The Alchemist: A Graphic Novel

Book Review – The Alchemist (Graphic Novel) by Paulo Coelho

The Alchemist
Paulo Coelho
Illustrations by Daniel Sampere
Hardcover
208 pages
Publisher: Harperone
Publication Date: November 15th, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0062024329

The Alchemist (Graphic Novel) by Paulo Coelho and illustrated by Daniel Sampere is a visual study in life’s lessons expressed as a fable and tells the story of a boy named Santiago who has the imagination and resolution to follow his “Personal Legend.” While Coelho’s story is compelling and spiritual Dan Sampere’s art and design brings it to life. Each of Santiago’s guides are beautifully drawn (one in the likeness of Coelho himself) and help enhance the lessons being taught. The Alchemist embraces a number of important messages, lessons that have been told and re-told in literature countless times. However, that does not make this particular story any less valid (or enjoyable) then those that have come before it. In fact, the art enhances every aspect of the story. As a matter of fact, the story depicted in graphic novel form tells the story better, I think, than the novel. Where a thousand words might suffice in fiction, ten words and an image need to deliver the same message graphically. That paring down helps highlight the many morals the protagonist encounters in his journey. Coelho points out the emotions encountered when something urgent is desired and how, for some, that need often manifests its way in a universal realignment to point us in the direction of that goal. Coelho explains how a true hunger and passion for something can, and often is, rewarded by success and that every one of us has a “Personal Legend” inside us waiting to blossom. The story reminds us that those who love us encourage and inspire us in so many ways to follow our dreams, to pursue our ambitions, and how simply reaching for our goals will take us to places we might never expect.

File with: Parables, philosophy, life lessons, and spirituality.

4 ½ stars out of 5

The Alternative One
Southeast Wisconsin ( )

I have this book (the regular novel), but I hadn't been able to get into it. I thought reading the graphic novel first might help.

The first thing that struck me about the graphic novel is the amazing artwork. Each page featured colourful, detailed, mini-masterpieces. The story itself is both deep yet simplistic.

A shepherd called Santiago has a dream one night as he's tending his sheep. When he goes to the village to sell the wool, he meets a Gypsy woman and gets the dream interpreted. Soon after, he meets a King. So begins Santiago's journey to the pyramids in Egypt. As he's travelling, he meets of characters, all with various lessons to teach him (or lessons that he happens to learn along the way.

Throughout his travels, we also learn the story of how he became a shepherd, which isn't as obvious as it may seem. He's actually a well-educated young man who decided to become a shepherd as a way to travel and see the world.

This book on which this graphic novel is based was recommended to me long ago by a friend, and as I came to the end, I understood why. This is one of those stories, though, that I think ten different people could each get different things from the story depending on what's going on with them, which is also what makes this story special. ( )

Santiago, a young shepherd, travels to the Pyramids in Egypt to discover the treasure he believes is buried there. Along the way he meets different people who unknowingly change the course of Santiago’s fate.

The journey for the discovery of the treasure becomes a journey of self-discovery for Santiago.

The original of this book is one of my top 10 books ever. However I feel a lot of the meaning to the story is lost in the graphic novel medium. Although the artwork is superb and the colour palette mesmerizing, I would still choose the book as I felt the feelings and anticipation of Santiago did not come through. ( )