{Photo credit: Rachel Gallagher Photography}
When a person really desires something, all the universe conspires to help that person to realize his dream.
The Alchemist
The alchemist to Santiago, echoing the words of the old king.
(This post is a part of The Best of 2009 Blog Challenge – Wanna play? Check it out!)
December 4 . What book – fiction or non – touched you? Where were you when you read it? Have you bought and given away multiple copies?
Other than this one?
EASY.
The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
I’d seen this book at the top of so many people’s “favorites” list forever, and my cousin had recommended it to me at least a half a dozen times. I finally picked it up and took it with me when my roommates and I spent a weekend OFF up in Lutsen.
I spent HOURS on the balcony porch of that little cabin place absolutely glued to the book. It is a beautiful story about following your heart, discovering your path in life, and realizing that you HAVE everything you could ever want already, you just might have to move a few things around to recognize it.
I’ve wanted to travel and move around a little for years. Reading this book this past August was one of the things that helped me nail down the fact that it was indeed time to put actions to thoughts and dreams and take the big leaps to making things happen.
It also did something else.
It made me question WHY I was choosing to run around, and made me realize that before I could pack anything and go anywhere, I had to confidently be able to say that I wasn’t running away from anything. Moving away for a little while isn’t about self-searching or “finding myself,” though I’m certain that there’s the potential for plenty of growth in having made decisions that take me 935 miles away from my comfort zone.
I spent a lot of time in the air, on the road, and away from home this summer, exploring various cities and meeting countless new and wonderful people. But coming home, and letting those experiences sink in with me and become a part of who I am here, on the inside, in this city, at home, and under my own skin, are really what resonated and what made a lasting impression.
There’s also a really beautiful love story that I believe taught me a few things about relationships in general, particularly about letting go of tight grips and trusting the strength of the relationship to withstand things like time, physical distance, change, and growth. Of letting go of control and allowing relationships to breathe and grow and evolve exactly as they’re meant to.
The Alchemist made me recognize the teachers and inspiring people who have influenced my own path, have encouraged me to focus as much (if not more so) on the journey as the destination, and to never overlook the treasures I have already, be it in this city, in my current situation, or in my heart.
{ 53 comments… read them below or add one }
I've already told you I'd love to!
I loved this book and this review made me want to read it again. Have you read Veronika Decides To Die or Eleven Minutes, also by Coelho? AMAZING. He is just fabulous!
This is totally a book I NEED to read. I have it on shelf and just haven't opened it. Maybe tonight
Oh – you so have to do a guest post for me now! I love it when books inspire people to get off the couch and do something. That was just lovely to read.
I'll be putting this on my to read list. The book that touched me was 'The Last Lecture'. Very inspirational and thought provoking. Now I need to read it again…
I was just repeating myself!
I've already told you I'd love to!
This has been on my to-read list! Must get on it.
Ooh I have been wanting to read that!!
This is totally a book I NEED to read. I have it on shelf and just haven't opened it. Maybe tonight
The Alchemist was definitely a life changer. I read it three times in a row in college and gave it to everyone I knew as a Christmas present one year.
It truly is inspiring. I sobbed like a baby multiple times (once while I was getting hair color at a salon, haha). In addition to The Alchemist, I would rank The Upanishads as one of the most important books I have ever read. I have read it more than any other book… ever. Hope it touches you as much as it touched me.
This has been on my to-read list! Must get on it.
*immediately adding this to my 'must-read' list*
I loved this book and this review made me want to read it again. Have you read Veronika Decides To Die or Eleven Minutes, also by Coelho? AMAZING. He is just fabulous!
The Alchemist is one of my all-time favorites.
*immediately adding this to my 'must-read' list*
I'll be putting this on my to read list. The book that touched me was 'The Last Lecture'. Very inspirational and thought provoking. Now I need to read it again…
Oh – you so have to do a guest post for me now! I love it when books inspire people to get off the couch and do something. That was just lovely to read.
Ooh I have been wanting to read that!!
I was just repeating myself!
The Alchemist was definitely a life changer. I read it three times in a row in college and gave it to everyone I knew as a Christmas present one year.
It truly is inspiring. I sobbed like a baby multiple times (once while I was getting hair color at a salon, haha). In addition to The Alchemist, I would rank The Upanishads as one of the most important books I have ever read. I have read it more than any other book… ever. Hope it touches you as much as it touched me.
Please remind me of this quote every single day for the next few weeks. Or until I am settled and EMPLOYED in San Francisco. Thanks a bunch.
Please remind me of this quote every single day for the next few weeks. Or until I am settled and EMPLOYED in San Francisco.
Thanks a bunch.
Everyone raves about this book and I only got about 1/4 of the way in before I had to put it down because I found it so repetitive and heavy-handed. Does that mean something's wrong with me?
Everyone raves about this book and I only got about 1/4 of the way in before I had to put it down because I found it so repetitive and heavy-handed. Does that mean something's wrong with me?
This is one of my all-time favorite books. I just reread it recently looking for some inspiration. Though, I will say, when I got to the quote you used, I wanted to throw the book against the wall. I'm pretty sure the universe is conspiring against me these days!
This is one of my all-time favorite books. I just reread it recently looking for some inspiration. Though, I will say, when I got to the quote you used, I wanted to throw the book against the wall. I'm pretty sure the universe is conspiring against me these days!
