The Alchemist
The Alchemist I had to argue for hours about why The Alchemist is an exceptional book with myself as it was me who convinced myself to read it to the last page despite the many failed attempts. The main reason I wanted to read it was because it was famous. Secondly, who wouldn't love a shepherd who knows to read, but sells his sheep listening to some gypsy and an old man who calls himself a king, so that he can hunt for a hidden treasure that keeps popping up in his dreams. But then he ends up being robbed and forced to work at a crystal shop and then, at last, reaches the place his dreams tell him only to get punched in the guts and pocket again just because what has happened twice will happen a third time. The thing is, it is said in the book that most books defy the concept of free will, but the book itself quotes maktub i.e., everything is written already and that nobody not even the earth, wind, and sun understand the simple clues that the hand that wr...