The Alchemist by Paulo CoelhoMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I was reading this book alongside others and, noticing it was short, thought I’d take my time with it. I ended up falling deeply in love with it. It’s one of those stories that operates on multiple levels- at its surface, you have the classic hero’s journey: the protagonist embarks on an adventure, learns from a wise mentor, faces challenges, and ultimately discovers that the true treasure lies within himself. If that’s all you take from it, that’s perfectly fine, but there’s more happening beneath the surface.
The challenge with this book is figuring out exactly what that “more” is. It continuously hints at deeper lessons, touching on themes of ethics, metaphysics, history, anthropology, post-colonial critique, and even folk tales. There are biblical allusions alongside Islamic teachings about the nature of God, while institutions and mysticism are both evoked and questioned. As you read, there’s always the feeling that something profound is lingering just beneath the surface, but the moment you try to grasp it or put it into words, it seems to slip away.
That, I think, is the point – the message becomes clearer when you stop trying to pin it down. Hold it lightly, and it reveals itself; try to define it too rigidly, and it eludes you. The book works its magic subtly, and by the end, you feel both satisfied with the hero’s journey and yet yearning for something more – perhaps to embark on your own journey. That’s why I love it so much. It doesn’t give up its secrets easily – or maybe it gives them up too easily – leaving you to wonder where your own heart and treasure lie, and what your personal legend might be. In the end, I think the book says more about the reader than the text itself. Once you truly know your own heart and path, perhaps this will remain just a beautiful, passing fairy tale.
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