Day 4: Style

"People continue to ask me if I knew The Alchemist would be such a huge success. 

The answer is no. How could I? When I sat down to write The Alchemist, 

all I knew was that I wanted to write about my soul."

- Paulo Coelho, Foreward to the 25th Anniversary Edition

Some have compared The Alchemist to the classic fairytales, others to biblical parables, and still others to the work of writers like Antoine de Saint-Exupery and Khalil Gibran. This may be due to the fact that what Coelho has created in this book is a story that seems to connect with people across time, culture, and belief system. The Alchemist has been praised by everyone from high school students who normally don't like to read, to the editors of the world's major newspapers, and has been translated into more languages than any other book by a living author. However you look at it, something in this story seems to connect with people. Is it connecting with you?

Discuss Coelho's writing style. What works, in terms of drawing you into the story? Does it remind you of another author? If so, who, and in what way?

Is there a particular type of book or other written work that usually speaks to you? How have the important things in your reading life shaped your worldview? What works do you return to when you need inspiration, consolation, or motivation?