Aidan Reads reviewed The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Review of 'The Alchemist' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
2.5, It had its inspiring moments but overall was full of farce.
208 pages
Published April 14, 2014 by HarperOne.
Paulo Coelho's masterpiece tells the mystical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. His quest will lead him to riches far different, and far more satisfying, listening to our hearts, of recognizing opportunity and learning to read the omens strewn along life's path, and, most importantly, to follow our dreams.
2.5, It had its inspiring moments but overall was full of farce.
Surely I'm missing something here, but this short fable felt super contrived and barebones. The characters didn't feel alive, it felt like they were carrying out straightforward actions to drive home a message that feels cliché even for 1988. I think the notion of pursuing something you want relentlessly is a little outdated, as is Fatima's role as "woman who pines for the main character to return".