I remember finding this quote from this book and just absolutely loving it. I've GOT to read it now."When he looked into her dark eyes, and saw that her lips were poised between a laugh and silence, he learned the most important part of the language that all the world spoke — the language that everyone on earth was capable of understanding in their heart. It was love. Something older than humanity, more ancient than the desert. Something that exerted the same force whenever two pairs of eyes met, as had theirs here at the well. She smiled, and that was certainly an omen — the omen he had been awaiting, without even knowing he was, for all his life. The omen he had sought to find with his sheep and in his books, in the crystals and in the silence of the desert.It was the pure Language of the World. It required no explanation, just as the universe needs none as it travels through endless time. What the boy felt at that moment was that he was in the presence of the only woman in his life, and that, with no need for words, she recognized the same thing. He was more certain of it than of anything in the world. He had been told by his parents and grandparents that he must fall in love and really know a person before becoming committed. But maybe people who felt that way had never learned the universal language. Because, when you know that language, it’s easy to understand that someone in the world awaits you, whether it’s in the middle of the desert or in some great city. And when two such people encounter each other, and their eyes meet, the past and the future become unimportant. There is only that moment, and the incredible certainty that everything under the sun has been written by one hand only. It is the hand that evokes love, and creates a twin soul for every person in the world. Without such love, one’s dreams would have no meaning.”"
I haven't, but I've officially just added those to my wish lists!
I vow to start that one this week so we can discuss it in a few weeks whenI'm down there. I can't wait
Ha, no way. Different strokes, you know?
There are plenty of books Ifeel like I was supposed to get more out of (because everyone else did) andjust didn't.
I remember finding this quote from this book and just absolutely loving it. I've GOT to read it now.
“When he looked into her dark eyes, and saw that her lips were poised between a laugh and silence, he learned the most important part of the language that all the world spoke — the language that everyone on earth was capable of understanding in their heart. It was love. Something older than humanity, more ancient than the desert. Something that exerted the same force whenever two pairs of eyes met, as had theirs here at the well. She smiled, and that was certainly an omen — the omen he had been awaiting, without even knowing he was, for all his life. The omen he had sought to find with his sheep and in his books, in the crystals and in the silence of the desert.
It was the pure Language of the World. It required no explanation, just as the universe needs none as it travels through endless time. What the boy felt at that moment was that he was in the presence of the only woman in his life, and that, with no need for words, she recognized the same thing. He was more certain of it than of anything in the world. He had been told by his parents and grandparents that he must fall in love and really know a person before becoming committed. But maybe people who felt that way had never learned the universal language. Because, when you know that language, it’s easy to understand that someone in the world awaits you, whether it’s in the middle of the desert or in some great city. And when two such people encounter each other, and their eyes meet, the past and the future become unimportant. There is only that moment, and the incredible certainty that everything under the sun has been written by one hand only. It is the hand that evokes love, and creates a twin soul for every person in the world. Without such love, one’s dreams would have no meaning.”"
I haven't, but I've officially just added those to my wish lists!
I've definitely heard some good things about that one – thanks for thereminder to check that out!
I vow to start that one this week so we can discuss it in a few weeks whenI'm down there. I can't wait
Ha, no way. Different strokes, you know?
There are plenty of books Ifeel like I was supposed to get more out of (because everyone else did) andjust didn't.
I've definitely heard some good things about that one – thanks for the
reminder to check that out!
Ooh, maybe I'll have to put that on my to-read list.
Wild! I need to read that, it's going into my goodreads line up!
Ooh, maybe I'll have to put that on my to-read list.
Wild! I need to read that, it's going into my goodreads line up!
These comments are all great – especially the excerpt at the bottom. Doni, great post! I've just created a book list thanks to you, and the first three on it are from this entry/comments. Also….not sure if I mentioned it, but I love the reformatting look with the 4-block at the bottom of doniree.com
See you soon!
These comments are all great – especially the excerpt at the bottom. Doni, great post! I've just created a book list thanks to you, and the first three on it are from this entry/comments. Also….not sure if I mentioned it, but I love the reformatting look with the 4-block at the bottom of doniree.com
See you soon!
Thank, Nole!
Let me know what you think of the books! xoxo
Thank, Nole!
Let me know what you think of the books! xoxo
Wow, this is going to get ordered in a moment.The last book that really touched me was 'Marley and Me' because it's a situation that I've been through with dogs before, and I have since reading it. It tells the story so well, I was sobbing reading the last few chapters!
Wow, this is going to get ordered in a moment.
The last book that really touched me was 'Marley and Me' because it's a situation that I've been through with dogs before, and I have since reading it. It tells the story so well, I was sobbing reading the last few chapters!
Your post is wonderful. And the book is just the most inspiring I've across till date. It really has the ability to change one's life. I've read it about 8 times now
and each time I've had a new revelation. Thanks for the post. I hope everybody gets down to reading it.
Your post is wonderful. And the book is just the most inspiring I've across till date. It really has the ability to change one's life. I've read it about 8 times now
and each time I've had a new revelation. Thanks for the post. I hope everybody gets down to reading it.
Thank you! And now I want to read it again.
Thank you! And now I want to read it again.
I want to read it again so bad. I think I’ll pick it back up when I get home.
You’ve found the two posts with my favorite books!