I need to start this review by stating 1) I can't stand self-help books and 2) I'm a feminist (no, I don't hate men- some men are quite awesome, but I am very conscious of women and our place in the world.)

Short summary (mild spoilers): A boy named Santiago follows his 'Personal Legend' in traveling from Spain to the Pyramids in Egypt searching for treasure. Along the way, he learns 'the Language of the World' the 'Soul of the World' and discovers that the 'Soul of God' is 'his own soul.'

If the statements in quotes above ('personal legend', etc) fascinate you, then you'll enjoy this book. If you think they are hokey and silly, then you'll think this is a terrible book. If you think statements such as "When you want something, all the universe conspires you to achieve it" and "All things are one" are moving and life-changing, you'll love this book. If such statements have you rolling your eyes, then this isn't your cup of tea.

Its not that I find anything wrong with these messages. They are important, but must be balanced with responsibility. In my experience, 'following your dreams' (or personal legend) is not the only way toward wisdom and strength. Is the person who struggles to put food on the table every day for his or her family, consciously realizing that he or she may not be following his or her 'personal legend' any less heroic than some traveler who leaves everything and everyone he or she is responsible for to go on a spiritual quest? Coelho comes close to labeling such people, as losers in life, which I find completely off the mark as some of these people have the most to offer in terms of wisdom.

The issue of responsibility is also part of this book's sexism. The main male characters in the novel have 'Personal Legends' - they are either seeking them, or have achieved them, or have failed to achieve them. But Coelho never mentions 'Personal Legend' with regard to women, other than to say that Fatima, Santiago's fiance, is 'a part of Santiago's Personal Legend." Thats fine, but what about her own Personal Legend? Instead of traveling to find her dreams, she is content to sit around, do chores, and stare everyday at the desert to wait for his return. This is her 'fate' as a desert women. The fact that women don't have Personal Legends is even more galling considering the fact that according to Coelho, even minerals such as lead and copper have Personal Legends, allowing them to 'evolve' to something better (ie, gold).

In the ideal world presented in THE ALCHEMIST, it seems that the job of men is to seek out their personal legends, leaving aside thoughts of family and responsibility, and its the job of women to let them, and pine for their return. Of course, someone has to do the unheroic, inconvenient work of taking care of the children, the animals, the elderly, the ill...If everyone simply goes off on spiritual quests, deciding they have no responsibility other than to seek their Personal Legends, no one would be taking responsibility for the unglamorous work that simply has to take place for the world to run.

On the other hand, what if both men and women are allowed to struggle towards their 'Personal Legends,' and help each other as best as they can towards them, but recognize that their responsibilities may force them to defer, compromise, or even 'sacrifice' their dreams? This may seem depressing, but it isn't necessarily. Coelho seems to think that Personal Legends are fixed at childhood (or at birth, or even before) and are not changeable: they have to be followed through to the end, no matter how silly. But in my experience, many people have chosen to adjust, compromise, and even 'give up' on their dreams, only to find that life grants them something better, or they have a new, better dream to follow, a path providing greater wisdom. For me, these people have a more realistic, more humble, more fair, and less cliched vision of the world than Paulo Coelho's vision in THE ALCHEMIST.

ترجمة "جواد صيداوي" ذات الهوية البصرية الخاصة بالطبعة الثالثة لدار "هاربر كولينز", بعنوان "الخيميائي" والتي كتب على طرفها: "الطبعة العربية الأصلية", وطبعت لتنتشر في كل ربوع مصر. في مقابل ترجمة "بهاء طاهر" التي يحمل غلافها الهوية البصرية للطبعة الأولى من نفس الدار بلون رمل الصحراء يبرز أعلاها كلمتا "ساحر الصحراء" أضيف فوقهما كلمة "السيميائي" بداية من الطبعة الثالثة.



