Paulo Coelho: The Alchemist (soft cover)

“I should listen to some more of that f*ing book,” I’d think to myself with a heaving sigh and a sense of dread while getting ready for work. I usually love listening to audiobooks while getting ready for my day, so I never thought that I’d hate the process so much.

But here we are, and this is that book.

There are so many excellent reviews spelling out just how horrible this sorry excuse for a novel is, so I won’t go into much detail.

First and foremost, The Alchemist’s main character, the Boy is annoying. I suddenly see where the inspiration for Bella Swan came from. I’ve had more fun staring into the abyss of my own thoughts, than following him on his quest. His journey to his treasure is less exciting than a drunken ramble with a brick wall. The tone is preachy and obnoxious, promising all men great things if they but look for them and offering up the cult ideology that the universe will provide.