The Alchemist (Plus) (original 1988; edition 2006)

The Alchemist is a relatively easy read even though the plot is complex. This would be great for a high school class as it deals primarily with personal discovery and growth. The main theme of the personal legend explains to the reader that finding one's personal legend and 'tesoro' (treasure) is a complex endeavor. The personal legend and the treasure involved is much more than a simple journey and superficial prize. The Spanish version could also be used with advanced Spanish language students. Also, the connections between cultures is rich in this novel. It was written originally in Portuguese by a Brazilian writer. It is set in the south of Spain and northern Africa. The main character learns a lot about different cultures and viewpoints in his travels. ( )

I probably should have read this book a long time ago. A young boy named Santiago is encouraged to follow his dreams and find his own "personal legend" after a series of events and meetings with people who influence his ideas. This book is heavily allegorical and an annual favorite for summer reading lists. I think its meaning is lost on most teenagers, however. It's a book that made me think and consider some of the choices I have made; it also made me wish I had taken more risks when I was younger. Perhaps that is one of the marks of great literature. ( )

There were some nice moments, but I've never been very good at the spiritual journey stuff and it didn't start with this book. It's clearly a contrived attempt at making you feel like you're being all philosophy-like, but with no real substance or message behind it. ( )

Lovely book. Really easy read and short so read it in a few hours. I loved the simplicity and yet the deep layers of messages this book conveyed. Reminded me of how fables and tales were told back in the day. ( )

Santiago is a shepherd boy who chose to become a shepherd because he wanted to travel. His parents wanted him to be a priest. His story starts when he wakes up from a dream for the second time, a dream he has only dreamed in the broken down church with a tree growing in it that he is using for the second time as a overnight sheepfold on the way to his next stop.

Like Oedepus, his dream is leading him in circles. He goes to a discerner of dreams who tells him what he already knew from the dream, that he needed to go the the pyramids in Egypt to find the treasure. then he runs into Melchizedek, the King of Salem who charges him 10% of what he had (6 sheep of his 60) for his advice and the Urim and Thummim... Abraham was the first person to meet Melchizedek and Abraham gave him 10% of his wealth. Santiago makes it from Andalucia Spain to the coast of Africa with the money he earned from selling the other 54 sheep. He is following his “Personal Legend”. He is robbed and ends up spending a year working for a crystal salesman before continuing to search for the treasure of his dreams. He meets a girl in the desert and she encourages him to follow the dream then come back for her. The Alchemist meets him and leads him the rest of the way through the desert where he is robbed again, then again a third time. He is busy digging for the treasure at the site of the pyramids when somebody comes by to tell of his dream that he had at about the same time as Santiago which sends him back to Andalucia where the treasure really is.

There are Bible verses inserted occasionally, but then they turn around and say things like, “To realize one’s destiny is a person’s only real obligation. All things are one.” “The Soul of the World is nourished by people’s happiness.”

My niece had to read this for her IB school in TX as they will be referring to it all four years. Over Thanksgiving they also had to read Oedipus - a much longer version than the one I read in college. I read it at my sister’s request to know what my niece was reading, but it is NOT a book I would suggest to my middle school students. ( )