The Alchemist was definitely an educational read. Set in the early days, it is a story that spans continents, and evokes in the minds of the reader, strong emotions of love, perseverance, and trust!
Paulo Coelho’s trademark story-abstractness is missing in this book, and to give an honest opinion, that probably makes the book better than his other books. For instance, `By the river Piedra, I sat down and wept’ - another title by Paulo Coelho is extremely abstract, even though its a well-woven tale. The Alchemist on the other hand is more of a fable, a story of a young shepherd who ultimately becomes successful.
It brings back to me poignant memories of Og Mandino’s writing style. It is so simple, that it could well be a fable for school students. Yet, its simplicity is just a camouflage for the profound thoughts and ideas that this book is so full of!
Readers will find it interesting to compare this book with Og Mandino’s ’the greatest salesman in the world’. Both are profound, well-written, and truly inspiring!