To read or not to read

Plot Overview: The Alchemist follows Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd, on a mystical journey to find a great treasure as he learns the language of the world, embodying eternal wisdom as he achieves his personal legend.

Characters: Santiago begins as a simple shepherd boy with no dreams beyond marrying a girl he met once whilst passing through her village a year ago. However, a chance encounter with the King of Salem encourages him to pursue his personal legend and helps him to interpret omens. I enjoyed Santiago’s character development; however, at times, his lack of a strong personality with features aside from determination and curiosity made the novel feel slightly dry.

One of the characters I found most interesting was the Englishman, although I am sceptical that I may have just enjoyed the parts of the book with him in it rather than him as a character. The Englishman is an aspiring alchemist, bookish, impatient and obsessed with intellectual knowledge. His character contrasts greatly with Santiago’s intuitive learning, and although he doesn’t develop much himself, he is essential in Santiago’s journey, whilst demonstrating to readers that understanding of the world only through books can limit genuine transformation, reminding that transformation cannot just be studied but must be lived.

Writing: Although a short and easy read, Coelho is able to masterfully combine various religious ideologies on self-fulfilment and improvement to create the collective concept of the personal legend, communicated through incredible writing. The Alchemist is deceptively simple because of how close we remain to Santiago’s lush inner world. Although written in third person, readers are constantly updated on his doubts, questions and moments of inner revelation.

To Read: Although I enjoyed this book most when I first read it as a preteen, rereading it now, I believe it’s still a valuable read, yet would recommend it to younger audiences. To read – but only if you are younger or overly curious about the purpose of life.