Best-Selling Author Paulo Coelho’s Journey Among the Armenians
“This book, telling the story of a shepherd boy named Santiago, is about following your dreams,” said my Chinese friend.
“Its message is powerful and simple: If you really believe in something, the whole universe conspires with you to achieve it. Take it to Beirut with you and read it,” she continued.
Thousands of miles away from home, I was being offered a book I had on my own bookshelf, but had never read. Thus, on September 10, 2000, in Shenyang, China, my story with The Alchemist had begun.
As I was reading the book on the plane on my way back, I felt I could easily relate to the message of the novel: We had to go to far away lands, sometimes, to find treasures hidden in our backyard.
“I will translate this book to Armenian one day,” I thought, as the captain was announcing our arrival at the Beirut International Airport.
In October 2003, I started interviewing writers …
This article is written by Khatchig Mouradian @ The Armenian Weekly. You can visit the journalist blog : Paulo Coelho in Armenia to read more articles about the story of Coelho’s pilgrimage to Armenia.
An Alchemist’s Pilgrimage By Khatchig Mouradian
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Although this entry is from a few years ago, it is a joy to discover for the first time today. Enjoyed reading Khatchig’s Blog very much too!
Today a friend tagged me in a picture with these words from the story:
‘And when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.’
Still my fav author and book of all time!!
Nelson Mandela shared a similar story and made me smile when reading, because of course it reminded me of Santiago:
” He once recited the parable for me of the young Xhosa man who left his village in search of a wife. He spent years travelling all around the world looking for the perfect woman, but did not find her.
Eventually he came back to the village without a bride, and on his way in, saw a woman and said ‘Ah, I have found my wife.’ It turns out, Mandela said, that she had lived in the hut next door to his all her life.
I asked, ‘Is the moral of the story that you don’t need to wander far and wide to find what you’re looking for because it is right in front of you? Or is it that sometimes you must have wide experience and knowledge in order to appreciate those things that are closest and most familiar to you?
He thought about this for a moment, nodded, then said, ‘There is no one interpretation. Both may be correct.’ ”
Richard Stengel – Mandela’s Way
Thankyou!
Love and Best Wishes,
Jane xo
This was an interesting and lovely journey…thank you.