The Alchemist

A book review.

The Alchemist

by Paulo Coelho

published: 1988.09.08

ISBN: 9784770040190

genre: Fiction

reviewed:2023.09.27

👍🏼 recommended

This is a charming story about an Iberian shepherd who is visited by a mysterious figure who sets him on a long journey. Finally arriving in Egypt after having been robbed, married into a Bedouin tribe, taught Arabic, won and lost a fortune... he finds himself set upon another journey.

I believe this is the 'magical realism' that I was looking for when I unfortunately read "100 Years of Solitude". I mean it adds wonder and warmth to the world, not the confusing and chaotic half-fleshed-out mysteries of the "One Hundred Years..."

I really enjoyed the author's turns of phrase and the overall tone. It's a positive and human story and the nature of the set-backs and triumphs our hero has are true.

I don't think this book is as transcendent as some people would have you believe, the mentor/magician titular character takes too real a role in the story for my tastes. And I don't think "positive visualization" is real, but I did very much like the story of a young man who is incessantly steered away from his goals but who finds a life worth living in the overcoming of those challenges and in following his vision.