Katie's Summer Recommendation - The Alchemist

A dear and long time friend gave me The Alchemist by Paul Coelho as a gift upon the publication of The Miracle Chase. What a gift it was! Her inscription to me quoted Socrates: “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Socrates’ wisdom is especially poignant in the context of the journey taken by Santiago, the shepherd boy at the heart of Paul Coelho’s book. In the pursuit of his life treasure, his “Personal Legend”, he discovers the universe as a place where all things are connected, with a universal language and soul, where our dreams come true if we follow the “omens.” The journey is not easy.  Santiago meets seemingly insurmountable challenges that require persistence, courage and patience to overcome. Yet, “…when we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” That’s when miracles can happen. More than a book, The Alchemist is a guide for living and a perfect summer read from under the shade of a tree or an Oceanside umbrella or wherever the mystery and vibrancy of the universe can be most appreciated.  Katie