Book Reviews by Sondra Eklund
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Rate this Book Sonderbooks 81 Previous Book Next Book Nonfiction Fiction Fantasy Previous Book Next Book Young Adult Fiction Children's Nonfiction Children's Fiction Picture Books 2005 Stand-outs 2004 Stand-outs Previous Book Next Book 2003 Stand-outs 2002 Stand-outs 2001 Stand-outs Five-Star Books Previous Book Next Book Four-Star Books Old Favorites Back Issues List of Reviews by Title List of Reviews by Author Why Read? Children and Books Links For Book Lovers Book Discussion Forum About Me Contact Me Subscribe Make a Donation I don't review books I don't like! *****= An all-time favorite |
*****The Alchemistby Paulo Coelhotranslated by Alan R. Clarke Reviewed July 7, 2004.
HarperSanFrancisco, 1998. First published in Brazil in 1988. 176 pages. Available at Sembach Library (F COE). Sonderbooks Stand-out 2004, #2, Science Fiction and Fantasy The Alchemist is a luminescent fable about a shepherd boy following his own Personal Legend. First, he gave up seminary because he wanted to travel and became a shepherd. Then he has a recurrent dream about going to the Egyptian pyramids and finding treasure. He meets people who encourage him to follow his dream. He learns that he has discovered his Personal Legend. Now it is up to him to decide whether to realize his Personal Legend. The boy sets out. He has many setbacks, but continues to follow his dream. The ending gives a beautiful completion to his cycle of adventure. This is a lovely, simple story, told poetically. I read it at exactly the right time. I’ve always dreamed of being a writer, and hitting forty is a time when I’m tempted to decide that I might as well give up. Instead, this book encouraged me to keep trying, to keep traveling and following my dream. Better to seek your Personal Legend and fail than to give up without even trying. Copyright © 2005 Sondra Eklund. All
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