Books : The Alchemist

Rating: - Very inspiring
It's a book about following one's dreams and not giving up. And more importantly, it teaches us that the journey towards acheiving one's goal is far more enlightening than the moment of euphoria at acheiving it. This book is a really light read, yet powerful!

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Rating: - Great book!
its a good read .... would not say that its a book that is hard to put down ........

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Rating: - Full of Empty and Corny Metaphors
For many years I have been told to read this book. After I saw it for half price I decided it was the time. I was excited to read what could be one of the best books I ever had. I expected this because the book has tremendous hype. The truth is that I wish I would have loved it, but I found it boring, empty, and repetitious; so I found myself speeding through it just to get it over with. The book has maybe 3 exciting spots that last at most 2 pages out of 165 pages.
Many of the things the book tries to teach are things that any person with what the book calls a "Personal Legend" can derive for themselves, from just living. The metaphors are empty, and repetitious. I found myself rolling my eyes every time I read a corny metaphor.
If you have an analytic mind I wouldn't recommend reading this. This book is meant for people who live life on solely a spiritual level, and believe in life's signals.

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Rating: - A True Classic
How is it possible that a simple tale of a shepherd boy can affect so many people over the course of the fifteen years since this book was published? Is it merely due to the fact that Paolo Coehlo addresses a major theme like following your destiny? Or is it because he tenderly writes about love and personal growth? Perhaps it's those moments when he juxtaposes the world of intellect versus the world of intuition? If this were a multiple-choice quiz - I'd have to answer "all of the above". "The Alchemist" has something for everyone - Add me to the list of admirers!

Stories that touch on so many key life themes don't come around too often. I'm fortunate to have found another book as well that I wholeheartedly recommend: Being Here: Modern Day Tales of Enlightenment. The authors, Ariel and Shya Kane, offer a new possibility of looking to live one's life in the moment. It's amazing how instantaneous transformation can take place regarding one's destiny and personal growth when the "present" is seen as a "gift". Put both of these works on your bookshelf - you won't regret it!

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Rating: - Wonderful....breathtaking
There's nothing like a good, simple book that contains all the messages of life in a language all can understand. I first picked up the Alchemist because it happened to be the only book in my library that I haven't read. From the amazing prologue to the surprising ending, the author's beautiful way of writing kept my eyes glued to the page. Sometimes simplicity is more meaningful than all the adjectives and metaphors in the world.

So in conclusion, the Alchemist was a wonderful and breathtaking novel that I recommend to anyone who can read! Enjoy!