وإني أتذكر جيداً ذلك الفتى الغِر, وهو ينظر إلى يده التي كانت تمسك بعدة كتب عتيقة, وعيناه تلمعان حماساً. فقد حصل لتوه من أحد أقرباءه على صفقة جيدة من الكتب النادرة
وكان الاستثناء الوحيد هو كتاب صغير ذو غلاف أحمر لم يمانع في استعارته لكثرة ما سمع عنه.
ومن فرط حماسه, لم تزغ عينيه عن كتبه عندما استدرك قريبه ناصحاً بترجمة أخرى من ذلك الكتاب الأحمر, ولم يتذكر الغِر اسم المترجم الآخر لاحقاً سوى بصعوبة شديدة وبعد محاولات عدة على فترات مختلفة للتذكر. ولربما لم يكن ليتذكر الاسم لولا أنه كرر الاسم بصوت عالي, وهي طريقة كان يتبعها الفتى ليظهر لمن أمامه أنه يفكر في الشيء الذي يردده. ردد كثيراً لكنه لم يستطع حينها التذكر, فهز كتفيه محاولاً إقناع نفسه بأن التذكر لم يكن ليفيده بشئ, فلديه كتاب ورقي في مقابل آخر يحتاج لبذل مجهود للبحث عن نسخة ورقية منه, ولشد ما كان يكره ان يبذل مجهود دون داعٍ لذلك. والنسخة الورقية أفضل حتماً من نسخة إلكترونية قد يجدها على الانترنت. كلها ترجمات وكله ماشي.

ظل هكذا حتى أفقدت كلمات الصفحة الأولى الفتى الغِر عذريته الساذجة, وتحت وطأة أولى كلمات الكتاب الأحمر والتي ترامت كهجوم لأحد عمالقة هاجيمي إيساياما, بلهاء على غير هدى. تحول الحادث لأحد كوابيسه, حتى أن الفتى قد قرر تسمية تلك التجربة بفتنته الصغرى.

ذات ليلة تذكر الفتى الغِر ذا العيون الناعسة دائماً, أنه لربما كان نائماً حينما حدث ذلك, ففي الأحلام لا يستطيع الإنسان قراءة كتاب جديد, فهو يرى مجرد حروف مبهمة. ولكن الفتى سرعان ما نفض عنه تلك الأفكار التي بدت له تفسر الكثير. أغمض عينيه ليريحها قليلاً ولعن الأفكار التي سقته إياها دي سي كومكيس: "اللعنة, فالفتنة لا يمكن أن تكون وهماً, فهي حدثاً مستمراً, وتمت على مراحل كثيرة"

كانت الفتنة تحمل ملامح كثيرة, غروب الشمس على غلاف الرواية, ولونها الأحمر, وثقة الناشر العربي المفرطة, وحيرة الفتى أمام الكلمات التي كانت تبدو مبعثرة علي الورقة. والملمح الأكثر غرابه كان إصرار الفتى لاستكمال ما بدأه في هذه النسخة الورقية وأبت الفتنة أن تحفظ له أياً من ماء وجهه.

فبعد جهده الجهيد لتذكر اسم المترجم, استخدم الفتى الاسم ليبحث عن الترجمة على الانترنت لكنه لم يستطع الوصول لها. وكان هذا هو الرفض الأول من ترجمة طاهر.

ماذا عن نسخة ورقية؟ لقد كان هذا مستحيلاً عليه؛ فالترجمة قديمة. لثاني مرة تتمنع ترجمة طاهر عن وصال الفتى.
وما كاد يتخلى الفتى الغِر ذا العيون الناعسة المجهدة عن البحث, حتى برز له صدفة أحد مراجعات الكتاب التي أخبرته بسر التجلي الخاص بها. فلقد كان لها اسم آخر تخفيه عن الفتى, اسم لديه ما يكفيه من الإغراء: "ساحر الصحراء".

