BOOK REVIEW- "THE ALCHEMIST" BY PAULO COELHO

Few days back while going through the collection of my books, my eyes got stuck on one of my most favourite book ‘The Alchemist’ by Paulo Coelho, a Brazilian writer. This amazing book kept me busy last week.

This is a novel of a shepherd boy Santiago, who has a dream and courage to follow it. It is a journey of exploration and self-discovery. The boy goes on a venture to pursue his dream, symbolically searching for a hidden treasure located near the pyramids in Egypt. In his journey he meets many exciting people like the alchemist who helps him in finding his way.

I love the end of the novel because it is never-ending. At the end Santiago discovers that “treasure lies where your heart belongs”. The treasure is in the journey itself. In real life also we can feel that happiness lies in the journey rather than reaching to any particular spot.

Here I recall a dialogue from the Bollywood film ‘HIGHWAY’ by Imtiaz Ali, where “veera” the protagonist speaks the following lines:-

"Jahan se tum mujhe laye ho, mein wahan wapas nahi jaana chahti.

Jahan bhi le ja rahe ho, wahan pahunchna nahi chahti.

Par yeh raasta, yeh bahut accha hai.

Mein chahti hoon ki yeh raasta kabhi khatam na ho."

The language of this novel is simple and beautiful. Paulo Coelho states that we should not avoid destinies and urges people to follow their dreams.

Dreams are meant to be followed…..

Life is meant to be lived…..

Some books are meant to be read, loved and passed on… ‘The Alchemist’ is one such book. I suggest all to read this book once in your life. It is a worth reading this book.

I have read this book so many times, but every time I read I get some new ideas to live a happy life. I don’t know whether you can achieve your dream by reading this book or not, but definitely you will fall in love with the journey of life.

Comments

"RIP"; Rest in Peace those who are Alive....

Hello Friends, After a long time I am writing here. Hope you all are fine. This time I have come up with a different interpretation of the phrase “RIP”. Mostly this phrase “RIP”; Rest in Peace is used for the people who are no more. We use this phrase to give sympathy towards the departed soul. The soul may get peace wherever it travels. No one exactly knows where the soul travels. Sometimes this phrase is used out of care and sometimes just for show off on social media. While sitting alone near a cemetery, a thought struck in my mind. Why do we use RIP only for dead people????? We can also use it for those who are alive. Many time people use RIP when a person is dead. The same people might have harassed the dead person when he is alive. So what’s the point of “RIP”? Suppose in the day time you behave very badly with someone. Is he/she going to get sound and peaceful sleep at night? The dead person will never come back so we just say “RIP”. Of course ever...

“My friend, the things that do attain” - Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey.

Hello friends, I would like to share a poem which I studied during my graduation. The title of the poem is “My friend, the things that do attain”. It is written by Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey. Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey (1516/1517 – 19 January 1547), was an English aristocrat, and one of the founders of English Renaissance poetry. MY friend, the things that do attain The happy life be these, I find: The riches left, not got with pain; The fruitful ground; the quiet mind; The equal friend; no grudge; no strife; No charge of rule, nor governance; Without disease, the healthy life; The household of continuance; The mean diet, no dainty fare; Wisdom joined with simpleness; The night discharged of all care, Where wine the wit may not oppress: The faithful wife, without debate; Such sleeps as may beguile the night; Content thyself with thine estate, Neither wish death, nor fear his might. In the above mentioned poem, there is a list ...

" The Winged Word"- David Green

In my Graduation syllabus, I had a book named “ The Winged word”. This anthology is edited by David Green. It is anthology of poems compiled for the students of English literature in the B.A courses of Indian Universities. The chronological order, in which the poets are arranged in this book, helps the students to note the development of English poetry from one age to another. Referring to this book after a long time span, gives me a immense joy. There are many poems in this book. We were given some selected poems to study during three years of graduation. The poems which were in my syllabus are as follow:- 1.) I Find No Peace – Sir Thomas Wyatt (1503-42) 2.) My Friend, the Things That Do Attain –Henry Howard (1517- 47) 3.) The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd –Sir Walter Ralegh (1552-1618) 4.) The Nightingale – Sir Philip Sidney (1554- 86) 5.) Since There’s No Help – Michael...

Vaidehi Hariyani

Search This Blog