The Alchemist

There were several things that I liked about The Alchemist, but overall, I just couldn't give myself over to it and in the end, I just...well...it fell flat for me.

The Things I Liked:

1. I am constantly amazed at how authors come up with their stories. Seriously, the creativity is amazing and this book had me at times thinking, Wow. I didn't expect that turn, etc.

2. I love a happy ending, so I'm glad Santiago was able to find his Personal Legend

3. While there were many things that annoyed me about the book, I found myself sometimes teary-eyed thinking, *sniff* "That is so true!" There was a lot of wisdom and quotable things in the book.

The Things I Disliked:

1. My biggest bugaboo about the book was that it did indeed have a lot of truth in it...only to be mingled with the philosophies of men. And considering how popular this book is (my book touted that it was the most translated book on the planet!!), it only then continues to confuse people about the REAL reason we are here on this earth. So, my faith in what I feel to be true took umbrage with the book.

For example, after a certain point, this just sounded like one long promotion for "The Secret," about how "the universe" is working to do everything "it" can to help you succeed in getting your "Personal Legend." Whereas "the universe" is never defined as the Lord, He never gets the real credit for what takes place. See, I wanted Santiago to go back to the church and discover that the "real" treasure that he was unable to initially see WAS the Divinity of God, who is capable of giving prophetic dreams, or placing opposition in our path (ie: the soilder at the pyramids) or windstorms, etc. etc. But that didn't happen.

In fact, one of the quotes that I rolled my eyes at is this:

"...there is one great truth on this planet: whoever you are, or whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, it's because that desire originated in the soul of the universe. It's your mission on earth."

Again, another example where it took elements of truth and then distorts the fact that "the soul of the universe" was something MORE. To me, that MORE is the knowledge that we lived premortally and first heard the plan of salvation. We KNEW then what our mission was on earth, but then we come to earth and the veil makes it so we have to "find our personal legend" again...but that legend isn't finding buried treasure in the literal sand, or fame or even wisdom or what we "really want" materially. It is learning the simple things like faith and repentance so that we can go back and live with our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ, which is what all of our souls truly cry for...a return to home, because that is where true happiness, where our true "Personal Legend" wants to lead us.

So, I guess the book for me was like having all the ingredients for a great and elegant dessert, but after a few bites, you realize that it wasn't as good as you wanted it to be. It probably also made me realize I need to do more member missionary work if I feel this strongly about it.

UPDATE: I just got done listening to the first session on Sunday of General Conference and all I can say is that President Dieter F. Uchtdorf talk basically said everything I wish I could have said without being so clumsy about it.