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A review by bookbowlchallenge
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I do not give out 5 stars often, but this one wholeheartedly deserves it. The last 5 star review I gave was for John Steinbeck's East of Eden. This is fitting as there are several similarities between these books.
Like East of Eden, The Alchemist reads like a fable. However, whereas Steinbeck's characters serve as cardboard standees for biblical characters, Coelho's characters are fleshed out and loveable. The plot is quick, and captivating. The story manages to enchant and surprise at the same time. I found it incredible that this story unfolds in a mere 182 pages. It could easily be filled in to be a 600+ page epic, but I'm conflicted - I would easily devour 600 pages of this story and yet at the same time, I find Coelho's compact storytelling to be exactly appropriate for this tale. Coelho expertly fleshes out the characters with ambition, inner conflict, and growth in small short passages.
Coelho's writing is phenomenal and inspiring. This book is filled with profound quotes and passages that you could mull over for hours. In fact, many quotes made their way into my personal journal for me to ponder and reflect on. Are the quotes a bit cheesy? Yes, absolutely. You definitely have to be in the right frame of mind to receive the messages in this book. On the surface level, The Alchemist is just a short story about a boy looking for treasure. But looking deeper, you find a call-to-action to search for your own purpose in life. If you aren't in the right mindset when you read this, it will likely come across as preachy or cringe-y with 'inspirational poster' type messaging. Luckily, I was in the perfect frame of mind to receive and be inspired by this story.
This feels like a book I could come back to any time I'm feeling lost, uninspired, unmotivated, or adrift. I'm grateful that I own a copy to come back to.
5/5