Book Discussions

Dreams, destiny, symbols, signs and adventure are core elements readers divulge into upon reading “The Alchemist.” Paulo Coelho refers to realizing one’s “Personal Legend” as pursuing one’s dream. There is a path destined for each of us that leads to fulfillment. In other contexts, this might be referred to as Nirvana. Omens or signs are laid along the path that guides us to the sought destination.

The Plot

The novel tells the tale of Santiago, a Spanish shepherd boy, who had a recurring dream about finding a treasure in the Pyramids of Egypt. A gypsy woman and an old man claiming to be a mysterious king urged him to pursue the vision. The old man reiterated to him that “when you want something, all in the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”

Therein, Santiago sold his flock of sheep and traveled to Africa. Unfortunately, a thief stole his money, so Santiago took a job with a crystal merchant. After working there for a year, Santiago earned enough money to buy a new flock of sheep and conveniently return home. At the last minute, Santiago decided to risk it all and join a caravan to Egypt.

In the caravan, Santiago met an Englishman who seeks a renowned alchemist. The Englishman told Santiago about the Soul of the World to which we are all connected, and of the necessity of following our heart's desire or our Personal Legend. When they arrived in the oasis, the home of the Alchemist, Santiago met Fatima with whom he immediately fell in love. Santiago, thinking that love was the treasure he was looking for, considered staying in the oasis with Fatima, but the Alchemist urged him to pursue his vision.

Santiago continued to the Pyramids and was attacked by robbers. Asked what he was doing there, Santiago told them about his dream. One of the robbers laughed at the idea, and told him that he had the same dream, except that the treasure was buried in a tree in Spain. Santiago then realized that what he was looking for is back home, where everything started.

The story ends with Santiago digging at the base of the tree where he had his first dream. He found a trunk full of gold, and decided to return to Fatima. By the end of the novel, it was stressed out that the treasure was the journey itself, the discoveries Santiago made, and the wisdom he acquired.

Review

A short and light read, “The Alchemist” is one of those books that will make you feel like life is vivid again. The novel is profound, yet simple, bursting with optimism. It stimulates a sensation that everything is possible, when we direct our mind to it.

The novel mainly reveals the courage to follow dreams, for if not, one may be doomed by emptiness and dissatisfaction. The Alchemist captures the psyche of man who sacrifices fulfillment to conformity; who knows he can achieve his desires but shies away due to fear of loss and defeat. I am enthralled by the idea that “the secret of life is to fall seven times and to get up eight times.”

Destiny is another mystery pointed out in the novel. It was interesting how twists and challenges were woven, which all took part in leading Santiago to the treasure. This makes me contemplate that everything that happens in our lives are part of a big plan. We may not understand how or why, but eventually, all these will lead into something grand.

Another point that captures me is the ending thought that the destination is just a part of the prize; it is the journey that counts the most. For those that are bound in monotony and conformity, The Alchemist is a good fictional motivation.

:)

Pride and Prejudice is the quintessential love-hate-love-love-hate-love story. Stripped of all the big old English words Jane Austen used to tell the story of the Bennet households’ bucolic (a fancy way of saying provincial) life and the children’s pursuit of the socially acceptable endgame for women at that time-which is marriage, the first line sentence I used sums up what Austen tried to say in more than 700 pages. Set in a period when people were judged on their level of “agreeable-ness” (“Do you find him agreeable?” is probably the modern day equivalent of the loaded question “soo kamusta naman sya?” in Pinoy slang) and where social standing and decorum were highly valued ideals, the book tells a story of what is like for people to fall in love in these material conditions. The main characters of the book are Elizabeth Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy. The book is mostly told based on Elizabeth’s point of view. From her initial account of Mr Darcy, the guy is nothing more than an arrogant, proud prick. This perception changed and eventually, she found herself in love to Mr Darcy. Mr Darcy initially resented Elizabeth but later he found out he has feelings for Elizabeth and after a 1^st failed attempt of wooing Elizabeth, Mr Darcy again confessed his love to Elizabeth and they lived happily ever after. In between this oversimplification of a love story are conflicts and story arcs that make the story more real and more human and relatable- an imperfect family setting, an evil aunt, good aunt, a good set of friends, evil friends, a reliable sister, a rumormongering neighbourhood etc.

Here’s a trailer of a 2005 Pride and Prejudice movie which gives a good summary of the entire book:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJA27Jujzq4

The book is a well written love story that everyone at a certain plane, can relate to. The highlights of the book for me include the scene when Mr Darcy confessed his love to Elizabeth the 1^st time and was flatly rejected; when Elizabeth read Mr Darcy’s letter clearing his name; and when Elizabeth visited Pemberley- the estate of Mr. Darcy and saw him again after a long period of absence. In these scenes, you can feel the tension between the 2 characters and their restrained feeling of hate/love towards each other. These scenes adequately capture that moment when ones’ pride and prejudice can be a stumbling block to achieve happiness.

I enjoyed reading the book and found myself at times sympathizing with the different characters involved. Ploughing through the book is a worthwhile exercise if only to be reminded that love transcends perceived class differences and even pride and prejudice.

Lord of Light

Roger Zelazny puts forth this scenario in this 1968 Hugo Award for Best Novel: a post cataclysmic world, which level of technology is that of the early civilizations-or at most the Middle Ages, and a theocracy governed by men masquerading as gods.

Ok, so there is a chance that you have seen a similar plot before in some form or another. To shake things up, add a rebellion aiming to cease the monopoly of power and things get… a bit predictable. But throw in the Enlightened One and a horde of Hindu Pantheon, and I assure you of an immersing read that gets you itching for a crash course on Buddhist philosophies and Hindu deities even before you get through the first chapter.

The book appears as if it is trying to unmask conspiracy and religious lies to subjugate men. It tells of men who have exceeded human limitations, pretended as gods, and act as guardians who think that they should control men as to prevent the destruction of the world and the whole race once again. These gods, however, have not fully triumphed over their human desires, some of which are good and some are not so holy. But the gods are not the only ones being exposed to have flaws; it also shows the manipulations of a holy man who twists beautiful philosophical passages to maneuver the followers he had initially led to peace towards his war.

Besides unraveling religious personalities, Lord of Light offers a more physical reinterpretation to well known spiritual concepts such as enlightenment, nirvana, karma and reincarnation. There is also a war, which in the eyes of the pious human living within the pages of the book might appear like a divine struggle or maybe even the end of the Kali Yuga---the Hindu equivalent for the Dark Ages, revealed to be but the result of two opposing fictional political ideologies which set the main conflict of the story.

Despite the desecration of religious framework, the story actually gives glimpses of virtues in the unlikely characters: the honor of an assassin, conscience of a demon, faith in greater being by the god of the undead, and love known by death. Gods may have been men once, but truth exists and will persist in the universe.

Honestly though, this is not some deep philosophical book nor an expose about religion that I am making it out to be *wink*. Rather, Lord of Light is a light read and extremely enjoyable science fantasy novel (yup, i did not even stress on that, but the science fiction element is absolutely wonderful as well) that just begs for a little of your time for it to entertain you.