The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho

***IronParrot*** · 07-29-2005, 09:08 AM

I recently read this delightful Spanish tale (in English, of course) upon the recommendation of a friend. It's short, sweet and an easy read, but has a mythic quality about it. I've heard it classified as literature of the "inspirational" sort (the subtitle, after all, is "A fable about following your dream"), but it's nothing of the hokey or heavy-handed sort.

Anyone else familiar with it? Apparently it was a huge hit back in the early nineties, when it was brought over in translation.

Beren3000 · 07-29-2005, 05:16 PM

I've read this book a while back. I don't remember a lot of the details, but I remember that it was good (not as grand as others make it, though) or maybe I'm (or hopefully was) too shallow to appreciate its subtleties.

Lenya · 10-22-2005, 04:55 PM

I wanted to read it, because of all the fuss made over it. I started and and after a few chapters I just decided that it wasn't me. I never finished it and I probably never will.

hectorberlioz · 12-22-2008, 10:04 PM

My dad read this book. He said it was quite intriguing. But he read it in Spanish, so my curiousity couldn't be satisfied.

Midge · 12-23-2008, 12:06 AM

I read it in high school. My teacher had this thing where we could pick out of a few different books to read. I chose the Alchemist, because I'd already read The Fifth Mountain by Coelho and really liked it.

My boyfriend said it was a girly book. Like I said... I liked it.

Gwaimir Windgem · 12-23-2008, 07:41 PM

Just as a correction, this is not Spanish, but Portuguese; Coelho is Brazilian. The original title is "O Alquimista".

I haven't read it, but I read a little bit of Coelho's "O Diario de um Mago" (English title "the Pilgrimage", apparently

). I peck at bits of it now and then, just to work on my Portuguese.

hectorberlioz · 12-23-2008, 07:52 PM

Oops. You are so right, Gwai.

I should know better.

07-29-2005, 09:08 AM	#1
*IronParrot* Fowl Administrator Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Calgary or Edmonton, Canada Posts: 53,420	The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho I recently read this delightful Spanish tale (in English, of course) upon the recommendation of a friend. It's short, sweet and an easy read, but has a mythic quality about it. I've heard it classified as literature of the "inspirational" sort (the subtitle, after all, is "A fable about following your dream"), but it's nothing of the hokey or heavy-handed sort. Anyone else familiar with it? Apparently it was a huge hit back in the early nineties, when it was brought over in translation. __________________ All of IronParrot's posts are guaranteed to be 100% intelligent and/or sarcastic, comprising no genetically modified content and tested on no cute furry little animals unless the SPCA is looking elsewhere. If you observe a failure to uphold this warranty, please contact a forum administrator immediately to receive a full refund on your Entmoot registration. Blog: Nick's Café Canadien

12-22-2008, 10:04 PM	#4
hectorberlioz Master of Orchestration President Emeritus of Entmoot 2004-2008 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Lost in the Opera House Posts: 9,328	My dad read this book. He said it was quite intriguing. But he read it in Spanish, so my curiousity couldn't be satisfied. __________________ ACALEWIA- President of Entmoot hectorberlioz- Vice President of Entmoot Acaly und Hektor fur Presidants fur EntMut fur life! Join the discussion at Entmoot Election 2010. "Stupidissimo!"~Toscanini The Da CINDY Code The Epic Poem Of The Balrog of Entmoot: Here ~NEW! ~ Thinking of summer vacation? AboutNewJersey.com - NJ Travel & Tourism Guide

12-23-2008, 12:06 AM	#5
Midge Faithful Gardener Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: I walk here and there, they say... Posts: 3,603	I read it in high school. My teacher had this thing where we could pick out of a few different books to read. I chose the Alchemist, because I'd already read The Fifth Mountain by Coelho and really liked it. My boyfriend said it was a girly book. Like I said... I liked it. __________________ In God I trust, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Psalm 56:11 "Starbuck, what do you hear?" "Nothin' but the rain, sir!" "Then grab your gun and bring in the cat." Make sure to check out the C.S. Lewis forum. Game threads, movie and book discussions and more!

12-23-2008, 07:41 PM	#6
Gwaimir Windgem Dread Mothy Lord and Halfwitted Apprentice Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, CA Posts: 10,820	Just as a correction, this is not Spanish, but Portuguese; Coelho is Brazilian. The original title is "O Alquimista". I haven't read it, but I read a little bit of Coelho's "O Diario de um Mago" (English title "the Pilgrimage", apparently ). I peck at bits of it now and then, just to work on my Portuguese. __________________ Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis. Nulla talem silva profert, fronde, flore, germine. Dulce lignum, dulce clavo, dulce pondus sustinens. 'With a melon?' - Eric Idle

12-23-2008, 07:52 PM	#7
hectorberlioz Master of Orchestration President Emeritus of Entmoot 2004-2008 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Lost in the Opera House Posts: 9,328	Oops. You are so right, Gwai. I should know better. __________________ ACALEWIA- President of Entmoot hectorberlioz- Vice President of Entmoot Acaly und Hektor fur Presidants fur EntMut fur life! Join the discussion at Entmoot Election 2010. "Stupidissimo!"~Toscanini The Da CINDY Code The Epic Poem Of The Balrog of Entmoot: Here ~NEW! ~ Thinking of summer vacation? AboutNewJersey.com - NJ Travel & Tourism Guide

07-29-2005, 05:16 PM	#2
Beren3000 Fëanorophobic Join Date: May 2004 Location: Between the pages of a book Posts: 1,417	I've read this book a while back. I don't remember a lot of the details, but I remember that it was good (not as grand as others make it, though) or maybe I'm (or hopefully was) too shallow to appreciate its subtleties.

10-22-2005, 04:55 PM	#3
Lenya Elentári Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: South Africa Posts: 727	I wanted to read it, because of all the fuss made over it. I started and and after a few chapters I just decided that it wasn't me. I never finished it and I probably never will.