The Alchemist

by Paulo Coelho
4 Stars
Setting: Spain, Egypt
167 pages
Published 1988

Ellie's Review
The Alchemist is a quick read with some powerful messages that I think everyone would like (even my dad liked it). This was my second time reading it, and I learned different things than before. From this read, I'm trying to live in and enjoy the present rather than living in the future or past.

Book Summary
This story, dazzling in its powerful simplicity and inspiring wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an alchemist, all of whom points Santiago in the direction of his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles along the way. But what starts out as a journey to find wordly goods turns into a discovery of the treasure found within. Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transformation power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts.