Log #6

Book: The Alchemist

Author: Paulo Coelho

    I have spent only two weeks to complete reading this book. This is probably the shortest time I have ever had. I have to say this book is definitely my favorite book right now. Though it's pages aren't as many as other books, it contains lots of wisdom which I never imagined and thought before. 

    Continued from where I had read two weeks ago, the boy decided to set out his journey to find his treasure (Personal Legend). However, we all know that when one decides to do what he or she really wants to do, it doesn't mean he or she won't encounter any obstacles. Sometimes, they may face even more challenging adversities. On his way to pursue his personal legend, he was robbed, meeting a crystal merchant and working for him, joining a caravan which was crossing the dessert, meeting an Englishman, finding his true love Fatima, meeting an alchemist in oasis, who stimulated and helped him have the determination to go on his journey again, and finally, arrive at the Egypt Pyramid finding his treasure. 

    This book talked about many metaphors. For example, Personal Legend: dreams or goals one is destinated to achieve, omens, The Universal Language, Soul of the World, and so on. I would never think of these things have I never read the book. There are many things and lines I love. I want to share two of them. The first one is: Making a decision was only the beginning of things. When someone makes a decision, he is really diving into a strong current that will carry him to places he had never deemed of when he first made the decision. (page. 68) I found this true when I first decided to drop out of the school to become a missionary for one and half year. I first thought my life will be blessed since I chose what God wants me to do; however, I soon realized that the moment I wanted to do this, there were much more challenges coming my way. At that time, I was disappointed. I couldn't understand why this was happening, why I needed to sustain such things. However, I found myself being polished through all the hitches. My capability was trained, and I became more humble. Eventually, I understood God's purpose. He wanted me to be well-prepared. Through the hurdles taking place in my life, not only did I gain strength but I was spiritually mature. The second thing I have learned through the boy's journey is that when one is faced with difficulty and couldn't move forward, God will arrange someone to help him or let him rest for a bit. When the boy was robbed, losing his money to travel to Egypt, he thought he was defeated, having the intention to give up. However, it was the exact time that he came across the crystal merchant. There, the boy became an employee and assisted his boss to reverse is poor business. Nonetheless, when the boy was rich and he started to be accustomed to the easy life, he was reminded by the omen of his pursuit of the personal legend. Immediately, he gave up his current life and went on the journey again. This plot made me think of the similar one. In An Lee's movie, Life of Pi, Pi and his family encountered a ferry accident, which both of his parents were dead. Pi survived and floated in a boat on the ocean with a fierce tiger. He was alone. When he finally thought that he wanted to give up, he found an island full of plants which he could eat; however, he soon found that the island is carnivorous. It was a paradise in the morning but became the deadly one at night. At last, he left the land. When he left, he said: God lets people rest, but when the time comes, people need to move on to the next destination.

The island in Life of Pi

    What I love this novel is that the writer adds an amount of inspirational truth or life philosophy in the book through the boy's discovering of his personal legend. Readers ponder as the boy does. Different people with different family background and faced with different things in their lives will affect their reflection after reading the book. Toward this book, I am convinced that my decision to be a missionary is right. And I will make every effort to accomplish it.