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Booklist: The Alchemist

The Alchemist
A Magical Fable About Following Your Dream
by Paulo Coelho

http://www.paulocoleho.com
http://www.santjordi-asociados.com/alchemist.htm

The Alchemist (Portuguese: O Alquimista) is a bestseller that was first published in Brazil in 1988. Originally written in Portuguese, the book has been translated into over 40 languages and sold over 50 million copies in more than 150 countries, making it one of the best selling books of all time.

Paulo Coelho’s enchanting novel is breathtaking. Chronicling the story of a shepherd boy, Santiago, who journeys from his home in Spain to North Africa in search of the Pyramids, we are taken on a hero’s quest: what starts as a young man’s adventure turns into the mission to find our protagonist’s true mission in life:

“To realize one’s destiny is a person’s only obligation.”

An extract from the book:
“You came so that you could learn about your dreams,” said the old woman. “And dreams are the language of God. When he speaks in our language, I can interpret what he has said. But if he speaks in the language of the soul, it is only you who can understand. But, whichever it is, I’m going to charge you for the consultation.”
Another trick, the boy thought. But he decided to take a chance. A shepherd always takes his chances with wolves and with drought, and that’s what makes a shepherd’s life exciting.

“I have had the same dream twice,” he said. “I dreamed that I was in a field with my sheep, when a child appeared and began to play with the animals. I don’t like people to do that, because the sheep are afraid of strangers. But children always seem to be able to play with them without frightening them. I don’t know why. I don’t know how animals know the age of human beings.”

“Tell me more about your dream,” said the woman. “I have to get back to my cooking, and, since you don’t have much money, I can’t give you a lot of time.”

“The child went on playing with my sheep for quite a while,” continued the boy, a bit upset. “And suddenly, the child took me by both hands and transported me to the Egyptian pyramids.”

He paused for a moment to see if the woman knew what the Egyptian pyramids were. But she said nothing.

“Then, at the Egyptian pyramids,” – he said the last three words slowly, so that the old woman would understand – “the child said to me, ‘If you come here, you will find a hidden treasure.’ And, just as she was about to show me the exact location, I woke up. Both times.”

The woman was silent for some time. Then she again took his hands and studied them carefully.

“I’m not going to charge you anything now,” she said. “But I want one-tenth of the treasure, if you find it.”

The boy laughed – out of happiness. He was going to be able to save the little money he had because of a dream about hidden treasure!”