the alchemist
10 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by milesroberts from Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire United Kingdom on Friday, December 26, 2003
Wow!!! I love this book and have aquired another copy of it to send around in a ring/ray thingy... Ive got a couple of people who want it so if you want to be added to the list, PM me and I'll gladly add you!
This story has soooo many different levels and at which ever one you choose to read it at, I am certain you will love the book.
The idea with this one is to send round a note book with it for people to write their ideas about the book and how it has possibly touched them and then when the book turns full circle and ends up again in my arms i can collate the lot and we can all know what each of us thought!
Miles
This story has soooo many different levels and at which ever one you choose to read it at, I am certain you will love the book.
The idea with this one is to send round a note book with it for people to write their ideas about the book and how it has possibly touched them and then when the book turns full circle and ends up again in my arms i can collate the lot and we can all know what each of us thought!
Miles
Journal Entry 2 by milesroberts from Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire United Kingdom on Monday, January 5, 2004
Right this book is about to be sent a journey.... I have formed a ring/ray thingy for this so if you would like to be included on the list then please let me know.
Katie Kangaroo
Chrisp93
daemonwolf
Loopy1
Lady-Mondegreen
ShelaghG
tehuti
oblivious1980
rainbowandrain
rissy
acanthium32
Spike1972
Katie Kangaroo
Chrisp93
daemonwolf
Loopy1
Lady-Mondegreen
ShelaghG
tehuti
oblivious1980
rainbowandrain
rissy
acanthium32
Spike1972
Arrived this morning, with the notebook its companion. This edition has a lovely cover!
I will add to my little pile of books garnered from tonight's Citie of Yorke meet, and wait until I have a nice quiet day to settle down and read it since it looks one to savour. Cheers Miles!
I will add to my little pile of books garnered from tonight's Citie of Yorke meet, and wait until I have a nice quiet day to settle down and read it since it looks one to savour. Cheers Miles!
Journal Entry 4 by kangaroo from Barnet, Greater London United Kingdom on Thursday, February 19, 2004
I finally settled down with my hot chocolate to read last night. And it's wonderful.
Need to figure out what my dream is now though.
Need to figure out what my dream is now though.
The Alchemist arrived here today. Thank you so much for sending it out as a Bookring, Miles, and Kangaroo for forwarding it to me. I have just read "The Devil and Miss Prym" from the library for my forthcoming reading group meeting, and have on my bookshelf one other book from that trilogy, "Veronika decides to die". So am really looking forward to getting into this.
(Updated Sat 6 March) I could not sleep during the night and started reading this book. Fascinating so far ... I'll probably be unable to sleep tonight until I've finished it ...
(Updated Sat 6 March) I could not sleep during the night and started reading this book. Fascinating so far ... I'll probably be unable to sleep tonight until I've finished it ...
This book arrived accompanied by a note-book so I have merely copied my note-book thoughts into this journal entry.
"I had heard so much about this bok and wanted to read it. I must say that I'm glad I did.
However, having recently read 'The Devil and Miss Prym', also by Paul Coelho, I began to suspect that 'The Alchemist' might be in similar vein. That was certainly the case, although a much fuller story than 'The Devil and Miss Prym' on the surface.
Now I've finished, I can only say that I suspect one finds inspiration when and where noe seeks (needs) it. I failed to be inspired by "The Alchemist" possibly because I'm not looking for an instruction manual, or self-help guide to the omens and signs that will help me to attain my dreams.
Good story, but spelt out in a one-dimenstional style, in my humble opinion. Obviously it has many levels, like a parable from the New Testament.
Maybe I'm just too old to exchange whatever has inspired me so far for a different game plan!
Now I know what people are talking about when they refer to "The Alchemist!.
Glad I read it though!
Chrisp93"
Now I'm sending it off to daemonwolf. Hope all future readers enjoy this book.
"I had heard so much about this bok and wanted to read it. I must say that I'm glad I did.
However, having recently read 'The Devil and Miss Prym', also by Paul Coelho, I began to suspect that 'The Alchemist' might be in similar vein. That was certainly the case, although a much fuller story than 'The Devil and Miss Prym' on the surface.
Now I've finished, I can only say that I suspect one finds inspiration when and where noe seeks (needs) it. I failed to be inspired by "The Alchemist" possibly because I'm not looking for an instruction manual, or self-help guide to the omens and signs that will help me to attain my dreams.
Good story, but spelt out in a one-dimenstional style, in my humble opinion. Obviously it has many levels, like a parable from the New Testament.
Maybe I'm just too old to exchange whatever has inspired me so far for a different game plan!
Now I know what people are talking about when they refer to "The Alchemist!.
Glad I read it though!
Chrisp93"
Now I'm sending it off to daemonwolf. Hope all future readers enjoy this book.
