The Alchemist

I'm currently reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. Fann, my buddy whom I can discuss intriguing subjects and share the passion I have for arts brought this book to my attention. Her thrist for books and literature always amazes me. She's like the only member in our own special book club apart from me.;)

2 years ago, a friend in the UK recommended this book to me and she told me that it's a book about making our own destiny which indirectly, kinda conflicted against christians belief. I didn't have such an open mind then to read this book and who would have guessed that 2 yrs later, I'm so readily exploring this piece of art.

Being compared to The Little Prince, (a children's book Julie, another dear old friend kindly posted to me during my days in Nottingham) about another boy, the Prince, who leaves his home in search of greater things, learning valuable lessons about life and love on the way. It is interesting to note that much of The Little Prince also takes place in the desert.

I shall review more on The Alchemist soon after I finish with it.

These passages are segments of the novel that best demonstrate themes and lessons to be learned when reading The Alchemist. They are the central ideas and morals of the book.(extracted frm Wiki)

"When you aspire for something with passion, all the universe conspires to make it happen..." [6]

"The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon."[7] n.b. [The oil mentioned refers to one's obligations in life.]

"...there is one great truth on this planet: whoever you are, or whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, its because that desire originated in the soul of the universe. Its your mission on earth." [22]

"If something happens once, it will never happen again. But if something happens twice, it will surely happen a third time." [156]

"Intuition is really a sudden immersion of the soul into the universal current of life."

"Courage is the quality most essential to understanding the Language of the World."[111]

"There is only one way to learn,...It's through action. Everything you need to know you have learned through your journey."[125]

"There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure."

"The darkest hour of the night came just before dawn."

"One 'dies of thirst just when palm trees have appeared on the horizon.'"

"I'm like everyone else-I see the world in terms of what I would like to see happen, not what actually happens."