The Alchemist, Paulo Coeho
8/28/03
A book about following dreams. The hero, a boy, Santagio, gives up seminary to be a Shepard, to travel.
“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting”
“At a certainly point on our lives, we lose control of what’s happening to us and our lives become controlled by fate. That’s world’s greatest lie.”
In a plaza in Africa:
“This wasn’t a strange place, it was a new one”
The boy learns from each unexpected life event:
Shepherding, the language of omens
Crystal Sales
The Desert
The Englishman, who was looking the wrong way
The Alchemist
Fatima
The wind, sand, and sun
His journey takes him across the desert, to see the pyramids, but that is all. It was the means to the end that was the treasure.
Good vs. Evil, Love vs. Fear
And following a dream, a personal journey
Very good book, rec by Carolyne, a long time ago.
Thursday, August 28, 2003
Friday, August 15, 2003
Book: For Whom the Bell Tolls
For Whom the Bell Tolls, Ernest Hemmingway
8/15/03
This is a story of an American in the “International Brigade,” kind of a special forces type organization, combat engineer type attached to an anti-fascist gorilla unit in the mountains of Spain. He is preparing to blow up a bridge to prevent the enemy from reinforcing in an upcoming battle. He meets a girl who he falls in love with. He must further teach the trade of guerilla war fighting.
Very simply written with much dialogue. I suppose that is the Hemmingway style.
A fair amount of time is spent discussing killing in war. It is ok to like it? To do it? It is the timeless struggle of a soldier.
Also discussed how appropriate a relationships during such conflicts. How time forces speed and “imformalneess” in the romance of Robert Jordan and Maria.
In the end, Pablo betrays, but comes back and they blow the bridge. Rob is injured while crossing the road during the escape and he is left to die and contemplate death.
The entertaining part of the book is the whole story. A soldier, behind enemy lines bring a bunch of locals together to blow a bridge. Throw in a girl and a Pablo. The greatness factor is in the contemplation that is given to each character, Pilar, Pablo’s wife, Maria Alamosa, the old man, and, of course, Robert. In the end, as Robert contemplates his death it is clear that Hemmingway has seen much of it and knows what passes before life completes itself.
While simply written in Hemmingway’s known style, the story and lessons and emotions are great.
8/15/03
This is a story of an American in the “International Brigade,” kind of a special forces type organization, combat engineer type attached to an anti-fascist gorilla unit in the mountains of Spain. He is preparing to blow up a bridge to prevent the enemy from reinforcing in an upcoming battle. He meets a girl who he falls in love with. He must further teach the trade of guerilla war fighting.
Very simply written with much dialogue. I suppose that is the Hemmingway style.
A fair amount of time is spent discussing killing in war. It is ok to like it? To do it? It is the timeless struggle of a soldier.
Also discussed how appropriate a relationships during such conflicts. How time forces speed and “imformalneess” in the romance of Robert Jordan and Maria.
In the end, Pablo betrays, but comes back and they blow the bridge. Rob is injured while crossing the road during the escape and he is left to die and contemplate death.
The entertaining part of the book is the whole story. A soldier, behind enemy lines bring a bunch of locals together to blow a bridge. Throw in a girl and a Pablo. The greatness factor is in the contemplation that is given to each character, Pilar, Pablo’s wife, Maria Alamosa, the old man, and, of course, Robert. In the end, as Robert contemplates his death it is clear that Hemmingway has seen much of it and knows what passes before life completes itself.
While simply written in Hemmingway’s known style, the story and lessons and emotions are great.
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