4: Paulo Coehlo, The Alchemist

[solaciolum]

The Alchemist is the tale of a young man on a Journey to Discover his True Purpose in Life, wherein he and the reader learn that All Things Are Connected, and Love is the True Path to the Divine, and Everything Exists to Fulfil Its Purpose. The main character discovers that his true purpose is to find a treasure in Egypt, and he has fantastic adventures along the way. On his journey he encounters people who help him along: the King of Salem, an Englishman in search of the Philosopher's stone, a mysterious Alchemist, and a beautiful young woman named Fatima, whom he falls in love with at first sight. Of course, she loves him in return, because while the boy's purpose is to find treasure, Fatima's purpose is to wait in a desert oasis her whole life until the boy finds her, and then to wait again until he returns to her with his treasure.

And they lived happily ever after.

...

*throws the book across the room*

I might have enjoyed The Alchemist, if it hadn't been for that; I have a fondness for stories about mysticism, and I like general tales of adventure and coming of age. And it's a quick, breezy read that filled my train ride into the city yesterday quite nicely. But there's a sour taste in the back of my mind that isn't going to go away, and I'm so tired of reading books that do that.

Cities of Coin and Spice is up next, because it's about time I finished the series, and I know I can trust Cathrynne Valente to not induce book-throwing urges.