The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho

100-Word (or Less) Synopsis: [adapted from the dustjacket] An Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried near the Pyramids.

Expectation: To be wowed by this modern classic.

Reality: Even at its slim length, I found it to be an exercise in repetition and tedium.

Recommended For: Younger readers.

Why I Read It: Required as part of a reading challenge I’m participating in via #Bookstagram.

My Take:

“The Alchemist” is a book that has existed on the periphery of my life for decades. It was prominently featured in bookstores through most of my childhood and was regularly referenced in pop culture during the 1990s.

With all its omnipresence, I still had no idea what the book was about, which was both a blessing and a curse. A blessing in that I was initially charmed by the story and wanted to see how it concluded. A curse in that had I read a few reviews it would’ve been clear it was not going to be to my tastes.

All that to say, I can see why people enjoy “The Alchemist.” There is conflict and danger and lessons learned. Along with many, many affirming passages about the benefits of risk-taking, having an open mind and allowing yourself to experience love.

But I found it to be repetitive, schmaltzy and over-stuffed with ideas and concepts. Even at about 160-pages it felt too long, and Paulo Coelho left a lot of loose ends and questions unanswered.

Perhaps I was reading it too critically and not embracing it as a modern parable — religion, both Christian and Islamic factor heavily into the plot, a surprise to me — but Coelho tried too hard, often hammering home an idea so hard it was beaten to a pulp.

He references “personal legend,” “soul of the world” and “language of the world” so many times it could be a drinking game.

Still, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit there were a few passages that caused me to pause and reflect on decisions I’ve made, challenges I’ve taken and those I avoided. In that respect, I see “The Alchemist” as a read best suited for non-jaded younger readers that could use a confidence boost.

Rating (story): 2/5 stars

Rating (narration): N/A

Formats: eBook (library loan)

Dates read: March 9 – March 12, 2022

Multi-tasking: N/A