I've read this book twice now, once when it was sent to me by a friend and once for my bookclub.

It's only 167 pages so was a quick read with a very simple message about following your Personal Legend. It's a fictional story but very inspirational. It mentions "God" but it could just as easily use "fate" or any other guiding force with the same effect.

From the cover:
"This story, dazzling in its powerful simplicity and inspiring wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the pyramids. (...) Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts."

I quite enjoyed it and will offer it as a bookring.

This is the order for the bookring:

1. lane1088 - USA (within USA)
2. elizardbreath - USA (anywhere)
3. rebeccaljames - USA (within USA)
4. karenlea - USA (within USA)
5. withoutwings - USA (within USA)
6. queensknob - USA (anywhere) - its here!
added February 21st
7. katielindsay - USA (within USA)
8. chocolatefishy - USA (within North America)
9. GateGypsy - Canada
then back to me!

I think 6 is enough for now or else people are waiting forever to get the book and there is more chance of the book getting stalled. If anyone else really wants to join, I'll add them to the end of the list.

"Rules"!!

1. Please journal when you receive the book as well as when you've read the book. That way I can keep track of where it is.

2. Try to have it read and mailed within a month. It's a short book and an easy read so it shouldn't be hard to do. If you're going to have it longer, please let me know.

3. When you're almost done, PM the next person to get the address. That way the book isn't collecting dust while you get the address. If you can't find someone, please let me know and I'll go "in search of (ISO)" that person.

4. Write your bookcrossing name and your city on the inside of the back cover so that we can see where the book has gone. I may offer it as a ring again so it could become a well travelled book.

5. Enjoy! Happy reading!

This book is being mailed today, December 12th, to lane1088.

Just got this in the mail today. I have one ray in front of it so I should get to it by the first of next week. Thanks kimmi.

Santiago's story was quiet moving. I liked the fact that just because he was striving for his dream, the author still allowed bad things to happen to him. Yet he stayed focused on what he wanted to accomplish. There were some great quotes about life and the twists it throws away. The things that we allow to distract us from our goals.

I'm glad I had a chance to read it during christmas. I'll be sending it out in the mail today.

Just got the book in the mail today. Sorry for the delay but every time I walked into a post office the line was at the door and I only had 30 minutes for lunch. Since I was late, it went by 1st class mail. Hopefully you will get it soon.

Got the book today...thank you!

Well, I've gotten as far as page 79 and I think I'm going to quit and move this one along. I get the idea of what this story is saying...I guess I'm just uncomfortable with some of the thoughts expressed, as well as really irritated by the writing style. On this particular page that I've stopped on it is stated that "...everything on the face of the earth ha(s) a soul, whether mineral, vegetable or animal", and then goes on to talk about how we are all a part of the soul of the earth. As I've been reading this book, I've taken the spiritual side of things with a grain of salt, applying my own beliefs to the concepts: (for instance Coelho's "omen" = "God's plan and purpose for one's life"). However, this whole thing about everything having a soul and stuff...that's just really not true and has turned me off to this book. As for the writing style, Coelho leaves nothing to the imagination, nothing for interpretation or application...all the "big ah-ha moments" and allegory are clearly spelled out. For instance, the boy is quoted as saying: "When I had my sheep, I was happy, and I made those around me happy. People saw me coming and welcomed me, he thought. But now I'm sad and alone. I'm going to become bitter and distrustful of people because one person betrayed me. I'm going to hate those who have found their treasure because I never found mine. And I'm going to hold on to what little I have, because I'm too insignificant to conquer the world." Now I, as the reader, might come to those conclusions myself while reading about the boy, (and also think that those are a little extreme--the same idea Coelho round-aboutly presents)...but who really thinks those things consciously for themselves? I don't know, guess I'm just not a fable kind of girl :) I will PM the next person in line and get this moving again ASAP. Thanks so much for giving me the opportunity to attempt this one! :)

rebeccaljames has asked to be skipped so I am PMing next person.

Caught!!! I will be able to start it this week. Thank you for sharing.

I kept feeling like I should be getting more out of this book or reading deeper into the meaning. I found various passages to be meaningful, but overall, my mind kept wandering as I was reading it. It felt very much like Kahlil Gibran's "The Prophet."

Thank you to Kimmi for sharing this book. It will be mailed to the next reader on Saturday, if not sooner.

Update- I ended up having to work a lot this past week and didn't make it to the post office until this morning- 2/7/2007...it is now on it's way. I apologize for the delay.

This is a really good book. The best that I have read so far this year. I will be emailing the next person in line for their address.

Book was finally received today

This book has washed ashore at the Lost Book Island after not being heard from for many months. This new arrival will be shown to a room and be allowed a bit of rest before being introduced to the many fun things to do here at the island.

All around there are books sipping cool drinks under shady palms while other books participate in a wide variety of beach sports. There is plenty of sand, surf and sun here for all of the lost and wayward books to enjoy.

It is hoped that very soon a new journal entry will come to rescue this book from the island and send it back out into the BookCrossing world so that it may continue on its journey. It is hoped that the new journal entry will tell all the interested parties where this book has been this long time and where it will be traveling to next.