"The Alchemist" Summary

The Alchemist is a novel that is written by Paulo Coelho. The Alchemist is a medium-sized novel that is about a young shepherd named Santiago who is in search of this treasure which is at the Egyptian pyramids. On his way he learns a few moral lessons and he is also taught about one's Personal Legend.

He first meets Melchizedek, who claims to be an old kind from a land that is far away. This man gives Santiago two stones, Urim and Thummim, which play as a big symbol throughout Santiago's journey. Then, Santiago leaves for Africa in search of his treasure, when he arrives he is robbed for all of his money and he is left with nothing. After this incident, Santiago just feels like he should turn around and give up, but he remembers the wise man, so he stays determined and then gets a job at a crystal glass shop. Santiago works at the crystal shop for about a year and learns a lot about life and his Personal Legend. After making enough money Santiago then leaves the glass shop to return home and buy a new herd of sheep, but at the last minute he changes his mind and decides that since he made it this far that he would just join a caravan that would cross the desert and place him in Egypt.

Once Santiago joins the caravan he meets an Englishman, who studied everything about Alchemy and is learning to become an Alchemist. Throughout the caravan's journey through the desert the Englishman teaches Santiago some of the secrets of Alchemy. Also while on this journey to Egypt Santiago meets a girl named Fatima who he quickly falls in love with. Santiago asks Fatima to marry him and she accepts his proposal, but tells him that she is a desert girl and he is in search of his treasure and she wants him to find his treasure before they get married.

Santiago then has a vision of a battle that is coming to the oasis from a tribe. Santiago meets the 200 year-old Alchemist and the Alchemist tells Santiago some hints that would lead him to his treasure. Santiago arrives at the pyramids and begins to dig for his treasure, but he is robbed and beaten bad by a tribe. A robber does ask Santiago what he doing around here and Santiago tells him that he had a dream that his treasure was buried here and the robber tells his that he had the same exact dream, but his was buried in Spain. It is at that time when Santiago realizes that his treasure was in Spain all along.

The book then makes a jump in time and Santiago is back at the church digging a hole by the tree where he had his original dream. He then finds a treasure chest full of gold and it's plenty enough for Fatima and Santiago to live for the rest of their lives.

I did like this book because it had an interesting story behind it and it got me hooked after I really started to pay attention. I would prefer people to read this book because it teaches you good morals about life and also teaches you to never give up on your dreams.
-

Blogging About Anything

It was the begining of July 2003, when I was leaving my house to go to the shore with my Dad and there was a cop at the house next to me looking around the yard. I noticed that it was my old D.A.R.E, so we stopped to say hello. Officer Pratt came over to the car and started to say that the neighbor's girlfriend had went missing and her car was found in an unfamiliar ampartment complex. He also showed my dad and I that the garage door was opened about 2 inches and there were flies going in and out of the garage. My dad made a joking remark, "What? Do you think there are dead bodies in there?" The cop turned back and said, "I hope not." I will never forget the look of fear and nervousness as he walked back towards the house.

My dad and I left for the shore and let Officer Pratt finish what he was doing. When me and my dad finally arrived at the shore my mom called. She was in tears and told me that the whole family was dead next door. We hurried back home and it looked like a festival out front of my house. News reporters were recording on my front lawn and it seemed like the whole neighborhood was on my street. The father had killed both of his children, his girlfriend, and himself. The daughter was found badly decomposed tucked in her bed, but the cause of her death was unknown. The girldfriend was found stuffed between the washer and dryer and had been beaten to death with a baseball bat. As for the father and son, the police found them in the car dead of carbon-monoxide poisoning along with pitcures of the father and kids and a six page sucide note. After all the commotion was over there was still a cop that had to watch the property over-night to make sure no one stepped onto the scene. My dad and I stayed up with him and kept him company. Ever since that day it is weird to look at neighbors the same.