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reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism
Moderate: Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Alcohol, War
adventurous
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, War
Minor: Animal death, Violence
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
I liked the messages Coelho tried to convey, but overall the story wasn't really interesting to me. I only had two or three instances where I was interested in the story and actually reflecting on what was written. Also why the racial slurs? They could've been left out...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism
Moderate: Death, Violence
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
After seeing this book pop up multiple times in a short period of time, I decided to give it a try, as I needed a short book to read, one that I could finish before a book list reading challenge started at my library on September 01st.
It was difficult to follow, and the main characters having no names did not help matters. The boy isn't a particularly lovable main character, and he's naive enough that it stops being a good thing and becomes a slog. For such a short book with so much travel, nothing really happens. The boy learns a lot of things, but I felt like I was missing half of the story.
It was difficult to follow, and the main characters having no names did not help matters. The boy isn't a particularly lovable main character, and he's naive enough that it stops being a good thing and becomes a slog. For such a short book with so much travel, nothing really happens. The boy learns a lot of things, but I felt like I was missing half of the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, War
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Good life philosophy teachings
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I’m gonna do a short review for a relatively short book. So here goes…
The writing style in Coelho’s The Alchemist is very good and descriptive yet also doesn’t give too much detail if that makes sense?? I did enjoy this book I guess but it’s certainly not one of my favourites. Despite being short I did feel it quite repetitive and certainly some parts could be removed (not the best for a book of under 180 pages) but it didn’t really take that much from it. The storyline is okay, we follow a Shepard boy called Santiago from Spain who has a passion for travelling, he has a recurring dream of treasures found near Egypt’s pyramids, consults a gypsy, meets with a king who encourages him to make the journey so he does so going through Tangier and across the Sahara meeting with many people including an Alchemist - I won’t say anymore because I don’t want to spoil anything. The main theme is to follow your destiny because if you don’t listen to it, your heart, the world, omens, ‘god’ and other spiritual ideals you may lose the opportunity to realise / materialise your destiny. Which is pleasant and uplifting but I’m just a bit ehh on the whole topic. If religious and spiritual content is what you like then you’d properly enjoy it more than I did. Also the ending, albeit a twist and impactful to some, kinda irked me. Also how animals are referenced and treated I didn’t jam with.
In short: I enjoyed the writing and some messages but was just a bit ehh for me - solid 3 stars.
The writing style in Coelho’s The Alchemist is very good and descriptive yet also doesn’t give too much detail if that makes sense?? I did enjoy this book I guess but it’s certainly not one of my favourites. Despite being short I did feel it quite repetitive and certainly some parts could be removed (not the best for a book of under 180 pages) but it didn’t really take that much from it. The storyline is okay, we follow a Shepard boy called Santiago from Spain who has a passion for travelling, he has a recurring dream of treasures found near Egypt’s pyramids, consults a gypsy, meets with a king who encourages him to make the journey so he does so going through Tangier and across the Sahara meeting with many people including an Alchemist - I won’t say anymore because I don’t want to spoil anything. The main theme is to follow your destiny because if you don’t listen to it, your heart, the world, omens, ‘god’ and other spiritual ideals you may lose the opportunity to realise / materialise your destiny. Which is pleasant and uplifting but I’m just a bit ehh on the whole topic. If religious and spiritual content is what you like then you’d properly enjoy it more than I did. Also the ending, albeit a twist and impactful to some, kinda irked me. Also how animals are referenced and treated I didn’t jam with.
In short: I enjoyed the writing and some messages but was just a bit ehh for me - solid 3 stars.
Content Warnings
Minor: Physical abuse, Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Death, Violence, War
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, War
Minor: Death, Drug use, Alcohol
challenging
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I wish I enjoyed this more. It didn’t resonate with me as much as it does with others but it may be due to my lack of religious beliefs and struggle with the writing style. The writing style is beautiful, but just not really my style personally. I thought the length was perfect!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Violence, War
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, War
Minor: Violence