Comments on: Santiago

By: Haiku

Haiku — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 20:19:07 +0000

While reading a journal entry from many years ago, I noticed I made reference to The Alchemist in my writing. I guess it was an ‘aha’ moment all those years ago. The passage of the story when Santiago makes reference to one of his sheep when about to sell… The old man says the sheep is lame, but santiago explains that the sheep being lame is unimportant and that the sheep “is the most intelligent of the flock and produces the most wool”.

Not sure why I referenced that portion of the book in my journal entry all those years ago but fast forward many years later and it proves to be a gem of motivation NOW while recovering from effects of suffering a stroke.

Again, Paulo has proven to my soul why he is so very necessary for my journey. Thanks Paulo C.

By: musulmance

musulmance — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 16:11:51 +0000

bonsoir m.coelho. au fait, je travaille sur votre livre intitulé “l’alchimiste” pour l’obtention de ma licence:”je fais une étude sémiotique du personnage”. j’ai beaucoup aimé votre livre, il a bouleversé ma vie, c’est mon meilleur livre.j’avais cette question,que vous avez déjà repondue,en tête. avant que vous l’aviez repondue, je me suis dit que santiago est bien vous, c’est-à-dire j’ai cru que vous êtes entrain de raconter votre histoire implicitement et je suis toujours convaincue par cette idée. si je suis convaincue c’est parce que j’ai lu auparavant un interview de vous avec un journaliste dans lequel vous avez raconté votre vie et comment vous êtes arrivé à devenir un écrivain tout en expliquant votre propre légende personnelle.
alors ma question à vous est: est-ce Santiago est vous?????
j’aimerais bien que vous me répondiez le plus vite possible..

By: AndreaChase

AndreaChase — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 15:36:51 +0000

I think the book tells about how anyone could be this way. The story shows how even a shepherd boy has dreams and aspirations. We are all one. As a part of that I think the book tells us all about ourselves. Who doesn’t think the way the shepherd boy does? We all long for our own personal legend. Whether we said it aloud or not this wanting to know what’s our purpose lingers in our minds. Maybe one doesn’t think about it as much as another but we all have that thought. Some, like the crystal merchant, are contempt with life, but at one point he saught his own legend. To me the book is somewhat of a calling to everyone, to fine thier personal legend. Anyone can do this, because we all have our own personal legend. It’s those who seek it with a full heart that succeed.

By: Luis Sanchez

Luis Sanchez — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 02:17:53 +0000

Santiago es el deseo ke llevamos todos por dentro de liberarnos y ser kienes soniamos ser por ke solo en suenios el hombre es realmente libre,lei el alquimista kuando tenia 13 anios creo ke fue uno de los libors ke mas ah influenciado mi vida me dio el deseo de sumplir mi suenio aunque mi suenio se realice donde empezo mi camino el recorrido me dara la fuerza neseciaria para saber vivr mi suenio

By: Anita Caldas

Anita Caldas — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 14:12:13 +0000

Estive em Santiago em FEVEREIRO com 0º mas já lá tinha estado há seis anos com calor e a magia é a mesma, mas claro sendo este o ano jacobeu com mais significado.Espero lá voltar e adorava fazer mesmo o Caminho de Santiago, mas com companhia!

By: bluedream

bluedream — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:43:29 +0000

how we can find our dream?! maybe it’s really funny question! but I don’t know what’s my dream exactly , like Santiago. It’s too bad and sometimes I think maybe I have no dream! I have just some planes to do my favorite job and somethings like that but they aren’t dreams ’cause I’m sure I will reach them

By: Tayde Chrusch

Tayde Chrusch — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 03:44:29 +0000

I think everyone can relate to Santiago, and also it would be nice to find our dream and our path as easily and in such a short time as he did, and that is probably the difference between fiction and reality or maybe we have to be more like him, more courageous, more adventurous, more trusting, if we could only dare…

By: olivia

olivia — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 22:15:46 +0000

What to say when you have said it more beautifully, more majestically than i could ever suppose. i have read the alchemist, three times, and every time i am a bit drunk travelling on a train or bus or plane and it makes me look at the people around me and think the most amazing interconnectednesss thoughts, making me want to be closer and more honest and more real with people than i have ever dared nyself to be. and i realise….i am afraid. i am a single, lonely, isoolated human on this planet i am fear. amd it makes me sad, and excited and scared at the same time. it makes me feel more real and more connected and more alone than i have ever felt. and i feel like the boy, and i wish my soul and life were as free as his, to leave my redundant, meaningless life behind and do something as pure and honest and necessary as him. and then i feel unafraid. i would love to feel the cool sand of the desert beneath my feet and i pray for the moment i might dare to take a teacher. and a teacher may take me. and gold, it is nothing. i feel love right now. thank you from my heart paolo. thank you xxx

