December 27, 2021 - The Center Woman’s Reading Club met on Thursday, December 2nd at the FUMC fellowship hall. Sue Russell gave a very interesting program on The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho. Sue chose the book as it is a book about following one’s heart.
The Alchemist was originally written in Portuguese. It has been translated into 67 languages.
An alchemist is someone who practices alchemy, which is the practice of transforming things for the better whether real or imagined.
The Alchemist is the story about Santiago, an adventurous Andalusian shepherd. Santiago has a recurring dream every time he sleeps under a certain sycamore tree that has grown out of the ruins of a church. During the dream, a child tells Santiago to seek treasure at the foot of the Egyptian pyramids. Santiago consults a gypsy woman to interpret the dream, and to his surprise she tells him to go to Egypt. A strange magical old man named Melchizedek, who claims to be the King of Salem, echoes the gypsy’s advice and tells Santiago that it is his Personal Legend to journey to the pyramids. Melchizedek convinces Santiago to sell his flock of sheep and set off to Tangier. When Santiago arrives in Tangier, a thief robs him, forcing him to find work with a local crystal merchant. The conservative and kindly merchant teaches Santiago several lessons and Santiago encourages the merchant to take risks in business. The risks pay off and the merchant and Santiago become rich men.
Santiago decides to cash in his earnings and continue pursuing his Personal Legend to find treasure at the pyramids. He joins a caravan crossing the Sahara desert towards Egypt and meets an Englishman who is studying to become an Alchemist. Santiago learns a lot from the Englishman, including the secret of alchemy is written on a stone called the Emerald Tablet.
The ultimate creation of alchemy is the Master Work, which consists of a solid called the Philosopher’s Stone that can turn lead to gold and a liquid called the Elixir of Life that can cure all ills. The Englishman is traveling with caravan to the Saharan oasis of Al-Faiyum, where a powerful 200-year-old alchemist resides. The Englishman plans to ask the alchemist the secret of his trade.
The caravan must make an extended stop in Al-Faiyum in order to avoid increasingly violent tribal wars taking place in the desert. There, Santiago falls in love with Fatima, who lives in the oasis. Santiago eventually meets the alchemist who teaches Santiago about the importance of listening to his heart and pursuing his Personal Legend. As they travel together through the desert, the alchemist shares much of his wisdom. They are captured by a tribe of Arab soldiers and the alchemist tells the soldiers Santiago is a powerful alchemist who will turn into wind in three days. Santiago is alarmed as he has no idea how he can turn into wind. On the third day, after much thought, Santiago communicates with the wind and the sun asking for help. He prays and suddenly there is a sandstorm. At the height of the sandstorm, Santiago disappears. He reappears on the other side of the camp, and is freed.
Santiago continues on his journey. At the foot of the pyramids, Santiago starts digging for treasure only to be accosted. The men decide he has nothing to steal and leave him but before they leave, one of the men tells Santiago dreams are worthless and shares his dream about a treasure buried in an abandoned church in Spain where a sycamore tree grows. The church is the same one in which Santiago had his original dream and he finally understands where his treasure is buried. Santiago returns to Spain to find a chest of jewels and gold buried under the tree, and plans to return with it to Al-Faiyum, where he will reunite with Fatima.
Delicious refreshments were served and a time of fellowship followed.
Guests are always welcome. Please contact the club membership coordinator, Monty Jones, at 936-598-5757 if you are interested in visiting the club.
Submitted by Stephanie Elswick
