This is a book that some famous people sleep with by their bedside, and why shouldn''t they?I have not read any other book
as optimistic as '' The
Alchemist''.A very strong factor that the reader finds in common with the lead character ''San Diego'' in the book is the dreams he has and the difficulties he has to overcome to fulfill his dreams. Also every person in the deepest of the heart''s desire wants to be independent of will and wants to explore his opportunities without having anything to hold him back (most important of it being the fear of failure), the character is fearless about his failures and is willing to do anything to fulfill his drams, that is what appeals to most of the readers.
You also have to be a beleiver in destiny and things like "everthing happens for a reason" and "every man has a purpose to solve in this life" etc to be able to read this book and enjoy it as well.The story is about a shepherd boy who constantly sees a dream and then gets signs from ''the universe'' that he should go after fulfilling this particular dream of his, and from here begins his journey of collecting money for going to egypt to make his dream come true.
The events in the book about the repetetive dream and the universe showing signs to the boy about following his dreams is extremely mystical, and one feels like denying the mind and beleive in all the magical tales that are told in the book.This also supports many religious and social beleifs across the world, the biggest example about signs is the sneeze, how in different cultures a sneeze means different things is worth giving a
thought, and other things like if you see a butterfly in the house it means there is a marriage coming soon in the house.Such things we see and do in our day to day life are aslo mystical and inspite of all wisdom and education one is tempted to beleive in such things.
I suddenly thought of alchemist and thought i should share it over the net, because the promo line of the latest release of Shahrukh Khan''s ''Om Shanti Om'' is very much the crux of Alchemist and is also borrowed from here i beleive "If you desire something from the bottom of the heart the whole universe conspires for you to get it"