gold, is there? This deserves a star. Maybe the story really says: follow your heart and you'll get wisdom, love and money? This also deserves a star.
Rating:
Summary: Follow your dream, reach your star.
Review: I finished to read The Alchemist in my Englis Language Arts class. My instructor, Anthony De Lorenzo gave us because is his favorite book, and we worked on it. I learned how follow the dreams, never stop. I remember my life. with fear, without love, only life for life, without any sense. Santiago was always optimist, he never was afraid.
I liked this book very much, because I have to learn let my fears, reaching my dreams like Santiago, begin to fly. I believe the dreams come true, if you want do it, if you want follow them. I reached a dream when I came to the USA but I need others dreams come true." There is more time than life", says my Grandma, I hope have time enough for my dreams.
This book change my life a little bit. Now I beginning my own personal legend. I will learn to hear my heart, hear the people, my parents, my friends.
When I feel the pure love, my life will be complete.
It's a great story.
Rating:
Summary: Nice and Uplifting ... but so-so
Review: It has a nice underlying message. But the story isn't very moving. And it wasn't in any way a "page-turner." Thankfully it was an easy read and fairly short.
Rating:
Summary: Inspired!
Review: After reading this poetic book, I am more excited about following my dream. I plan to really go for it! To raise the stakes. To make a difference in the world. My dream is do a project that will inspire others to care more about the environment. To act. To sell their gas-guzzling SUVs. Before reading THE ALCHEMIST, I felt reticent. Too self-conscious. Now I want to get out of my rut and serve the world. I can do it.
Rating: 
Summary: Good, not great
Review: Good: Simple; easy to read; easy to understand; uplifting, positive message. Bad: No life lessons you haven't already heard before; not particularly literate. On the whole: It's good. It's not international-bestseller, 20-million-copy, changed-my-life good, so I'm somewhat bewildered by its popularity. But it's good. That's all.
Rating:
Summary: A Beautifuly Written Book
Review: Everyone has a personal destiny and target in life. Whether we follow our dreams and fortune or not can depend on accomplishing that mission. But we almost always need that inspiration to help us start. The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho was one of the most inspiring books I've ever read.
The book tells the story of a boy, looking for the answer to his dreams, his target in life, his truth. It tells of overcoming impatience, learning about love, following your dreams and feelings, and repeating mistakes and situations. Along his journey, both physical and spiritual, he meets a number of interesting and guiding people: an alchemist, a king, and a gypsy woman, introducing to him the concepts of knowledge, certainty, love. The boy learns a lot, just by traveling, by analyzing the events that seem to happen to him over and over again, the way he is guided. He realizes that following his dreams means sacrifices and believing in yourself. Coelho has outdone himself with this wonderful book, which provokes all emotions to come to the surface of the one who reads it. He brings up concepts of destiny, of faith, of the long journey to accomplish your own personal mission in life. I really enjoyed this book, and it has guided me in many ways and situations since I read it. I would recommend it to anyone, it will help those who seek answers to their philosophical questions.
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