The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

 If I had read this book in one sitting maybe it wouldn't have been so painful. It reminded me of "Tuesdays with Morrie" but without the emotion. I probably I lost brain cells each time I picked it up. It has sweeping and dramatic plot moves which makes some sense given the allegorical style, but I LOLed several times at the simple ways something big was introduced. "And then he understood love." Come on. 

I realize this book is meant to be inspiring and motivational, and perhaps elements of it can be for some people. But a repeated theme in the book is that 'when you follow your personal legend, the universe conspires to help you' and I object to that whole line of pre-determined thinking. It suggests that if you are brave and "follow your personal legend," good things will come. But sometimes you are brave and good things don't come. Sure, not everything is meant to be, but also, nearly everything could be. It's not a sign from the universe when things don't work out. It doesn't mean we are chasing the wrong dream. I don't believe there is one "meant to be" ending for any turn in life; nearly all choices have the potential to be good. Sometimes things work out, and it's nice to think that we are following some grand plan when they do, but sometimes they don't work out at all. And that doesn't make us less faithful, careful, intentional people. We take each day as it comes, doing the best we can with what we have, and keep on keeping on. I suppose that is what Santiago did in his grand quest to find his treasure but I could have done without all the mystic-magic hoopla. 


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