The Alchemist (1988) - Paulo Cohelo

"There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure."

The Alchemist by Paulo Cohelo is a hugely popular book that often makes it's way onto people's all-time favourite lists. Its message is certainly universal and the themes explored are very relatable in a way similar to how things might seem if you visit a fortune teller; if you are someone who has the desire to read this book, you are likely it's exact audience.

As a story it walks the line between being something of a self-help guide and a quasi-religious folk parable. It tells of a humble shepherd yearning for more out of life and thus setting off on a pilgrimage of sorts to find his treasure. Of course it is not that simple and along the way we discover that the young shepherd is actually on a spiritual quest to find oneself in this crazy world. 

He meets a host of characters along the way, all of whom seemingly have wisdom to impart and one of the great things about the book is it's refusal to shy away from the nuances of dream-chasing. The road is seldom smooth and it is often the failures in life which make a person. This idea is keenly explored here and while none of it is necessarily new or ground-breaking, it makes for a pleasant and easily digestible read. Every other page contains a nugget of wisdom and as a source of quotable couplets the book works very well. 

But while this is a strength, it also represents the book's limitations. The fact it is so simple and easily palatable gives the entire affair a shallow feel. In the realm of the mortal's search for meaning, there are likely many more rewarding efforts out there. However, where things become entirely cumbersome are the narrative elements seemingly crowbarred in. There are many plot points that simply do not ring true and, unfortunately, this dilutes the spiritual message somewhat. It's almost like it was initially presented as a meditative reflection and some Madison Ave bigwig said 'That'll never sell, kiddo! You need love....war....danger!' while flicking their cigar ash into the cupped hands of the poor. 

Therefore it ends up straddling between what feels like two different disciplines and, ultimately, fails to reach the heights of either. That isn't to say there aren't things here to be enjoyed and as a quick-hitter affirmation-of-life-type soiree, it just about hits the spot. Overall, however, the sum-total sags heavily under the weight of it's parts, leading to an underwhelming experience and one that feels like a near-miss rather than a triumph. 

★★☆☆☆

JB.