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The Alchemist (Plus) (平装)
by Paulo Coelho
| Category:
Self-help, Self improvement, Motivation |
| Market price: ¥ 158.00
MSL price:
¥ 148.00
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| Stock:
Pre-order item, lead time 3-7 weeks upon payment [ COD term does not apply to pre-order items ] |
MSL rating:
 Good for Gifts |
| MSL Pointer Review:
An inspirational and uplifting tale of the true hero in an average boy who follows his heart to his destiny, the book motivates us to listen to our inner voice and follow our passion. |
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AllReviews |
  1 2 Total 2 pages 13 items |
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Hamm (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-09 00:00>
Whew. Putting aside the subjective interpretations inherent among readers of this type of work, I was seriously disappointed in this book, and am at a real loss to understand all the hoopla about the author and the story. Perhaps I am not "in tune" enough to see what Anthony Robbins can see in this, but I found this to be lacking in many ways. The story, while nice enough, is beyond simplistic, and the "philosophy" is just a heavily watered down play-doh version of Robert DeRopp or Gurdjieff. What a huge disappointment, I could barely bring myself to finish this short book. The characters are so basic, the writing (or at least the translated version of the book) seems geared for a young teenager, there is no depth to the plot - I must really have missed the wonderful hidden meanings everyone keeps talking about here. Then again, I don't think Julia Roberts can act either and I seem to be alone in that position as well. You would do 100x better with a Winnie the Pooh story if you wanted some enjoyable and serious philosophy built into a children's book. I can't help but compare this to the Emperor's New Clothes, is everyone serious about this being a "golden work of life meaning"? What the heck are we using as a basis for comparison? |
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An American reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-09 00:00>
In the book The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, a boy named Santiago is away from his family and faces life as a shepherd. To travel the world was his dream and he would have a dream that would lead him to pursue his Personal Legend. That same dream made him visit a Gypsy who interpreted his dream and told him the dream was telling him to go in search of treasure, his Personal Legend. With the help from a man that called himself "The King," Santiago was told his treasure was close to the pyramids in Egypt, far away from his homeland. He then sold his belongings as he left for Egypt. The adventure then begins. After the troubles of having his life savings stolen from him and working nearly a year to gain back his belongings, he was thinking of returning to his life as a simple shepherd without realizing his Personal Legend. But second thoughts made him go and cross the desert to reach the pyramids and claim his treasure. With the help from an alchemist that he meets on his way through the desert, he is pointed in the right direction towards riches, discoveries and his treasure and fulfilling his Personal Legend...The Alchemist is an excellent novel with a powerful theme. The theme is to believe in our dreams and the importance of following our hearts. With its interesting twists and turns, it's a good fiction novel that will keep you interested in reading the whole book. The way the book is written enabled this novel to receive an Eliot Rosewater High School Book Award Nominee. |
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Freddy (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-09 00:00>
I must give it a low grade. Why? Simple. When a kid is given a list to read during the summer they always have some book that is 'Required to Read'. Sadly and disappointingly this book had to make it to that specific title. I must really wonder if I seen a book most childish, shallow, and out of place than this...
I'm not going to go into detail about how much I loathed this book or why I have chose to loath this so called 'brilliant piece'. I know how many of you would turn around and say, "What would you know? It's a cute book and you don't have good taste."
Maybe you're correct. In my mind however it circulates on one's opinions and that's all these reviews are about right? Opinions. What's not to say your opinion isn't as good as mine? This world is full of them. Don't take them for granted.
I simply do not take interest in a sheperd boy trying to find his way in life with his spiritual guides and his 'personal legend'. Simply put it. Wisdom can be from personal experiance or just overlooking things. You don't need to conversate with the golden grains of sand to understand that.
Might I add that if the character was truly important to this...he should not be referred throughout the book 'as the boy'. So he was not important enough for this book? He was after all the main character with his 'Personal Legend'. Without the protagonist what book is there? If the character does not know he is more than just a 'simple boy' by now he must a very depressed sheperd.
However this is not the worst book in the world. It has made me infurieted enough to pluck my eyebrows off one by one (no lies, no jokes.) at how a book of this standard peaked its way to the list I had to read. Required? I doubt that. The teachers are out to get us. This book is a joke for my age. Are they dumbing me down so quickly?
Kids younger than I would probably love it. They probably would find meaning beneath this book. I sure hope they could do it better than I. For the wisdom in this book didn't reach me yet. |
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1 2 Total 2 pages 13 items |
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