Skip to main content

The Alchemist

 

The Alchemist
Written by Paulo Coelho

Originally published in 1988
About 170 pages
Rate: 5/5

I am currently taking my last 12 credits of my bachelor's degree; I have less than a month left before I graduate with my bachelor's in communication with a minor in writing studies. The Alchemist was a book on my communication capstone's recommended/required reading list. Given the fact I am so close to graduating, The Alchemist ended up being a good choice. 

As I near the end of my degree, I think it's important to reminisce about the things I have experienced because it has brought me to where I am today. Throughout my time in college and university I have had the privilege of meeting some of the most thoughtful, caring, and sentimental individuals. It's incredible how much we feel at such a young age with so little experience. I have watched people fall in love, slowly and intentionally. I have seen people break up and experience heart break and longing for the first time. I have seen people succeed, fail, cry, and smile. By observing others I felt as if I experienced it myself, but I quickly learned that that wasn't true. I have learned to grow out of being the wallflower, a roll that I so naturally adhere to. I have finally learned that it is okay to depend on people.

The world is full of infinite possibilities which can be thrilling, however, it can also be agonizing trying to make a decision. I could use my communication degree for all sorts of careers. However, the amount of options feels daunting. I am still figuring out where I want to be in life, but I also recognize the importance of staying present. I might not know what is in store for me in the future, but I know what I have been through. My experiences so far can help me navigate where I want to go. 

What is The Alchemist about?

Santiago is a shepherd who travels in search for a hidden treasure that he had a dream about. On his journey many people help direct him in the right direction despite the amount of obstacles in his way.

My thoughts on The Alchemist

The Alchemist is mostly made up of metaphors which is what makes the book so captivating. Although the plot itself is straightforward and easy to follow, the book does require some thinking. I personally got a lot out of the book. Here's the overall ideas I think the book is trying to explain:

1. Follow your gut no matter how difficult things might get. 
2. Patterns are destined to repeat until a person does the right thing.
3. If it's meant for you, the universe will work in your favor.
4. You need other people in order to get to where you want to be.
5. Stay present.

Overall the messages within the book are positive, and even though some people might deem it as unrealistic. In my opinion it sounds like all the book is trying to say is that we should chase after our goals. 

Quotes

"He never realized that people are capable, at any time in their lives, of doing what they dream of." 
"Life is the moment you are living right now."

Links

Amazon: The Alchemist

Labels:

Popular Posts

The Shining

  The Shining Written by Stephen King About 560 pages (mass market paper back ed.) Originally published in 1977 Rate 4/5 This is the second book my Themes in Literature class is reading. So far we have only covered Carrie ( hover over this to check out my book review for Carrie ). Though this story has been referenced in the media many times throughout my existence, I tried to avoid it at all costs because I wasn't a fan of horror. Junior year of high school I took a film studies class. The "here's Johnny" scene was briefly mentioned and I was so scared. After reading the book, I now realize how exaggerated my feelings about this story were. I haven't watched the movie and maybe if I did then I would side with my younger self, but right now I feel a little embarrassed. The book wasn't that scary. What is The Shining about? Jack Torrance has recently been fired. One of his good friends gets him a job at The Outlook Hotel, his job is to look after the hotel for
Read more

The Siren

The Siren written by: Kiera Cass Genre(s): fantasy, fiction, and young adult Rate: 9/10 About the book: Kahlen is a young girl who is saved by the ocean after the boat she was on was destroyed. She then becomes a siren and is bound to serve the ocean for 90 years. After she has served her time, she can be set free and live a normal life forgetting about the time she was a siren. However, there are rules to her sentence as a siren and if she breaks them more time will be added. When she finds the love of her life, she breaks a rule. The ocean favors her the most out of all the sirens, so will she get time added or will the ocean set her free? Why I liked the book: The conflict was very well centered through out the whole book, things were added to the conflict that were reasonable making the book more of a page turner. The rules were simple and easy to follow. It gave a different point of view on sirens that I liked a lot, made them seem more human. A great sisterly bond that mad
Read more

Love & Olives

Love & Olives Published in 2020 with close to 500 pages Written by: Jenna Evans Welch Rate: 10/10 My summary of Love & Olives : Olive (Liv) Varanakis starts receiving postcards from her father (Nico) who she hasn't heard from in well over nine years. The last time Liv saw Nico, they were talking about finding the lost city of Atlantis, more importantly, how they were going to find the city together -- then he left.  Throughout Love & Olives Liv struggles with a lot of anxiety, especially when she finds out she has to go to Greece to visit her father and help him make a documentary for National Geographic (about the lost city of Atlantis.) Liv makes it to Greece only to discover her father made a whole new life for himself. While in Greece she meets a teenage boy named Theo, who is as obsessed about finding Atlantis as her father is. Liv not only discovers herself but also discovers how history rewrites itself without people realizing it.  My opinion about Love & O
Read more