قام الفتى بتحميل الترجمة, وشرع في قراءتها حتى انتبه على صدمه لم يكن ليتوقعها, لقد اندمج الفتى في القراءة من الكتاب الإلكتروني الذي يقرأه على شاشة الحاسب, في حين أنه لم يستطع قراءة أكثر من صفحة من النسخة الورقية التي كان لها طعم القيء. إذاً أين هو السحر الذي يميز قراءة الورق والذي طالماً آمن به بصدق ويقين!!
لقد كانت معتقدات الفتى تتهاوى أمامه, ولكنه لم يكن ليستسلم بسهوله, فتح كتابه الورقي محاولاً إمساكه باعتزاز. لكن الأمر كان أسوأ من المرة السابقة, لم يصادف جملة واحدة رضي عن طريقة ترجمتها, مقارنة باللغة السلسة لنسخة طاهر, كما أنها كانت مليئة بالأخطاء.
وهنا اشتعل قبس من نور داخل الفتى, شعلة جديدة تزيد الأجواء سخونة. معتقد آخر, وعالم جديد من الكتب الإلكترونية

أكمل الفتى باقي الرواية من ترجمة طاهر, رغم أن الشك والحيطة كانتا تتناوبان عليه أحياناً, فيعود للترجمة الحمراء لعمل مقارنة بين الترجمتين

وفي نهاية الرواية, كان الفتى قد انتقل لمذهب جديد, مذهب البي دي اف, وهي صيغة الكتب الإلكترونية الأكثر انتشاراً حينها!.


وبعدما أنهى الفتى الكتاب, أراد نشر أحد الاقتباسات التي أعجبته, ولكن يا للدهشة أصابه الكسوف والخجل منه. فبحث عن المقطع الذي أراده في نسخة باللغة الأصلية, واكتفى بنشر الاقتباس بالنص المبهم, بجانب جملة بالعربية نصها: "صدق اللي قال عنها إنها رواية ممكن تحول مسار حياة أي حد يقرأها :)", مع تقييمه لها بخمس نجوم. لقد كان فتى طيباً ومتفائلاً جداً في ذلك الوقت, كان الفتى غراً وأغراه الكنز. وإن سألتم الفتى الآن عن رأيه في الكتاب, لرد بامتعاض واستخفاف بأنه مجرد هراء تنمية بشرية في غلاف رواية مسلية, ولن تفيدك بشئ إذا لم تكن متفائلاً من البداية. فالعالم لا يتآمر ضدك ليوصلك للكنز.

I've just seen I've got likes on this book. I never read this book. I never added this book. How did it get on my bookshelves? Note that I always add shelves to my books and this one has none. No dates either. Really really weird.

I sell this book quite well so I do know about it. I don't read fiction, I don't like religious, pseudo-religious, spiritual, self-help or any books like that, this one falls into a few of those categories. How can someone have added it for me? GR what gives?

Yoruma değmeyecek kadar lüzumsuz buldum, yemek tarifi bırakıyorum, enfestir. Yapıp yersiniz.

Patates Musakka (Göçmen Usulü)

4 adet patates
Yarım kg kıyma
1 adet soğan
1 yemek kaşığı salça
Tuz, karabiber, nane
Zeytinyağı

Sos için;

1 yumurta
10 yemek kaşığı dolusu yoğurt
Tuz


Kıymamızı soğanla kıyma tek tek ayrılıncaya kadar güzelce kavuruyoruz. Patateslerimizi küp küp doğruyoruz. Daha sonra ayrı bir kapta patateslerimizi kavuruyoruz. Çok kavurmaya gerek yok 10 dk yeterli. Daha sonra kıyma ve patatesleri birleştirip salçamızı ekliyoruz. Bir yandan yoğurt, tuz ve yumurtayı güzelce çırpıyoruz. Fırın kabımıza patates-kıyma karışımını yaydırıp en son üzerine yumurta ve yoğurt karışımını kaşıkla düzgünce sürüyoruz. Üzerine nane serpip, kızarıncaya kadar pişiriyoruz. (200 -180 aralığında)