By: MOUROAGRESTE

MOUROAGRESTE — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 10:37:39 +0000

Olá Paulo, de alguns livros teus que li, este foi a meu ver o melhor, pena que muitas das pessoas se percam nos detalhes e passem ao lado da mensagem, que pouco interessa a profissão ou mesmo o nome do personagem, mas sim do facto de buscarem fora o que está dentro deles, mais ainda de precisarem de outros para os ajudarem a trilhar os seus caminhos, retirando-lhes assim o verdadeiro mérito, parabéns pela tua escrita, recomendo este livro como principio para pessoas que se buscam nos outros, um abraço fraterno de alguém que chamam de o alquimista vagabundo.

By: rad

rad — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 06:02:43 +0000

( al slam alaikom ) hello am muslim too.
and i loved your point you are right about what you said.

By: supi

supi — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 15:07:06 +0000

Let me assure you that Paulo’s knowledge over Hagia Sofia is complete.
While Turkish government is no better than Greek government, you should know better as an English teacher that this is a book of fiction.

By: Petrus

Petrus — Tue, 25 May 2010 12:27:02 +0000

nice point!

I agree with you.

By: Ileana Rodriguez

Ileana Rodriguez — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:25:16 +0000

In México Santiaga are called. as nickname: “Chaga”.

Santiago = “Chago”

By: lydia

lydia — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 22:53:00 +0000

Mr paulo…i really loved the story very much and it was very interesting one…and i liked it too because it carries experiences the one can learn and also the verses from the bible were very suitable in their places…GOD blesses you.

By: Alchemia-Muslim-Lady

Alchemia-Muslim-Lady — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 07:10:56 +0000

Dear Mr. Coelho,

I loved your book and I keep talking and thinking of it everyday to everyone.

I wonder how many shepherds are there arround us? Actually, many people are just shepherds who think they are leading their sheep but they are led by their sheep and live only for ‘water and food’!

I do not want to be a shepherd any more!
I will fight for my Personal Legend.

Most Respect for You

Alchemia

By: marie-christine

marie-christine — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 07:54:50 +0000

Santiagonise
Santiagape
Aie! Aie! Aie!
;)

By: Diane

Diane — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 20:50:41 +0000

Bom!!! O Allquimista foi um dos melhores livros que encontrei do Paulo Coelho… Nele pude perceber a força de um sonho verdadeiro, uma conquista fabulosa para quem quer que seja e que corra realmente atras de seus sonhos!!!!

acredite e serás eternamente grato a você e suas oportunidades da vida…

Essa obra de muitas que já li do mesmo me trouxe paz, alento, momentos de choro e também me mostrou momentos de risos… histórias idealizadoras….

comecei a lê os livros dele aos 14 ano e hoje tenho 18 e não me arrependo de maneira alguma de escolher Paulo Coelho e Saint Exupéry como os melhores autores do mundo!!!

By: SantiagoDH2

SantiagoDH2 — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 03:12:56 +0000

I think what Santiago is trying to say, in the beginning of the book, that we need to find out what we’re pursuing in life, and we need to continue to pursue that dream until we reach our set goal. We all have at least one inspiration that keeps us going throughout life. If we have no goal, we have nothing to live for. Even if we come across tough encounters we have to continue to lead the way; we must be leaders instead of followers. We have to blaze our own trails in life, and pursue our own individual dreams.

By: SantiagoDH1

SantiagoDH1 — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 03:12:23 +0000

I think that there are many omen’s in life, just as in the book, that pass us by each day. We don’t notice signs that might warn us of dangers or remind us what life is truly about. As humans, most of us believe that things happen spontaneously; spur of the moment type ideas. We believe that everything happens for a reason, but that is not a reason of which we know, nor that of which we should know. What would happen if we all knew what we had coming in the future? Would we live life the same, or would we hide, and close out the natural beauty in life? I believe, just like Santiago, that we must move forward in life; and as the caravan leader said, we should live or lives, forgetting the past, and not thinking about the future.

