The Alchemist

The audiobook’s narration by Jeremy Irons was exceptional, vividly animating the enchanting story with distinct character voices and a well-measured tempo. Regrettably, the plot itself didn’t resonate as strongly with me.

“The Alchemist” begins promisingly, depicting a content young Andalusian shepherd named Santiago, who cherishes his itinerant life with his sheep and a book. A recurring dream prompts him to seek a fortune teller’s interpretation, leading him to encounter an enigmatic individual who sets him on a quest to realize his ‘personal legend’ and pursue his dreams.

Santiago’s odyssey carries him from Morocco to the Egyptian pyramids, crossing paths with a variety of individuals, including the titular alchemist. Through these interactions, he gains profound self-awareness, learns the importance of heeding his heart, faces and overcomes obstacles, and understands the significance of perseverance. He also becomes attuned to the universe’s signs and contemplates the reasons why some follow their hearts while others do not.

I appreciated the protagonist’s reflective musings on his pastoral life, his time in Tangier, and his adventures in the desert and at the pyramids. However, the absence of notable female characters was a point of frustration for me, and I was taken aback to learn of the book’s 1988 publication, having assumed it was of an earlier era.

For the most part, the book serves as a source of inspiration and motivation. Yet, towards the conclusion, it veers into overt religious territory, attributing success in pursuing one’s dreams to divine intervention. As an atheist, I’m open to occasional spiritual references, but the narrative’s shift to framing personal aspirations and the soul as manifestations of a divine language was overwhelming for me.