The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Sometimes in life, an activity as meager as reading a book can define you as a human being. Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist is one of those books that have the power to change you. 

Feeling lost? Not feeling too good about following your dreams? Are you failing to listen to the words your heart is trying to say to you? This is definitely the book for you. My experience of reading this book was in a way highly therapeutical if nothing else. It took me on a journey along with our main character Santiago and left me feeling a bit something like being enlightened.

What is the book actually about? If I had to explain it in a single sentence, then this book is about following your dreams. Paulo Coelho beautifully speaks about the ups and downs of the journey of a person set on a mission to follow his dreams. Along the journey, you will face all sorts of monsters but you will not mind them because you are on a path that you desire to be on. You will be happy because you are doing something that you want to be doing. Your journey is as important as your destination because the decisions you take along the way defines you as a person... You learn a hell lot of things even though you had to fall a million times in order to learn those lessons. Our life is an accumulation of highs and lows, and we must learn to appreciate both. Cause what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger right?

Paulo Coelho’s writing is very subtle and not heavy worded. It is simple to understand but packs a punch with its philosophical and metaphorical writing. The words float easily into your mind and the story escalates very quickly but it feels as though you have been reading Santiago’s story for ages. Yes, don’t worry it is a very short read with a whopping 208 pages which makes you feel very proud of your reading skills. So if you haven’t read the book yet, be sure to pick it up the next time you are in one of your “I am bored” moods (which I am in more often than not) and let your mind be swayed in the heartwarming journey of The Alchemist.

With that, I leave you to your devices,

Introvert Out.

P.S. Don't you just hate Monday mornings? Especially when it is raining and your bed and pillows are urging you not to leave them(at 5:30 am)?