Book Review - FictionThe Alchemist : A Fable about Following Your Dream (1993)
by Paulo Coelho
" 'Don't think about what you've left behind," the alchemist said to the boy as they begun to ride across the sands of the desert. "Everything is written in the Soul of the World, and there it will stay forever.'
'Men dream more about coming home than about leaving,' the boy said. He was already accustomed to the desert's silence.
'If what one finds is made of pure matter, it will never spoil. And one can always come back. If what you had found was only a moment of light, like the explosion of a star, you would find nothing on your return.'
The man was speaking the language of alchemy. But the boy knew that he was referring to Fatima." p. 130
A short, inspiring, romantic little fable, The Alchemist gets its charm from its unapologetic idealism. The story is about a young shepard that has a dream about discovering a treasure in Egypt, and about his subsequent journey to actualize it. Of course, he is often tempted to end his quest for the treasure, whether it is because he has made a good living as a shepard, has become wealthy as a crystal salesman, found the girl of his dreams, or becomes an important person within the caravan and tribes of the desert, but in each instance he decides to continue forward, trusting that he those things that are pure and true will wait until he returns. Why? Because the world conspires to help people realize their dreams as long as you look for the omens.
Despite initials impression, this isn't a story about "destiny" or "fate." These, according to a wise king the boy encounters, are simply myths constructed to undermine people and their goals. The boy had free will in his decision to either pursue his dream or abandon it, as most people tend to do. A very sweet tale, and recommended for those who want a really quick read. And if you can, pick up the latest edition of the novel, because included in it is a short prologue that I enjoyed very much. B
Movie Review - FictionYou, Me and Dupree (2006)
Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo
A nice romantic comedy that could've been better. It, of course, had it's moments, but it wasn't that smart, wasn't that funny, and it certainly wasn't that romantic. Owen Wilson, naturally had his comedic moments, and Kate Hudson looked cute as always, but watching this was a waste of time and money. Not recommended, not even for renting. Still, it wouldn't be TOO bad knowing a guy like Dupree, as long as he comes it small doses. C
