It's an excellent novel. In fact, a master piece by Paulo Coelho.

I read it some 2 years back, but still the astonishing influence of that particular novel over my memory rules. The most attractive line, from the book, that revolves in my mind till date is,
"Whoever you are and whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, it's because the desire originated in the soul of universe. It's your mission on earth."

Dear friends, you won't believe, but once I completed the reading of novel, my entire previous life memories, from childhood (3,4 years of age when I was) to the my then age, which was perhaps 23 years at that time, started revolving in my mind. I spontaneously started comparing my ex-life experiences to that of Paulo Coelho's sayings, and to the most extent I found them in accordance with each other.

In a nut shell, The Alchemist is extremely motivational writing and a great deal of lesson is hidden in it.

Regards . . .