Title: The Alchemist
Author: Paulo Coelho
Characters: Santiago, the Alchemist, Fatima, the Englishman, Melchizedek
Genre: Adventure Fiction, Quest
Year of Publication: 1988
The plotline of the book is that of a simple quest. A Spanish shepherd boy, Santiago, keeps getting the same dream that there is treasure lying underneath the Egyptian pyramids. After meeting an old king who offers him some advice and some magic stones, Santiago embarks on his journey to cross the Mediterranean Sea and the Sahara Desert to find his treasure and accomplish his Personal Legend (a concept equivalent to our purpose in life). Amidst swindlers, tribe wars and endless sand, Santiago finds his one true love, learns alchemy and the language of his heart, and of course, fights to reach his treasure.
The book offers insightful ideas about one's own destiny, about rising above failure, about the unity of the Universe, presented in comparatively simplistic diction of the text. The descriptions are awe-inspiring and the word choice is immaculate, but really it's the depth of soul behind Coehlo's words that spin the magic of this novel. Anyone who reads this will not only escape reality but will also understand reality, The Alchemist can offer the best of both worlds. The Alchemist may not be your regular fiction book, but it most still deserves a place on your bookshelf!
Source: English Course Book of Grade 9
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