By: Santiagock2

Santiagock2 — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:59:04 +0000

The 1st part of The Alchemist was action packed and very confusing. I found it interesting how Santiago’s father just sent him off to become a Sheppard, just because Santiago says that he wants to see and to explore the earth. If I told my mother and father I wanted to explore the earth they wouldn’t just send me off with a few gold coins. It shows how much we have changed. I found the seen with the gypsy very interesting because it clearly sets u what will happen in the rest of the book. The old man that he meets is also interesting and has a few similarities to the gypsy. One being they both told him about his dream. It surprises me that a kid that is so clever like Santiago could also forget that people speak a different language in the Middle East.
A key part of the first part of this book is his herd of sheep. They are like his family. He doesn’t want to let them go. He doesn’t even want to leave them for his personal legend, much like a lot of people and their families. Overal, a good first chapter of the book.

By: EnglishmanET2

EnglishmanET2 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:14:25 +0000

Page: 10
Santiago
“He owned a jacket, a book that he could trade for another, and a flock of sheep. But, most important, he was able every day to live out his dream. If he were to tire of the Andalusian Fields, he could sell his sheep and go to sea. By the time he had had enough of the sea, he would already have know other cities, other women, and other chances to be happy. I could not have found gods in the seminary, he thought as he looked at he sunrise.”

This paragraph shows that Santiago has many choices on how to lead his life. He started out as a Shepard but could end as a fisherman. He also knows many girls he could love. Santiago leads a very simple life but is full of things to do, girls to love and land to travel. In would love to have a life like this, full of adventure and opportunity.

By: EnglishmanSC2

EnglishmanSC2 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:17:30 +0000

I liked the way that the story was written and the way that the narration refered to Santiago. I wasnt sure what time frame this story was in some things make it seem closer to our time.

By: SantiagoBDB1

SantiagoBDB1 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:17:14 +0000

The themes of personal legend, destiny, fate and omens run throughout the book. Santiago is introduced to the idea of personal legend by the king, and after a while he begins to believe in the idea, and tries to make sure he follows it. Later however, some things make his beliefs waver. I can understand Santiago’s questioning, because many people have a belief at first, but then reject what seems too good to be true.

By: SantiagoET1

SantiagoET1 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:15:46 +0000

This book has so many twists in it. This makes the book good. At the end when Snatiago was beaten, I thought he was going to die. When he made it throught the beating and went to the church was a differnet ending than what I thought would happen. With the treasure back where he had sleep with his sheep might mean that he should join the church again? What ever happen to the Englishmen? Did he ever learn how to make make gold? The ending left me with a lot of questions.

By: santiagopo 2

santiagopo 2 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:13:50 +0000

Opinion about the book
I think that the beginning of this story was put together well because it didn’t introduce the characters so fast it devoted time to each and every character detailing them so the reader could truly understand who he/she was dealing with. I also find it interesting that there are many different types of people you can be for instance the shepherd that Santiago chose; you sleep in the open herd sheep’s around and bond with your sheep. Also the personal legend guiders that help individuals find thee own personal legend if they need a pointer in the right direction or guidance.

By: santiagoas2

santiagoas2 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:13:32 +0000

This part of the book is very interesting and eventful. Santeigo talks about how he is working at the crystal shop for a year, which is what i predicted. Ever since he started working, business has gone way up. Santeigo has many good talks with the crystal merchant. The crystal merchant tells him that the boy has brought change to his life. He says he is scared of change and that his personal legend is to go to Mecca, but he is too scared to go now because he doesn’t know what will be next. I think the crystal merchant is a coward in many ways, because he is too scared to see the world, and accept change. After working at the shop for a good amount of time, Santeigo realizes he has enough money to buy his flock of sheep, which is why he even started working at the crystal shop.
Santeigo leaves the shop, but then realizes that buying sheep is something he could always do, and that going after his personal legend and traveling to the pyramids is actually what he wants to do. I espeically love this part of the book, because it shows that Santiago has to choose between two hard choices in life. After Santeigo makes his decision to go to the pyramids, the author switches perspective over to an Englishman.
The Englishman is very interested in Alchemy and decides that he too wants to go to the pyramids to see a special Alchemist, who can help him learn how to become a better Alchemist. Santeigo and the Englishman meet and both go on the caravan together on the long journey.
They both have camels and are ready for the adventure. It is a very long, hard trip, because the desert seems to never end, but everyone gets along. The nights are usually very silent and tiring. Finally after the traitorous journey, everyone starts to see trees and they know that they are close.
I think there were definitely some parts of this that was hard to understand. A lot of the things about Alchemy was hard for me to read. The book is also written in a certain way, which sometimes is hard to understand. I predict that next; Santeigo will spend time trying to get to the pyramids. I suspect that he will have to overcome obstacles and meet new people.