Welcome to the best game show on Goodreads, the pre-review game Who Said That? [Insert audience applause] Guess if the following quotes are from The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho OR from a CEO/inspirational memoir:
1. The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times.
2. The only thing worse than starting something and failing is not starting something.
3. Chase the vision, not the money, the money will end up following you.
4. Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure.
5. Sometimes theres a sign that something really great is about to happen. You’re about to grow and learn a lot more about yourself.
6. Life is fragile. We’re not guaranteed a tomorrow so give it everything you’ve got.
7. People are capable, at any time in their lives, of doing what they dream of.
8. A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.
9. There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.
10. Pessimists may be right in the end, but an optimist has a much better time getting there.
11. Without passion, you don’t have any energy, and without energy, you simply have nothing.
12. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better, too.


Answers
1. Alchemist
2. Seth Godin, Founder of Squidoo
3. Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos
4. Alchemist
5. Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo
6. Tim Cooke, CEO of Apple
7. Alchemist
8. Colin Powell, former US Secretary of State
9. Alchemist
10. Samuel R Allen, CEO of Deere
11. Whoever the ghost writer is for Donald Trump books
12. Alchemist


Jokes aside, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is an endlessly quotable book. It reads like a fable, with very catchy and accessible writing that is meant to empower and make you feel good. This really works for a lot of people—I mean this was a widely successful novel—and I’m happy that so many people could be moved and inspired by a book. Especially a book that unites people around the world by being an international success. Unfortunately, for myself at least, it all comes across as a pristine facade without much behind it, offering something that can be quickly digested but isn’t actually filling. This is a book that I recall enjoying enough when I read it as a teen but haven’t thought of since, so when someone picked it as our next read for our book club I was excited to revisit it seeing as I remembered literally nothing about it. I hate to say it, but being fun but forgettable is my takeaway from it again.

‘There is only one way to learn... It's through action.’

Coelho said the book was written very quickly because ‘the book was already written in my soul,’ and in the forward he discusses how this novel was his own Personal Legend. ‘I was living my own metaphor,’ he said, being thrilled just to get it picked up by a Brazilian publisher who, in 1988, only ran 900 copies assuming it would not be a big success. The book ended up taking off, with the 1993 English translation becoming a massive hit and lead to numerous further translations. Coelho even holds a Guinness World Record for “most translations of a single title signed by the author in 1 sitting”, signing his book in 53 different translated editions at a book event in Germany. So I can really appreciate that aspect, and his own personal journey into publishing and believing in himself is honestly better than the book itself.
n  n
Fun fact: The Alchemist had a big boost in sales when then-President Bill Clinton was photographed reading it.

For those who don’t know, the story follows a young boy, Santiago, as he journeys across the desert and meets a lot of interesting people along the way. Literally every person has a pearl of positive wisdom to share it seems, and it becomes a rapid fire of empowerment quotes that could all go on one of those inspirational posters made for office walls in the 90s. Actually, I’m fairly certain I’ve seen one that quoted this book. The characters all feel like a mouthpiece for Coehlo to pass along his positive message, or wisdom, and one can easily imagine this being a self-help book had he not decided to attach a fictional narrative to it. It is a nice message, that you have to believe in yourself and in your goals and, if you truly do (“only those who are true of heart” vibes like in fairy tales) the universe will conspire to help you achieve your goal. Which is a nice inspirational message and sometimes that is what you need to hear to break free from self doubt. Particularly as another primary message is that we must overcome fear to accomplish what we need to do. ‘Don't give in to your fears,’ Coelho writes, ‘If you do, you won't be able to talk to your heart.’ So great, yea, believe in yourself. I dig that.

‘To realize one's destiny is a person's only real obligation.’

