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 really enjoyed the author's turns of phrase and the overall tone.

In reading this, you'll have to ignore the Oprah-grade power-of-visualization stuff that really is too much, and take what the boy undergoes as a mystical or mythical experience.