The Alchemist

when i asked for recommendations for the year, lauren suggested a book called The Alchemist, which i'll confess i'd never heard of. apparently, it's one of the bestselling books in the entire world. it was written and originally published in portuguese, the author being a brazilian named paolo coelho. after giving it a little thought, i decided to read it the english translation rather than the original portuguese, mainly because ben loaned me a copy that was in english. thanks, ben. also, i don't know portuguese. The Alchemist is a short, simple story about a young sheep herder in spain named Santiago. it's a parable really, and teaches the lesson of staying true to your dream...if you're lucky enough to have a dream, that is. it's a very spiritual story that resonates equally among christians and muslims and buddhists and wiccans and even sheep. that's the secret to its success. it's not a brilliant original premise, it doesn't have an unforeseen twist, it doesn't have memorable characters. what it has is universal appeal. it speaks to everyone who has ever wanted to accomplish something...but never made it. it talks about the little things that make or break your personal journey--faith, or lack thereof; self-esteem, or lack thereof; commitment, or lack thereof; and love. that's why the book is successful and beloved. though i have a couple of minor quibbles, i'm glad i read it. thanks, lauren. ((and ben))