I do, however, see it as a bit of a back-patting perspective. Like yes, if you are successful it is nice to feel like it is because you are pure of heart. He tells us that those who don’t follow their dreams end up in ruin and sadness. This is sort of a success fallacy in a way, as it implies that if things are bad its because you just didn’t try hard enough. Which…ehhhhh…I mean there are a lot of forces acting in society that gatekeep and sometimes it’s more than just not overcoming adversity. And I get it, keep trying, yea, but it feels a bit like shaming? Which is honestly overthinking it though as this book is not that nuanced or deep (something I kept saying during debates over minor details during book club: “I don’t think he even considered that and its beside the point because it’s not actually that deep”). It is meant to be a fun and empowering story that paints in broad strokes and yea, I get why it means a lot to many people. For me it just seemed a bit flat and like a snack when I wanted a meal.

‘Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.’
Okay, fine, I don’t know how to write a good book or how to live my life either, but I just know this one wasn’t it for me.


I did appreciate how it was aimed at a general positive idea of spirituality that, while using different religions, was not necessarily religious. Spiritual, or mystic would seem the better term. I liked the idea of the universe, the sand, the wind, etc as conscious entities that can collaborate with you. While I really disliked the deus ex machina ending, the whole idea of the world as a spiritual presence was well done. Coelho does sort of pull an orientalism in his depiction as an outsider of the region as this wild and savage land full of wise sages and cutthroat robbers, but it does seem with the aim of capturing the feel of One Thousand and One Nights or other tales of adventure and ‘finding yourself’ in exotic locale. Which I think is a topic that people have had a more nuanced discussion on since this book was written.

‘It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting,’ Coelho writes, and this I can agree with. However, in The Alchemist, the general tone of the book is that dreams seem a thing only for men. Fatima, Santiago’s love interest, lacks much agency in the tale and is more or less written as a prize for following his Personal Legend. She is an element of his journey, while I guess he is all her journey gets to be. He tells her ‘I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you,’ which…isn’t all that romantic or great? Hey, the universe popped you into my life, guess you’ll do for a bride. C’mon, man, does she have any personality or intelligence you enjoy and don’t just tell me how beautiful she is. Didn’t vibe with any of that aspect of the book.

I also didn’t really like the ending. Sure it is riffing on the whole “it’s the journey not the destination” aspect but it felt a bit flat for me with the deus ex machina moment. It is a happy ending though, and one full of success and rewards. As a bookclub member pointed out, it sort of resonates with a quote by T.S. Eliot: ‘We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time.’

So in the end, I’m mostly ambivalent to this book. I see why people enjoy it and it is admittedly pretty and sweet and uplifting. It’s a good vibe to be in. It didn’t do much for me, but that’s alright too.

2.5/5

" عندما تقع كنوزٌ كبيرة أمام أعيننا ، فإننا لا ننتبه إليها ، أوتعلم لماذا؟ لأن الناس لا يؤمنون بوجودها ."
أحد أشهر الروايات في التاريخ ، استمررتُ في تأجيلها لشهور حتي وقعت بين يدي أخيرا غيرَ مدركٍ كمَّ التأثير التي قد تتركه هذه الصفحات المعدودات.

راعٍ للغنم في ربوع الأندلس كانت أبعد أمانيه أن يمر بكل أراضي الأندلس ليستكشفها و يعرف أسرارها ، ليحلم في إحدي الليالي بحلمٍ غريب يغير مجرى حياته للأبد و ينقله نفسياً و روحياً من راعٍ للغنم إلي شخص جديد - تجدد هدفه و إيمانه - ليتخلي عن كل شيئ بين يديه ساعياً لتحقيق أسطورته.

يسرد لنا الكاتب البرازيلي بأسلوب فلسفي عبقري عن قصة الراعي العجيبة ، كل فصل في الرحلة يحمل معانٍ عديدة و يرنو بالعقل ليصله بالقلب في قالب بديع ، ملئ بأحلام الناس .

