Q&A with Paulo Coelho discussion

Mr. Coelho,
I remember when I first picked up the Alchemist. I think I started reading it because I liked the title, or maybe it was because of the cover. Anyways what the book boils down to is don't give up on your dreams no matter what. I loved it and in its own way it influenced me to continue striving. The book is very reminisient of Candide. You are a life changing author and I thank you for your gift to the world.

Dear Gilbert,

are you mentioning Candide by Voltaire?
Funny, I never thought of this parallel and to be honest I can't truly agree. Candide is at the end of it all a very skeptic book. The initiation of Candide is fundamentally a glooming one - shutting himself from the world to merely concentrate on "his little garden".

Paulo