The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream

by Paulo Coelho | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 0062502182 Global Overview for this book
Registered by MarysGirl of Brooklyn, New York USA on 9/12/2006
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8 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by MarysGirl from Brooklyn, New York USA on Tuesday, September 12, 2006
I picked this up at a charity bookstore. It was delightful and I passed it on to my husband and daughter. From the flyleaf:

Paulo Coelho's enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world. 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 .... But what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery of the treasures found within. Lush, evocative and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transforming power of our drams and the importance of listening to our hearts."

"Beneath this novel's compelling story and the shimmering elegance with which it's told lies a bedrock of wisdom about following one's heart." -- Booklist

Journal Entry 2 by MarysGirl from Brooklyn, New York USA on Wednesday, April 30, 2008
This book needs to be out there. I'm putting it up for a book ray.

Journal Entry 3 by MarysGirl from Brooklyn, New York USA on Thursday, May 8, 2008
Mailed out for a bookray today. The usual rules apply: please journal when you receive the book, when you've finished and when you send it on. The line up so far:

1. mikopikotrain, MA, USA
2. CanticleLost, FL, USA
3. mrsgaskell, Canada
4. Dei, Singapore
5. megmac, UK

COMPLETED - THANK YOU ALL FOR PARTICIPATING!

Journal Entry 4 by mikopikotrain from Bellaire, Texas USA on Wednesday, May 14, 2008
The book arrived today- I'm looking forward to reading it!
Thanks for sharing, MarysGirl!

Journal Entry 5 by mikopikotrain from Bellaire, Texas USA on Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Overall, I enjoyed this book- it was a fun read and excellently written. Maybe my expectations were a bit high so I wasn't as profoundly moved as I anticipated. While the overall message is nice, for me it was not particularly life-changing. And even though I'm sounding a bit jaded, I would definitely recommend this book to others- especially some of my high school students.

Thanks for sharing, I'm glad I read this story!

I dropped this book off at the post office today and it's on it's way to the next reader!

Journal Entry 6 by CanticleLost from Clearwater, Florida USA on Friday, May 30, 2008
Will be reading and sending on ASAP =) thanks!

Journal Entry 7 by CanticleLost from Clearwater, Florida USA on Monday, June 2, 2008
I expected more from this book, but was not very pleased with it. I heard that it was really good-- but, it wasn't for me. Beneath the very thin veil of a fictional story was the real plot- 167 pages of heavy religion and feel-good, self-help messages. Not what I'm interested in, unfortunately. Hopefully everyone else has a better experience.

Journal Entry 8 by CanticleLost from Clearwater, Florida USA on Saturday, June 14, 2008
Sent out today, sorry for the lateness-- a combination of being out of town and then being broke! Hope it arrives safely =)

Journal Entry 9 by wingrem_CJL-230711wing on Monday, June 23, 2008
Arrived safely in today's mail. I just finished my first Paulo Coelho novel on the weekend (The Devil and Miss Prym) and loved it, so really looking forward to this one. Thanks MarysGirl and CanticleLost!

Journal Entry 10 by wingrem_CJL-230711wing on Friday, July 18, 2008
After reading The Devil and Miss Prym I had high expectations of The Alchemist and I was rather disappointed.

The book’s message is a good one, to follow your dreams and listen to your heart. But the message is pointed out to the reader over and over again, which I found irritating. I agree that humans can get completely caught up in providing for their daily needs and comforts, forgetting to think about what they’re here for, and what’s important in life. But I didn’t agree entirely with Coelho’s view – he suggests that you follow your dream whatever the cost, even leaving love behind because you can always go back – I don’t believe that is so. Sometimes we need to make choices about what is truly important.

I've wanted to read this for some time and I'm glad to have had this opportunity to read it. Thanks for sending out this ring, MarysGirl!

Journal Entry 11 by wingrem_CJL-230711wing at Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Friday, July 18, 2008

Released 15 yrs ago (7/17/2008 UTC) at Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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Sent Canada Post yesterday afternoon, on its way to Dei in Singapore

Journal Entry 12 by wingDeiwing on Saturday, August 2, 2008
Thanks so much mrsgaskell. Book is with me now. i have 1 more book to go before this book. Will rush it quickly to kotus123

Journal Entry 13 by Megmac from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Thursday, August 28, 2008
Thank you Dei. I have wanted to read this book for a long time, looking forward to it.

Journal Entry 14 by Megmac from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Thursday, September 11, 2008
This book has a very simple message that is executed very well. If anything, it's almost too simple. I sometimes felt that things were moving so fast I didn't have time to really feel for the main character, Santiago. My life has not changed but I appreciate the message and it did make me think about my childhood dream to be a writer. I sort of enjoyed this little book, but it was never going to live up to the hype.

Thanks to MarysGirl for sharing this book with us all :-) My dad wants to read this next, and then I will probably take it to a BCBirmingham meetup.

Journal Entry 15 by Megmac at on Friday, September 26, 2008

Released 15 yrs ago (9/27/2008 UTC) at

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My dad liked this but also found it frustrating and a little above itself.

Taking to BCBirmingham meetup.

Journal Entry 16 by wingHudsons-Bhamwing from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Saturday, September 27, 2008
Now available in the Official BookCrossing Zone at Hudsons Coffee House, Colmore Row. The books are on a tall, thin set of shelves to the left of the arch into the back section of the coffee house.

If you have picked up this book, thank you for visiting the website. Please take a moment to let us know you have the book - then everyone who has had it previously will know where it is! Then post a review when you've read it, and pass it on to someone else when you've finished it. If you join BookCrossing, you, too, can see where it goes next...

Journal Entry 17 by hudsonbookworm from Walsall, West Midlands United Kingdom on Wednesday, October 15, 2008
I have just picked up this book from the shelf at Hudsons. As my friend was late for our lunch date, I decided to read it and now want to finish it. I will make another entry when I have finished it - to let you all know whether I enjoyed it.

CAUGHT IN BIRMINGHAM WEST MIDLANDS UK

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