Daemonwolf apparently obtained another copy, so that leaves the Alchemist in my tender hands next :-)
Thanks for that folks, I've read the introduction in the notebook, but I don't intend to read the rest of it until I've read the book itself - and that will be read as soon as I've finished my current book, so probably I'll start it tomorrow.
More later :-)
Thanks for that folks, I've read the introduction in the notebook, but I don't intend to read the rest of it until I've read the book itself - and that will be read as soon as I've finished my current book, so probably I'll start it tomorrow.
More later :-)
This book had a nice fairystory/fable type feel to it, and was easy to read. But not so easy to digest, I feel - very powerful ideas in it, and I'll be looking out for a copy for rereading, I think.
I'll sleep on it tonight, then write some more thoughts into the notebook, then send it on.
Meanwhile, thanks for sharing it - hopefully some of the ideas will stick enough for me to dwell on them. One idea that sticks out from it is the idea that not everyone wants to fulfill their dream - some people are happier holding on to their dream and pretending to themselves that someday they will...
I'll sleep on it tonight, then write some more thoughts into the notebook, then send it on.
Meanwhile, thanks for sharing it - hopefully some of the ideas will stick enough for me to dwell on them. One idea that sticks out from it is the idea that not everyone wants to fulfill their dream - some people are happier holding on to their dream and pretending to themselves that someday they will...
Journal Entry 9 by Lady-Mondegreen from Basingstoke, Hampshire United Kingdom on Friday, April 2, 2004
The Alchemist has arrived on my bookshelf courtesy of loopy1 - thanks! And thanks also Miles for organising the ring. I am the last name on it so when I have done it will return home to you.
Journal Entry 10 by milesroberts from Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 6, 2004
Fairy snuff. Im glad that so many of you seem to have been able to take something away from this book, but do you want to do a mail out to the list and see if there are any more takers for it before it gets returned to me here?
Miles
Miles
Journal Entry 11 by Lady-Mondegreen from Basingstoke, Hampshire United Kingdom on Thursday, April 8, 2004
This is journal entry contains the thoughts I have written in the accompanying notebook:
The Alchemist is a magical fable containing messages for those seeking them. It will strike a chord with anyone needing strength, motivation and inspiration. For me, the message, put simply, is we must go on a journey to gain the knowledge and tools that enable us to recognise the “treasure” we seek is within us, literally under our own nose. I don’t think the book needs the epilogue, which spoiled the message for me because Santiago finds traditional treasure of monetary value, thereby pandering to the greed and avariciousness of man. Whereas I think the real treasures are the knowledge, truth and wisdom he gained on his journey and the love he found en-route.
Lady-Mondegreen
I will mention on the BCUK forum that miles would like this to travel some more before returning home
The Alchemist is a magical fable containing messages for those seeking them. It will strike a chord with anyone needing strength, motivation and inspiration. For me, the message, put simply, is we must go on a journey to gain the knowledge and tools that enable us to recognise the “treasure” we seek is within us, literally under our own nose. I don’t think the book needs the epilogue, which spoiled the message for me because Santiago finds traditional treasure of monetary value, thereby pandering to the greed and avariciousness of man. Whereas I think the real treasures are the knowledge, truth and wisdom he gained on his journey and the love he found en-route.
Lady-Mondegreen
I will mention on the BCUK forum that miles would like this to travel some more before returning home
Journal Entry 12 by milesroberts from Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire United Kingdom on Thursday, April 8, 2004
I can see where you are comeing from but i dont think that the point with the epilogue is that he has found the monitary tressure. I mean it was gold he was seeking from the start. Simply look to it as the goal an end point, what Coleho has used to represent it i feel is irrelevant. It is the journey there and what we gain on the way that is jsut as important as the goal itself.
Journal Entry 13 by ShelaghG from Rotherham, South Yorkshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 13, 2004
This book arrived safely this morning. I have my current book to finish and another bookring book to read before I start it but hope to be on it by the weekend. I like the idea of the little notebook coming around with it and am looking forward to reading what everyone has written.
What a book! Deceptively simple on the surface, a short book and a quick read. Yet there are are many layers are lots of interesting ideas about destiny and fate. This is the kind of book that needs reading many times and will improve with each reading. This is a book I will be buying my own copy of in the very near future.
tehuti is away at the moment but as soon as she comes back and PMs me her details this will be in the post to her.
tehuti is away at the moment but as soon as she comes back and PMs me her details this will be in the post to her.
Apologies, a slightly delayed notification of receipt.
A wonderful parable, with so many phrases that go straight to the central issue, and told wonderfully, like the best spiritual teachings, in the form of an extended joke. A call to listen to the urgings of the inner Fool.
