2025 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss Paulo Coelho‘s book, The Alchemist.


***Please remember to mark spoilers.***

Participants: Scott, Joan, Kadijah, Mary Pat

Suggested break down of reading so that you can check in and let us know how you're doing. The following breakdown is purely a suggestion and is therefore not set in stone.

Rather than putting dates for each section I've done it so that it takes into account that not everybody will necessarily have the book at the same time.

Week 1: 49
Week 2: 49
Week 3: 49
Week 4: 49

I just bought this book, and I am almost done with Harry Potter, I would love to join you all.

Awesome! I'm starting tonight or tomorrow!

Kadijah - I have added you to the list of participants! Enjoy!

I've read part 1. There are some interesting life tidbits in there. I'm interested to see where his journey takes him. It is written to be an easy read so far.

Has anyone else started it yet?

I need a short read to get myself back on track for the year and attempt to reach my goal so I bought this book and I am about 25% through it.

The story seems to be very much in line with some classes I have taken and other books I have read but it is a little to early to say more than that other than - as I head into retirement - I am ready to sell my sheep! :)

I heard that it is no easy/fast read. Would you all agree?
It’s on my TBR list but haven’t given it a try yet because of that.

Susy wrote: "I heard that it is no easy/fast read. Would you all agree?
It’s on my TBR list but haven’t given it a try yet because of that."

I read the first 30% in one sitting. There is a lot of dialogue so for me that is what makes it go faster. I'm not the type to reflect in the book or pull out notes/quotes. I just read the story. I could see how some people might do a lot of that with this book. If that is you then it would take a little while but I was expecting this to be a hard read and surprised it is not. Frankenstein, Life of Pi, Little Women and Clockwork Orange took me some time but this seems easier to me. It's almost like the book is a lot of proverbs.

Joan wrote: "Susy wrote: "I heard that it is no easy/fast read. Would you all agree?
It’s on my TBR list but haven’t given it a try yet because of that."

I read the first 30% in one sitting. There is a lot of..."

Yes, dialogue makes it easier for me to read too. I'm not someone to reflect or pull out notes either. So, I guess, I just have to go for it (although I believe my 2018 is already completely planned...)

I completed the book. I only rated it 2 stars. If there were half stars I would have done 2.5 stars. It is told as a fable. Parts of that I enjoyed and other parts I was bored with. It seemed a little too cliched at times. There were parts where I paused over and reflected how the fable would fit my life. I guess I wanted to do that more in the book but found myself too bored to.

What did you all think of it? I read the reviews after I completed the book. It seems like this is one book where you either hated it or loved it. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood for it.

I’ve started it. I thought this was another book that I have had on my todo list. The other turned out to be the alienist. Anyways I’ll continue this one looks interesting so far.

I just finished the group read, so I started the book today.

I will probably get a good bit read tonight. I don't have high expectations because I hate when people tell me a fiction book is supposed to "change my life."

I finished the book pretty good. Some nice take aways.

I'm about half way through. It's a really easy read, and I journey and life lessons in the books so far. It's a little too "mystic" for my taste, but I'm enjoying the story.

I finished the book last night, and I have to say, I really enjoyed the story, but I could have done without the "Personal Legend" stuff. It's like the book was trying to be a grown up The Little Prince in that sense.

(view spoiler)[There is a major mistake regarding Fatima and the boy's relationship. She is a Muslim woman, and the only way they would be able to be together is if the boy became a Muslim. It's pretty obvious that the boy is not interested in that. I may be wrong on the boy's intention, but it's more likely the author is ignorant on that point. There were some other minor mistakes regarding the author's knowledge of North Africa and the Muslims (like in Tangier there is a lot of alcohol and there always has been because the city has always been international),
and I found that distracting. Still, it's a good story about an adventure. I liked the twist at the end a lot. (hide spoiler)]

Kadijah Michelle wrote: "I finished the book last night, and I have to say, I really enjoyed the story, but I could have done without the "Personal Legend" stuff. It's like the book was trying to be a grown up [book:The Li..."

Wow I loved your spoiler notes. I found that really interesting. I felt the same way where I enjoyed the story but maybe without the personal legend stuff.