I have read several books by Paulo Coelho and like the others, The Alchemist is again about one individual’s journey to find happiness and fulfillment in life.
In this particular case, it is a shepherd boy Santiago who goes on a journey in search of a large fortune that is buried in the Pyramids. On this journey, Santiago faces many obstacles which tests his perseverance towards the ultimate goal. What starts off as a journey to find treasure becomes a quest to follow his heart.
I’ll be the first to admit that when I choose to read one of Paulo’s novels, I am not looking for a realistic story, instead I seek a personal exploration into the emotions and perspectives on life’s journey.
Like the other Paulo novels I have read, The Alchemist is very inwardly focused with the characters surrounding Santiago merely introduced to further Santiago’s quest for self-discovery.
This is one of Paulo’s more simplistic stories compared to other works I have read. I thought it had more style than substance.
A beautiful and dreamy journey, but in the end, I was still hungering for more substance.
