2 posts tagged “book”
There are
two types of people in this world: those who like Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist, and those who don’t. I
fall into the latter category, and I’m probably the only person I know who has
read the book who wasn’t completely blown away. (So, I guess this means the two types of people in this world are -- “everyone in the world” and “Mitch Schneider”.)
Let me first acknowledge I understand the popularity of The Alchemist… According to Wikipedia, The Alchemist has sold over 65 million copies in 150 countries, and has been translated into nearly 60 languages. It’s won awards; it’s being made into a movie; it’s featured front and center in any bookstore you enter… I get it – The Alchemist is clearly a good book (and it’s certainly well-written and moves quickly).
But I didn’t like it, plain and simple. The story (which is about a young boy, Santiago, who believes in omens that carry him from one destination and environment to another) is just Über-sappy and parable-like. The Alchemist is meant to inspire the reader to go after his or her dreams, and to never settle... If I wanted this inspiration, I’d watch the movie, Rudy. I bet, if you read The Secret, and liked it, you would want to own multiple copies of The Alchemist for every room in your house.
I think my problem is I read this book well into my late twenties, when I’d like to think I’ve figured most things out (or have an idea which way to go). This book is probably best read by fresh-out-of-school college graduates, members of Greenpeace, or people on Zoloft.
I’m not going to comment any further because you’ve likely just reported this blog post to the Homeland Security Council. But in keeping with the tradition of my One Minute Book Reviews, I’m giving The Alchemist two “Mitch’s” out of five.
My next book: Choke, by Chuck Palahniuk
Past reviews:
-The Tender Bar (Rating: 3.5 out of 5)
-The Kite Runner (Rating: 4 out of 5)
I wrapped up Jon Krakauer’s 2003 book, Under the Banner of Heaven, earlier this year, and whole-heartedly recommend it. Krakauer’s read is incredibly interesting, well-written, and paces really well. It reminds me of those long, absorbing pieces in the Sunday New York Times; the ones you phone your mom halfway through to tell her to read it.
There are two interweaving plot lines in Under the Banner of Heaven: the first is the story of the Mormon-raised Lafferty brothers who end up murdering their younger brother’s wife and daughter (claiming that a revelation told them to carry out these killings); and the second is the history of Mormonism and how Joseph Smith cultivated and developed this religion from the 1830’s on.
Krakauer does an awesome job putting the reader in both the minds of the Lafferty brothers, as well as Joseph Smith and other influential Mormons. You really feel like you’re along for the ride in both the murder story, and the history of Mormonism, and you find yourself tearing through the chapters to uncover the next significant event.
I also enjoyed how Krakauer detailed the drive and determination by Joseph Smith to create a new religion in more modern times. Smith’s creation was a miracle in itself, and the fact that Mormonism is alive and thriving today is a real testament to Smith and the early believers of this religion.
While Krakauer does mention both positive and negative tenets to Mormonism, it’s pretty clear his slant is more negative. Though I sense some people may be upset by Krakauer’s imbalance (i.e., Mormons who may read this book), I kind of wished he would have taken an ever harder line to put down some of Mormonism's (alleged) practices of racism, polygamy and statutory rape -- especially in the wake of the recent raid on a West Texas Church of Latter Day Saints’ ranch, where over 400 children were seized by the authorities.
Regardless,
this is a page-turning, eye-opening read by Krakauer, and I give it four “Mitch’s”
out of five. I’m embarrassed to say I haven’t yet read Krakuer’s Into Thin Air or Into the Wild. But after reading Under the Banner of Heaven, I’ll certainly need to dive into these predecessors
sooner rather than later.
My next book: The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho
Past reviews:-The Tender Bar (Rating: 3.5 out of 5)
