This book is strong in character, story and language.

Summary:
The Alchemist is a modern fable, grounded in the Christian tradition, about a young Spanish shepherd who turned his back on becoming a professional in order to pursue his dream of traveling the world.

He meets a priest named Melchizadek, who encourages him to follow his heart, to listen to the endmost yearnings of his soul and pursue all his dreams. Doing this will make him, the priest says, like only a handful of men, those who refuse to be distracted by the world and its fleeting temptations. All men and (I think we are to understand) all women have this inner voice but most humans stifle it believing themselves either unable to attain their dreams or unworthy of doing so.

There are several large threats to the young man as he continues to follow his heart, but the spirit of Melchizadek stays with him to help him triumph over savage odds because the priest trusts the young man to persevere. Though our pilgrim meets other travelers on the road to his destiny, none has his singleness of purpose, and though his principal acquaintances on his journey all hunger for the knowledge given to the young man by Melchizadek, the priest, and a great alchemist himself, only the young man finds the secret and transforms his quest into the treasure he sought from the beginning of his journey.

I would recommend this book!

Why?
Translated from the Portugese, this book is vaguely reminiscient of Omar Khayyam's Rubaiyat and is an uplifting meditation on the great potential we all possess if we do not turn away from the challenges presented to us on our journey to fulfill that potential. This is a wonderful book to read when one needs some encouragement.

Employee Initials: CL Review Date: July 2004

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