I’ve been looking at this book for a while as one to read, but never quite got round to buying it. Ivette’s review finally convinced me to go and buy it. I’m glad I did! The book was very enjoyable if a little simplistic at times.

The story follows Santiago, a young shepherd, who after meeting with an old king, sells his sheep, so he can follow his dreams. The real story though is not so much the physical journey he undertakes, as he head the The Pyramids in Egypt. But his journey as he grows and changes as he progress towards his goal. The people he meets and the time he spends immersed the the places he stays or passes through all contribute.

“My heart is afraid that it will have to suffer,” the boy confides to the alchemist one night as they look up at a moonless night.

“Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself,” the alchemist replies. “And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second’s encounter with God and with eternity.”

Buy, The Alchemist here.

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