The Alchemist

March 28 (Easter Monday)

I've just begun reading the Alchemist, after having been thinking of reading it for a few years. I can't say this is going to become my favorite book of all time but it definitly touched my soul. There are many points through this book that the dialogues raked up my own memory that it became too hurtful just to continue reading.E.g. that part when the crystal merchant told the boy "every blessing ignored becomes a curse. I don't want anything else in life, but you are forcing me to look at wealth and at horizons I have never known. Now that I have seen them, and now that I see how immense my possibilities are, I'm going to feel worse than I did before you arrived. Because I know the things I should be able to accomplish, and I don't want to do so"

I was the merchant, I was the boy's father, at some points - - i might even have been the boy's sheep. .

There was once i met my 'the boy' and as much as i admired him chasing his dream, it was impossible to look at him and not remind myself of what are the opportunities I had chosen to forgo and how on earth I could catch up, to be deserved to look him in the eyes ever again. Anyway, the book talks a lot about personal legend, that every being has a purpose or a mission to be here and people usually clearly understand their personal legends when they are young and gradually lose the ability to understand it if they keep ignoring theirs while growing up.. the root of my problem probably is that I cannot remember what my dreams ever are. . .even when i was young.. i don't remember wanting to be anything.. only thing close to such dream to me is to transform this earthly shell into a mass of gas ascending up to join other masses that formulate galactic supernovae.. that thought always bring peace to me

I finished the book on Tuesday. That implies how much free time I have these days :-) not that i am complaining, it's nice to have all the time in the world to myself. it's peaceful.

back to the book, I think it was so good until I read that the boy turned himself into the wind..and so on toward the end.. not as impressive and sentimental as the first half of the story.. that made me think that sometimes the begining of most books or stories are good for your imagination - it kicks start your process to relate to the story and use your imagination to continue the story. Reading the book through the end.. sometimes daunted the possibilities that it could acheive a higher level of satisfaction to individual reader.

Recently i had similar disappointment when read up Dan Brown's series.. yeah i started off with the book of the year 'the davinci code' which i much like for its ability to put together convincing materials and link all together with a strong story line. it was so good that i was keen to read his other volumes. Therefore, I picked up Angels and Demons, my very first mistake was I subconciously looked out for the 'pattern' in the story based on how Davinci code flowed, as a result, i forwent the joy of 2nd story as an original story. Second mistake is the too close timing from the first book, the christianity taint in A&D is much more conventional and somehow contradicted to what Brown painted for his readers in Davinci Code - hence I sort of feel that it's weak. I did also made a few other overexpectation on the 2nd book, hence the disappointment.

I barely finished the 3rd volume, digital fortress - skimly. while I was reading that book i just had a hunch that it must be Brown's first published work, because .. it's so typical passing time story, powerful genius in love with "ugly ducking-turn-beautiful swan" genius lady and devised a devious scheme to steal her from young sporty -yet another genius- lover. i smell soap. and the plot is so easy to see through from the first quarter..

yet i did make an attempt on the latest volume, deception point- - but here, hey i'm only human, i gave up on my first 30 pages.. maybe I'll try again in future.. but no guarantee.

PS: by this point, this blog has nothing to do with the title of alchemist.. so i might as well throw in more couple of lines while i'm at it.. i think Brown, by default, planted in the female character in this books just to complete the instant success formula to become hollywood-ready material (by this, my remark is not including The Grail, of course) all the perfectly smart gorgeous all-rounded girls . . without depth in characters.. well, that's just me thinking