The Alchemist

The Alchemist is one of those books you hear about a lot as being something you absolutely HAVE to read, that is so amazingly fabulous/life altering etc...

But honestly, it's got to be one of the most awful books I have EVER read.

SERIOUSLY.

It's a cheesy spiritual advice/ self-help-for-the-life-challenged type books disguised (barely) as a novel.

The basic premise of the book as that a shepherd boy from spain goes on a journey to find some ambigious treasure in the pyramids.

The premise is interesting enough and written by someone else it could be a very fascinating.

Granted the book is short, but for 167 pages he pretty much makes the same point over and over in the least subtle ways possible.

"You can do whatever want you just need to follow your dreams and really want them. By the way you should follow your dreams. And oh did i mention you really need to want to follow your dreams. Yeah following your dreams...you should definitetly do that" That would be my summary of the whole book.

The writing style itself wasn't too bad, because I am a fan of simple sentences that are not so flowery and Dickens like. But, it what he rights is positively obnoxious. Everything in the books is so 2D. The world is only black and white and no one has as much personality as a styrofoam cup in this book.

Coelho also likes to capitilize words in a pretentious annoying way....for example the books constaaaantly references people's Personal Legend, the Soulof the World, and the Language of the World.

One of the most annoying (and oft repeated) quotes is:

"When a person really desires something, all the universe conspires to help that person realize his dream"

WTF. I mean seriously man. That is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard, besides being a child-like simplification on life. What I find most irritating is that it implies that anyone who fails just didn't really want it. urgh.

I know that people want to be inspired by books sometimes (myself included) but I think there are much better books out there---ones that are realistic, and deep, and filled with real characters with interesting plots and without a bunch of Personal Legend mumbo jumbo.

Beachy Hiatus

Sorry folks, but after tommorrow I will be gone for a bit....because I am going to go camping in Sardnia (a beachy island off the coast of italy) with my boyfriend.

The weather should be in the late 20's (early to mid 80's for you fahrenheiters), and I hope to get a bit of sun and surf...yup I know you're all jealous :)

will try to post a few things before I leave!

xoxo

Berlin!

I am going to an Education Summit for work...which means I am getting a free flight to Berlin!

The summit is only going on Thursday and Friday, but they let me fly home on Sunday anyway! Sweeet. Plus free flight and transport to and from the airport. Hotel only for the days that the summit is, but I'm still stoked.

I've heard a lot of different opinions about Berlin, especially in comparison to Munich, so I'm excited to forumlate my own views soon!

Oh so Taxing...

So German tax time is coming up. Unlike the U.S., the deadline isn't until May 31st.

But I spent 2 hours in a tax workshop (in English, Gott sei Dank!), and my head is still spinning from the whole thing.

Apparently 60%!!! of all German literature is written about the German tax system.

Germany definitely lives up to its reputation for beauracracy. And I'm glad I'm not the only one confused... But on the plus side I may be able to get a bit of money back, so I hope it will be worth the hassle...