To me, the Epilogue is not a cop-out. I see the treasure as a symbol of the knowledge gained by our ceasless exploration, when finally we
"....arrive where we started
and know the place for the first time"
a knowledge that is
"A condition of complete simplicity
(Costing not less than everything)"
(TS Eliot, Little Gidding)
Off to rainbowandrain next.
To me, the Epilogue is not a cop-out. I see the treasure as a symbol of the knowledge gained by our ceasless exploration, when finally we
"....arrive where we started
and know the place for the first time"
a knowledge that is
"A condition of complete simplicity
(Costing not less than everything)"
(TS Eliot, Little Gidding)
Off to rainbowandrain next.
Received from Tehuti yesterday. I will read this whilst on holiday next week (saving it specially). Will journal again when I've finished it.
Elestr/Iris:)
Elestr/Iris:)
Journal Entry 18 by Elestr from Kimberley, Nottinghamshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, July 28, 2004
I enjoyed this book, although to me it is very simplistic and fairy tale like. The main message in this story is very clear from the outset. I will not spoil it for future readers. The telling of the tale repeats well known tenets from many religions.
To be sent to acanthium32 as soon as I get the address.
To be sent to acanthium32 as soon as I get the address.
Arrived in the post this morning - will journal again once I've read it. Heard an awful lot about this book, so will see if it lives up to expectations!
Firstly, I apologise for having held this up for so long - rather a large MTbr and real life getting in the way!
I'm afraid I really struggled to finish this and haven't gained anything by persevering! It felt like a rather old message repackaged to have commercial appeal. I found it patronising in places and could cheerfully hit Santiago repeatedly with a large blunt object. Perhaps I should have read this when I was in my teens, and a lot less cynical.
Off to Spike to add to his mountain of rings!
I'm afraid I really struggled to finish this and haven't gained anything by persevering! It felt like a rather old message repackaged to have commercial appeal. I found it patronising in places and could cheerfully hit Santiago repeatedly with a large blunt object. Perhaps I should have read this when I was in my teens, and a lot less cynical.
Off to Spike to add to his mountain of rings!
Landed safely in Cardiff this morning - with its trusty sidekick The Notebook -and so off to my Mountain Of Rings it goes! (Therefore it may be a little while before I get to read it).
I'm over half-way in this book now, so I thought I would journal my thoughts so far, especially as I don't think it will take me too long to finish it now. Maybe..
To begin with I really struggled with wanting to pick this book up again to read a little more. I have to say that I don't see the "self-help" aspect of the book really. I know it talks about destiny and dreams etc, but it doesn't really do it in a sense that makes sense to me, and certainly not in a way that is likely to inspire me.
I guess the main reason I've decided to carry on reading it, is because I think I might just "get it", once I've finished the book. I'm not going to hold my breath though...
Having said that, having now got this far into the book I'm starting to enjoy it more, so maybe it will change and things will become clearer to me as the book goes on.
Also I didn't realise till now that I'm at the end of the bookring. I'm assuming it goes back to milesroberts when I've finished with it?
I will obviously journal again when I've finished it.
To begin with I really struggled with wanting to pick this book up again to read a little more. I have to say that I don't see the "self-help" aspect of the book really. I know it talks about destiny and dreams etc, but it doesn't really do it in a sense that makes sense to me, and certainly not in a way that is likely to inspire me.
I guess the main reason I've decided to carry on reading it, is because I think I might just "get it", once I've finished the book. I'm not going to hold my breath though...
Having said that, having now got this far into the book I'm starting to enjoy it more, so maybe it will change and things will become clearer to me as the book goes on.
Also I didn't realise till now that I'm at the end of the bookring. I'm assuming it goes back to milesroberts when I've finished with it?
I will obviously journal again when I've finished it.
Now that I've finished this book, I'm afraid to say that it didn't improve as I thought it would. It didn't give me any insight or inspiration, though it did tell me a few things I already knew - for instance, you will often see things purely because you're looking for them (whether these things are actually 'there' or not in a lot of cases), and the opposite, there are a lot of things that you won't see/admit to, purely because you don't want to.
This is the first "self-help" book that I've read, and if I'm honest, it doesn't make me want to read any more of them.
To my mind, it had a very odd begining, and a very strange, and unsuitable ending, which dissapointed me as I'd just started to find some enjoyment in the book - purely as a novel/story - during the middle sections.
I think this has to go back to Miles now, so I'll PM him for his details.
This is the first "self-help" book that I've read, and if I'm honest, it doesn't make me want to read any more of them.
To my mind, it had a very odd begining, and a very strange, and unsuitable ending, which dissapointed me as I'd just started to find some enjoyment in the book - purely as a novel/story - during the middle sections.
I think this has to go back to Miles now, so I'll PM him for his details.
I posted this today to milesroberts which, I believe, completes the Bookring ;o)
