The alchemist has been on my TBR list for a pretty long time now. Whenever I talk about books with someone or look at any websites for new recommendations, this book always catches my eye. People used to ask me " Have you read the alchemist? It's awesome." And I would always shake my head. But when I completed reading this book, I had the satisfaction of having read a wonderful book and started hoping that this book would bring upon some change in my perspective in one big story called: LIFE.
The book starts with a shepherd boy whose name was Santiago. He always kept having this dream in which a small boy would start telling him about a treasure near the great Pyramids of Egypt. Each time, the dream would end in the place where the boy would reveal the location of the great treasure.The boy believed in his dream.He went to a dream interpreter who told him that not many people knew about this treasure and that this treasure was real. The boy took this to be a good omen and bid farewell to his parents as he had started his journey to follow his destiny (As he thought so...). His father gave him 3 ancient spanish gold coins which he had found in the fields. (Note this point down...)
While he was resting in a city,he had given some sheep which he had brought along with him to his friend, he met an old man who claimed to be the King of Salem. The man had told the boy to believe in what he does, to follow his heart and to follow the omens. The boy had learnt enough about omens from his grandfather. The old king gave him two stones. They were black and white: Urim and Thummim. They were claimed to be part of a golden breastplate from Jewish origin which the old man was wearing.
Soon he reached a city where he was robbed by a person of his money who said that he would help Santiago. There he understands that money and other things always come and go. It depends on how you use it while you have it. In this city a crystal dealer helps the boy to survive by employing him. The boy has only travelled for 2 hours when he got the first big change in his life. He understands that opportunities pop up everywhere you go, it depends on whether you take them up or not. He works for the crystal dealer for 11 months and 9 days. He then leaves to continue on his journey to the Pyramids.
There is a war happening in the desert which delays the boy's travel from the city of Arabs to the Pyramids. He stays in a desert village where he meets a beautiful maiden whose name was Fatima. He immediately fell in love with her. He married the girl and then he understood that when love takes control of your life you must learn how to keep yourself on the right path. For a few pages the girl explains about how the women of her village wait for their husbands to return home safely from their voyages and how she will also have to do now.
For the next few pages the boy describes his sadness when he has to leave Fatima behind.
He then meets an englishman who tells the boy about the Alchemist who can understand the universal language which people have forgotten and can connect with the Soul of the World.
The Soul of the World is basically that part of God which lives in everything in the world.
Also, the alchemist is around 200 years old. :o :o :o.
The boy meets the alchemist in a time where he was so close to the treasure but could not overcome his emotions. From there, the alchemist helps the boy to:
Turn lead into gold
Turn into wind
and to become an alchemist who could understand the universal language, and connect with the soul of the world.
The boy has now understood the purpose of life, the secrets the world has to give and how to live the life you want. Turns out that the treasure was never at the Pyramids.
It was the spanish gold coins which his father had given him. Not exactly the ones his father had given him but the spanish gold coins buried under Santiago's favourite broken‐down church.
The character development in this story is awesome!!
In the back of this book is a clip of an interview with Paulo Coelho.
After reading that, I was able to have a glimpse of his other few books which I have not read. I saw that all his other books also teach about how to tackle problems at different stages of life. So carry some Paulo Coelho books with you at all times because it will be helpful in both reading and to understand LIFE.
Ok, so what was the whole book about?
Well this book was about how the boy took decisions when he met different people, emotions and problems. And also about how the same hand(God) writes your birth, your death and all that happens in between.
There is actually, NO LIMIT as to when you should read this book.You can also read this book whenever you want some motivation or when you just want a book which would keep you occupied for at least 2 hours.
"When you want something, all the universe conspires to help you achieve it"
This quote said by the old man, had touched my heart. I knew that this was true and I am sure that you understand it too.
Ok everybody,
Hope you liked this review.
Waiting to connect with you all in my next post.
Love <3 ,
Harshith.
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