A beautiful simply written fable. I read this years ago and found this copy for 50c at a bookfair.

Sending to leeny37 who has it on her wishlist.

Thanks for the surprise RABCK! :) I have heard nothing but glowing remarks for this book, so I wanna see if it's going to be "life-changing" for me too!

From Amazon.com:
Like the one-time bestseller Jonathan Livingston Seagull, The Alchemist presents a simple fable, based on simple truths and places it in a highly unique situation. And though we may sniff a bestselling formula, it is certainly not a new one: even the ancient tribal storytellers knew that this is the most successful method of entertaining an audience while slipping in a lesson or two. Brazilian storyteller Paulo Coehlo introduces Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who one night dreams of a distant treasure in the Egyptian pyramids. And so he's off: leaving Spain to literally follow his dream.

Along the way he meets many spiritual messengers, who come in unassuming forms such as a camel driver and a well-read Englishman. In one of the Englishman's books, Santiago first learns about the alchemists--men who believed that if a metal were heated for many years, it would free itself of all its individual properties, and what was left would be the "Soul of the World." Of course he does eventually meet an alchemist, and the ensuing student-teacher relationship clarifies much of the boy's misguided agenda, while also emboldening him to stay true to his dreams. "My heart is afraid that it will have to suffer," the boy confides to the alchemist one night as they look up at a moonless night.

"Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself," the alchemist replies. "And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second's encounter with God and with eternity."

Well, definitely not life-changing for me and I didn't think it created any lightbulb moments either. It was an enjoyable fable to read but I don't think it was particularly inspiring - it's an old tale retold in a different setting. Maybe I'm being jaded and cynical, but finding your spiritual path because of this book? *ahem* Seems like quite a stretch. I enjoyed the book for what it is but don't see it anymore than a fairy tale.

Reserving this for cnfotp, who has this on her wishlist!

RELEASE NOTES:

Granting a wish! :) This was mailed off to cnfotp this morning as a RABCK, who has this book on her wishlist, as part of the Keep it moving reverse wishlist relay on BookRelay.com, and also like a trade, as I will be getting wings in return! Hee hee... I always like to fulfil wishes anyway, the wings happen to be a bonus this time! Anyway, I hope you enjoy the book! :)

Arrived today - thank you leeny37 :) You shall be flying very shortly...

I've heard a lot about this book so I'm looking forward to reading it :)

I read this little book the other day and enjoyed it's beautifully written, simple story. Thank you for sending it to me leeny :)

I have offered this up on the Well Travelled Wild Release Challenge and will post to Erishkigal on Monday.

guess travelling was this little books dream :) the lucky finder will find a well-travelled book indeed. I'll read, then send it out -asap--to travel some more.

sweet, gentle, magical~~~I loved this little book!

The format is as old as time....or at least as old as language, the teaching tales told around the fire told by old to young, told and retold..... while there may be nothing 'new and earth-shattering' here, I don't think that is the point....in our hectic hurried world, this book reminds us...to slow down... to open our hearts, to open our senses....to trust is ourselves....for me, the lesson of following one's dream is just the surface...more important are the lessons learned along the way....that the journey is our treasure....and possibly the most important reminder...that we are all one, that we are all related....and that, to me, is the lesson our world is most in need of....
Aho! Mitakye Oyasin!


I shall now pack up this little lovely to send to MyaStone for the WTWR Challenge. travel on, Santiago!!

received today for the well-traveled challenge. and i get to release this one - yay!

i'm glad i have finally read this book. alot of it spoke to me, i loved the religious historical references (urim and thummim, melchizedek) and i was very happy with the ending. i like the idea that there is singular language of the world, i wish more people realized that. i think the destiny part was a little over done, but otherwise, i agree with its status as a classic.

RELEASE NOTES:

on the stairs