By: santiagopo 1

santiagopo 1 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:13:13 +0000

Predictions
I think that the treasure that Santiago is going to find is not really going to be to find his personal legend and his not going to be something materialistic, but rather something that can stay with you your whole life. My predictions for the future of the book is that he will meet someone in future towns like he has met the gypsy and what she has done for him; pointing him in the right direction for finding his treasure. Also another person he has met was the crystal merchant which greatly influenced Santiago because it showed him that if he doesn’t stick too something that interests him he is going to be bored in the long run and be tired of repeating the same thing over and over again.

By: SantiagoLB1

SantiagoLB1 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:12:17 +0000

A lot happened to Santiago in a short amount of time, first he was a shepherd, and then a crystal merchant and now he’s traveling through the desert trying to find his personal legend. Santiago seems to show everyone he meets new perspective. He still has youthful thinking and an open mind which most people don’t have. He taught the crystal merchant that it is okay to change your ways and better your life. He taught the Englishman that alchemy wasn’t as complex as he thought. He is discovering and learning a lot about himself my learning the ways of the world.
This made me wonder if I have a personal legend, and if I do what is it. I have no idea what I want to be, or what I want to do with my life so it would be hard for me to follow my legend. I also wonder if omens are real. I don’t really believe in them, and I don’t really think everything happens for a reason.

By: santiagoas1

santiagoas1 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:10:37 +0000

Part One
Santiago is a boy that is a Sheppard. He has a very special relationship with his sheep. When he wakes up in the morning, the sheep do too. This relationship shows how commited he is to his sheep, which already tells a lot about who he is, which i respect. He says it’s because the sheep know his schedule. Santiago likes to read because he talks about how he exchanges his books whenever he gets the chance, and seems to be a very smart person. I think how he is reading because it again shows that he is a smart boy and is interested in other things then just reading. Santiago’s parents wanted him to be a priest, but he wanted to travel, which is why he decides to become a Sheppard.
While he was in a town, getting his sheep’s wool sold, he met a girl. The way he described her, he seemed to love her. Personally, i dont think you can fall in love at first site, but again makes the story more capitivating. The conversation they had was natural and he never wanted it to end. Now a year later, he is going to go back to that same town. He seems very excited, but is worried that another Sheppard has come along in the mean time.
Santiago is having weird, repetitive dreams, so he goes to a gypsy. There the gypsy tells Santiago that there is a hidden treasure in the pyramids of Egypt and that is what his dream meant. He is confused as to what she means by this, and kind of ignores her.
While he is in a different country he meets a king. The king seems weird to him at first, but Santiago soon realized he isn’t. The king also tells him that he needs to go to the pyramids to find the treasure. The old man gives the boy two stones to help him answer his un-known questions. This part of the book was a little cloudy for me, and harder to read then the beginning parts of the book. The boy goes to a bar later on and gets his money stolen. He then decides to go work at a crystal merchant shop to get money for sheep.
I think this book so far is very interesting. A lot of things happen and it’s pretty easy to understand so far except for a couple of exceptions. I haven’t found myself bored yet and it’s keeping my attention. I think that Santiago is a very strong person for leaving his parents to go travel. I am not exactly sure what will happen next, but im guessing that he will work at the crystal shop for a while.

By: santiagofs1

santiagofs1 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:08:01 +0000

Part One
The one thing that I personally think each book needs is a good hook so that you are drawn into the book within the first 15-20 pages. It sparks some interest, and you want to keep reading, but unfortunately this book doesn’t have that spark. I hate when you have to wait 50 pages until you start caring about the plot and characters. This seems just like the age-old tale of an average-Joe-guy who wants to get the treasure, and then the girl. My impression of the book so far is that Santiago is going to have to work at the Crystal Merchants shop, earn money, learn life lessons, and then embark on his journey. I really hope Part 2 is more interesting.