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Loading... The Alchemist - Gift Edition (original 1988; edition 2006)by Paulo Coelho
Work InformationThe Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (1988)
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Did not read consistently so maybe would have liked it more if so. Overall not too exciting and not relatable. ( ) Anyone looking for life-enhancing wisdom should not have high expectations of The Alchemist but I liked it. My daughter sent it to me and I would have rated it 4 stars except for a few small discontents. What I liked most was the style. I love a good fable and I love the kind of style that comes with a fable. Coelho's style has a timeless, universal quality that hints at wisdom and profound archetypal knowledge in a sentient world where Jung's synchronicity prevails and order can be uncovered. My discontents belong first to the words 'Personal Legend' which are probably a translation issue. Perhaps this points to the paucity of the English language to express dimensions of alignment with primal forces? The second, and, as I write this I realise it is related to the first, a moment in the book which I had to re-read several times because suddenly the narrative seemed to change track and we saw the world through the eyes of the Englishman. While the idea that alchemy was a spiritual quest for the gold of the self has been the subject of much speculation, The Alchemist has a foot in both camps. I liked the circularity at the end but ultimately I hoped for something more profound. That said, it was such a wonderful and enchanting journey that I'll seek out some more Paulo Coelho. no reviews | add a review
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An Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the direction of his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles along the way. But what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery of the treasures found within. No library descriptions found.
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)869.342Literature Spanish and Portuguese Portuguese Portuguese fiction 20th Century 1945-1999LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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