Alchemist"Following your dream and going wherever it takes you"__that sums up the plot and lessons taught by the "Alchemist," an international best seller by Brazilian author Paulo Coehlo. The formula is a pat one used by storytellers for centuries, however, Coehlo's twist takes this ancient fable and weaves into a unique situation laced with metaphor an allegory. It's the story of a shepherd boy that wants to see the world. His travels take him from his native country of Spain to Morocco and then on to Egypt where he must find a treasure predicted by a dream and foretold by a fortune teller. During his journey(metaphor for the "journey of life") he meets a several striking characters and learns many of life lessons. Some of the lessons: becoming self empowered, overcoming depression, the power of perseverance and following your dreams. Originally written in Portuguese, the English translation carries much of the same sparse beauty as the original. Much of the appeal of this book is in its simplicity and a story well told. Even if the reader doesn't subscribe to the spiritual lessons, the story is interesting unto itself. Jeremy Irons does an excellent audio version of the book.
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