The Alchemist

Published by alisoneholloway7@gmail.com on

A fable about following your dream

 

First published in 1988, this book arrived in my life in June 2016 as a pointer that I needed to follow my dream and life purpose.  I was attending a self-development management course in the beautiful and enchanting place of El Escorial, where the kings of Spain go to be buried.  Over the weekend I read this book and just could not put it down.  Its messages of hope, following your dreams and inspiration fully matched the location I was reading it in.

“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.”
― Paulo Coelho

It is the story of a shepherd boy from the Spanish province of Andalusia who dreams of travelling the world in search of a treasure as desirable as any ever found.  The boy starts out as a goat herder in what sounds like Almeria, my favourite retreat from the bustles of the world.  It is a beautiful place in Spain with the most wonderful sunsets and thankfully a place overlooked by most people.  The boy first goes to North Africa where he is cheated out of his money and has to work for a crystal merchant to be able to continue his journey.  He joins a caravan and travels into the Egyptian desert where he has a fateful encounter with the alchemist.

“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
― Paulo Coelho?

This is a book to be treasured as you will want to read and re-read it.  It is not very often I say that about a novel!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0722532938/ref=rdr_ext_tmb

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