Books : The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream

Rating: - Lame, lame, lame.
Maybe this book is somehow better read quietly on your own. We heard so many good things about it that we read it as a family. We were rolling on the ground laughing at the lame conversations with the boy, his heart, the wind, etc. If you are seeking good life advice, read Ben Franklin's autobiography and his selected writings. But life is far too short to waste any of it on this silly tale.

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Rating: - Great Read
Loved this book and I am having my boy teenage boys read it. Just wish I had read it when I was there age. A must for anyone on the side lines !

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Rating: - Everyone should read this book
My best friend recommended that I read this book, so I bought it, read it. I love it! I wish schools would recommend students to read this book.

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Rating: - Simple. Classic.
This makes a great graduation idea. A simple, timeless, classic about the fact we're always searching when what we need is right where we are.

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Rating: - Light self-help novel
If you want to read about a search for the self in easy to read short stories, Hesse's "Siddharta" or The Pearl: (Centennial Edition) are far better and deeper (both authors are Nobel Prize winners and as such, they show a profound understanding of human nature). If you want something even better, just a bit longer, I recommend Narcissus and Goldmund: A Novel. If you like the story presented in a fairy tale format The Neverending Story is a great reading. (This book is a true gem, it is not a children's book, although the movie makes it appear as such. It is Atreju's search for his self while he almost lost his identity in the journey. This book is quite deep and full of fantastic adventures, but very long and sometimes difficult to read). Momo is a lot easier and truly beautiful, both are far more entertaining than "The Alchemist".

It is obvious I did not particularly like this book, despite all the high recommendations I got from it. The characters lack strength, the writing is light and easy but without depth, the story is not exciting and somehow predictable. The good thing is you read it on a weekend.