Paolo Coelho ,The Alchemist'

This is the story of Santiago, a shepherd boy who dreams of traveling the world and discovering treasures, and is courageous enough to walk in the direction of his desires. In order to realize the best that his destiny has to offer, he travels from his home in Spain, through the markets of Tangiers, and into the great Egyptian desert. He gets duped, experiences love, loses and makes money, learns a different language, meets different people, finds himself in pleasant and not-so- pleasant situations. His journey is full of adventure and lessons, while he also finds the privilege of meeting a king, a desert woman and an alchemist, each adding to his life new turns and perceptions.

Social/Historical context:

The book emphasizes the values of spirituality, faith, hope and love through symbolic narration of a fascinating story of an ordinary boy with extra-ordinary beliefs. It teaches its readers, in a very subtle and effective way, the power of positivity. Also, the desert locations that the book encompasses lend a greater mystique to the plot.

Writing Style

Originally written in Portuguese, the book has won the Guiness World record for being the most translated book by a living author. The style of the book is third person narrative. The language is simple, yet effective. Every word lends a meaning to the story. It is ideal for readers with a basic command over English language, as well as, for those who are proficient.

My favorite quotes:

“And, when you want something, all the universe 
conspires in helping you to achieve it.”  💛

“It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.” 

“One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving.” 💖