Tharunya's

"To realize one's destiny is a persons only obligation." - from The Alchemist

I read Paulo Coelho's "The Alchemist" over the weekend. It's a heartwarming, inspiring, simple tale of a young dreamer looking for his treasure. But, what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a meditation on the treasures found within.

The story makes you understand more about yourself and about life. Coelho emphasizes that those who donot dare to pursue their "Personal Legend", end up living a life of unfulfillment and emptiness. Although it is a bit philosophical, the story is filled with optimism. I quite agree with him on the fact that fear of failure is one of man's greatest obstacles to happiness.

The only oddity I came across, is that the author mentions the name of the main character only once, in the very first sentence of the book. He never again calls him by his name throughout the entire book.

The Alchemist is a compelling tale that carries a message for every reader that nothing is impossible. So, if you like to read and if you believe in dreams this book is for you. Its definitely not for those who read for the sake of reading.