Adventures in Andalusia: A Book Review of The Alchemist

Paolo Coelho’s 1988 bestseller The Alchemist made its way to my bookshelf on the recommendation of several friends. Reminiscent of Harry Potter’s own coming-of-age story, The Alchemist follows the adventure of a boy named Santiago as he travels from Spain to northern Africa in pursuit of treasure.

Fate versus free will is a theme that permeates so much of the media we consume, especially in works that have elements of science fiction or fantasy. The extent to which characters are able to control their destiny and environment in Westworld, Wandavision, and even The Sims franchise often reflect our own desires to either overcome our present circumstances or find comfort in the idea that we might not actually have much control.

As Santiago embarks on his adventure, he comes across what he calls “omens,” or signs from the universe about what lies ahead. He contends that his ability to achieve his “Personal Legend,” or destiny, depends on his ability to see these omens, interpret their meaning, and stay the course. When applied to a modern context, this doctrine seems quite daft. Though I enjoyed coming along for the journey of a young man in pursuit of treasure, the application of his determinist attitude is at odds of living in an era of intense economic division during a global crisis. I’ve long been critical of the “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” mentality and believe that one’s ability to transcend their circumstances is influenced by far more than just willing a specific outcome into existence.

The best part of The Alchemist is the imagery in Coelho’s prose. Through Santiago’s travels, the reader learns about the places he visits and the people he meets without getting bogged down by overly flowery language. The book in itself is an easy read - I was able to work through it in just a few days when exclusively reading it as part of my bedtime routine. Santiago’s adventure often lingered in my mind as I was falling asleep, influencing my own dreams and questions about how much control I actually have over the path of my life and ability to follow my own Personal Legend.

Though my overall experience reading The Alchemist was incredibly enjoyable, I did put the book down feeling that I missed out on a complete conclusion for some of the side characters, especially since the book has an omnipotent narrator. The development of these same characters seemed incomplete, especially for the few women who were included in the story.

Despite these critiques, I definitely side with my own friends who recommended The Alchemist and feel that it was worth the read. With the entirety of 2020 and a recent insurrection still on my mind, I found myself at times wondering if Santiago would be as much of an optimist in contemporary America, which only goes to show that although you may be able to escape the world through books, you can never completely let go of your own reality.