The Alchemist (1988 Portuguese, 1994 English) By Paulo Coelho

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho was/is one of those trendy books everyone, and I do mean everyone, was reading back in the 1990’s -- only I never read it, until now.  As is my usual habit, I read some reviews of the book after I finished it.  What I discovered was that some 50,000 reviews of The Alchemist have been written, which underscores just how big of an international best seller it has been.

Many of the reviews insisted on categorizing it as a “self-help” book because of its “pursue your dream” message.  While I’m okay with that, I think it might be a bit simplistic – call it a related collection of philosophy essays, with more than a few religious undertones, and you get my vote.

The book follows the adventures of a shepherd boy living in Andalusia.  He has a vivid dream which repeats itself.  When he goes to a Gypsy for help in interpreting the dream, the adventures begin: he sells his sheep and follows his dream.  It’s a fun story that includes traveling across the Sahara Desert from Morocco to the Pyramids.  It includes tribal warfare, love, lots of hard work with business success, robbery and mysticism of the natural environment.  It includes shepherds, Gypsies, bakers, kings, crystal merchants, an Englishman, and caravans. 

While it’s not an original plot, it is a beautifully written version of it.

The 25^th Anniversary edition of the book, which is what I read, contains an introduction by the author that is interesting when placed in the context of the book.  Apparently when it was first written it did not sell many copies, but Coelho never gave up on his Personal Legend of being a major author.  

Recommendation: Make some tea, grab an afghan and pull up a chair.  Enjoy.

The Girl on The Train (2015) By Paula Hawkins

Earlier this year I thought I had read a book recommended by my friend Angela; it ended up I had picked up the wrong book.  I read The Girl on “A” Train, by A.J. Waines; while what she had recommended was The Girl on “The” Train, by Paula Hawkins.  But, we both agree: “A” is good, “The” is much better.

The Girl on The Train is a psychological thriller, somewhat similar to Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.  And like Gone Girl it is being made into a movie, to be released later this year (2016).

The girl in The Train is named Rachel, and she’s a mess, as you’ll figure out no later than the first chapter.  She’s a heavy drinker.  No that’s not right, she is an alcoholic.  She’s been on a binge ever since her divorce ... two years ago.  She’s also been fired from her job, but instead of telling her roommate about her work situation she gets up every morning and takes a commuter train into London, pretending to be going to the office.  What she sees each morning and evening through the train’s windows, at it passes through the town where she once lived with her ex-husband, is the plot of the book.

Of course, as an alcoholic, she has a credibility problem.  Life is frequently a blur to her, and complete blackouts are part of her history – or are they?

I had trouble with the beginning of this book because I had difficulty working up any sympathy for Rachel.  I (wrongly) have little patience for people who can’t seem to pull it together.  By the end of the book however, Rachel was the only character I had any empathy with.  She's clearly still trying to get her life in gear, but by the final chapter I’m pulling for her, and thinking she’s going to succeed.

Recommendation:  Great read.