ربوع الأندلس الخضراء و المعالم الإسلامية الشاهقة ،
أحياء المغرب و أسواقها ،
شدة و قسوة الصحراء الشاسعة .



رواية تُقرأ بالقلب أولا

I rarely reread books given the volume of books I want to read and my ever infinite TBR pile. My favorite book of all time is The Alchemist and I felt compelled to reread it earlier this year, as it’s been several years since I read it and I was coming upon a time in the spring of 2021 to revisit my own personal destiny.

For this reread, I listened to most of it via audiobook. I loved the story just as much as the first time. It was the motivating, refreshing reminder I needed, and a book I’ll continue to recommend.
________________________________________
Original review — 2014

The Alchemist is worth all the hype — my only regret is having waited so long to read it in the first place. The book is a simple story about a shepherd, Santiago, on a treasure quest. It's easy to read, yet packed with a powerful message about finding your personal destiny and the journey getting there. A must read, and my favorite book.

داستان حول محور این جمله میچرخه : «و هنگامی که آرزوی چیزی را داری، سراسر کیهان همدست می شود تا بتوانی این آرزو را تحقق بخشی!»
که به نظرم بزرگترین دروغیه که میشه به یه نفر گفت :)
وقتی آرزوی چیزیو داری، هیشکی و هیچی کمکت نمیکنه، تنهایی باید بجنگی! تو دنیای واقعی خبری از نشانه ها و امداد غیبی نیست! حداقل برای من که اینطور بوده. یادمه وقتی نوجوون بودم کتابای روانشناسی و از این مزخرفات انگیزشی زیاد میخوندم اما به مرور ازشون متنفر شدم! نمیدونم بدبین شدم یا واقع بین ولی هرچی هست دیگه خوش بین نیستم!

در کل نتونستم ارتباطی با «کیمیاگر» پائولو کوئیلو برقرار کنم و از صفحه های ۵۰ ۶۰ به بعد، فقط با صدای محسن جانِ نامجو تونستم دووم بیارم :)
این دو ستاره هم فقط بخاطر ایشونه! لعنتی چرا انقد خوبه آخه *__*

خیلی دنبال جمله یا قسمتی از کتاب برای اضافه کردن به ریویو گشتم ‌و با اینکه کتاب رو دوست نداشتم، به نظرم این جملاتش کمی معقول تر بودند :

"تصمیم ها تنها آغاز یک ماجرا هستند. هنگامی که آدمی تصمیم می گیرد، در حقیقت به درون جریان نیرومندی پرتاب می شود که او را به مکانی خواهد برد که در زمان تصمیم گیری خوابش را هم نمی دیده است."

Follow Your Dreams: A Fairy Tale?

The boy wanted to be a shepherd. He was unable to leave his destiny alone. Instead, he chose his fate, and changed it.

Now he gets to travel the world, searching for treasure (literally and figuratively).

Like every treasure hunt, there is adventure and danger! And stories and personal growth. And memories and the benefit of the experience.

Egged on by the mystical: The old gypsy woman. The God-like elder. The crystal glass mentor. The naive English man. The caravan guide and the alchemist!

The boy has his own mind and experiences, but it doesn’t prevent him from being open to advice.

His open mind keeps him focused and motivated, and kept alive whenever his life is in danger.

Lots of spiritual energy and religious morality, but it doesn’t stop the wars or violence. Or murder. Maybe even encourage it. A bit.

Still a story about a journey is always captivating and capable of giving good advice. The Alchemist is no different…

So, it gets five stars.

ORIGINAL REVIEW REMOVED (by me) 10/23/23
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The review I wrote of this book and posted on Jun 16, 2010 has, as of today earned 4,264 likes and has a comment thread of 50 pages. Based on this activity, it is the first review shown of the more than 114,000+ reviews on this site.

I regularly get friend requests based solely on this review and likes and comments are added almost daily.

I would like to take some pride in that, but I really don't. This review is (was) an anomaly in terms of the kinds of books I generally read and the kinds of reviews I generally write. For that reason, I don't accept friend requests from people who've extended them based solely on reading this review.

Back in 2010, goodreads was in its infancy. It had not yet instituted some really questionable content policies which we later learned were part of the lead-up to the site's purchase by amazon in 2013. It had not yet leveraged our freely-given, user-generated content – products of our passion for books and for talking about them with others – for a higher valuation in the M&A game. The technology and user experience was, if not smooth, idiosyncratically, almost charmingly, glitchy. Now, it's beyond broken, beyond frustrating, and clearly beyond repair (or anyone caring to invest in it).

Back then, in the pre-amazon days, the culture of reading, reviewing, and interacting was freer, more generous, and wayyyyyyyyy less serious. Satirical reviews were not just tolerated, they were encouraged. People recognized and weren't threatened by irony (which, ironically, was one of my beefs with this book: its zealous humourlessness combined with vapid, too-earnest, moralizing).

Some of my favourites of these types of reviews are "Jason's" single-line 2009 review of The Road and Paul Bryant's 2010 send-up of Murakami's The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. But there were so many, and apologies to all those still here and active who have written them.

In the early days of goodreads there was plenty of room for fanciful, wildly creative, hilarious reviews that were not reviews but instigations to playful and joyous banter about books and engagement with playful and joyous readers.

I mourn the demise of the goodreads I once loved. This review, and the daily notifications I get telling me that people have read it, are sad reminders of what – and who – has been lost.

Definitely, a must-read for everyone. The author did a splendid job presenting the most overlooked sophisticated corners of lives through the lens of a wandering protagonist. I have come across a few books engaging enough to hook you at the very beginning and keep reeling you in till the very end.

My father recently sent me an email offering to buy me a book as a birthday present, and asking me if there was something in particular that I wanted. He does this pretty much every year, and every year, I’ll send him suggestions and he’ll reply “I saw your list, but what about these other books that *I* loved and that I think you should read?”. OK, I’m paraphrasing, but you get the idea. It was after one such conversations that I ended up with a copy of “The Alchemist” – when I had rather clearly expressed my desire for something else entirely. To be fair, my father’s taste is not always terrible: he introduced me to Christopher Moore, for one thing. But very often, he hits awkwardly far from the mark in his attempt to convert me to his literary tastes.

“The Alchemist” is painfully representative of his style, and this recent interaction led me to realize how ironic that is. Dad likes his books poetic, inspiring, challenging (but not too much). And the most annoying part is that he very earnestly feels inspired by the sort of sentimental drivel that he persist in peddling at me. I’m too literal-minded to be as affected as he is by books like this: I understand he just wants me to listen to my heart, go after my dreams and do things I am really passionate about. Just like the book, his intention is really good, but the ham-fisted delivery, full of unrealistic and impractical advice, is just painful.

This book is an un-subtle, preachy New Age story about a Spanish shepherd named Santiago who dreams of a treasure buried by the pyramids of Egypt. So, naturally, he dumps his flock, goes to Morocco, falls in love, travels to Egypt and realizes the treasure was love all along. There is something sweet about it, sure, but also something aggressively illogical, and my cynical brain couldn’t stop thinking how much of a selfish little shit Santiago was. Easy for him to follow his dreams, as he has no family to take care of, no rent to pay, no one to be accountable to. I was also mildly disturbed by this idea that if you are true to the quest for your “personal legend”, things will unfailingly work out in your favor. This brand of delusional magical-thinking is actually incredibly damaging, because it encourages people not to worry too much about the consequences of their actions – why would you care if you are deeply convinced everything will work out well for you?

Needless to say that dad’s present ended up at the used bookstore that year. Hopefully this year, he follows my list and doesn’t try to get me more Paolo Coelho...