The Alchemist ( Chapter1 Part 1 )

Part1 Chapter 1The boy's name was Santiago. Dusk was falling as the boy arrived with his herd at an abandoned church. The roof had fallen in long ago, and an enormous sycamore had grown on the spot where the sacristy had once stood.He decided to spend the night there. He saw to it that all the sheep entered through the ruined gate, and then laid some planks across it to prevent the flock from wandering away during the night. There were no wolves in the region, but once an animal had strayed during the night, and the boy had had to spend the entire next day searching for it.He swept the floor with his jacket and lay down, using the book he had just finished reading as a pillow. He told himself that he would have to start reading thicker books: they lasted longer, and made more comfortable pillows.It was still dark when he awoke, and, looking up, he could see the stars through the half-destroyed roof.I wanted to sleep a little longer, he thought. He had had the same dream that night as a week ago, and once again he had awakened before it ended.He arose and, taking up his crook, began to awaken the sheep that still slept. He had noticed that, as soon as he awoke, most of his animals also began to stir. It was as if some mysterious energy bound his life to that of the sheep, with whom he had spent the past two years, leading them through the countryside in search of food and water. "They are so used to me that they know my schedule," he muttered. Thinking about that for a moment, he realized that it could be the other way around: that it was he who had become accustomed to their schedule.But there were certain of them who took a bit longer to awaken. The boy prodded them, one by one, with his crook, calling each by name. He had always believed that the sheep were able to understand what he said. So there were times when he read them parts of his books that had made an impression on him, or when he would tell them of the loneliness or the happiness of a shepherd in the fields. Sometimes he would comment to them on the things he had seen in the villages they passed.But for the past few days he had spoken to them about only one thing: the girl, the daughter of a merchant who lived in the village they would reach in about four days. He had been to the village only once, the year before. The merchant was the proprietor of a dry goods shop, and he always demanded that the sheep be sheared in his presence, so that he would not be cheated. A friend had told the boy about the shop, and he had taken his sheep there.

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  • Dear Darius,

    So there were times when he read them parts of his books that had made an impression on him, or when he would tell them of the loneliness or the happiness of a shepherd in the fields. Sometimes he would comment to them on the things he had seen in the villages they passed.

     

    I think this shepherd although in the first, the story says he made of pillow out of the books. But later on the story also says that he is reading to the sheep, that part of the books that made impression on him. So I think, he is a wide reader. And maybe he is also a kind of person who will just submerge himself on books than to say stories to his friends. I guess he is a loner cos he prefers more to confide to the sheep than to a friend.

     

    Do you think, in reality, most of the people who are a bookworm, they are intelligent but can't really relate to other people or does not really good in dealing people? They are not active in their social life, don't you think so too?

     

    I'd love to meet this boy..I think there are many surprises about him in the next parts.

     

    Thanks,

    mayumee
    • Dear Mayumi

      The quality of reading depends on something. 

      When teacher asked all students to draw a house most of them drew houses with gable roof.He asked students if they see a house with gable roof but non of them have seen it before.Think about a shepherd who is reading a book. I think his mind is fresher than us and it is our minds which  are under effects of so many things. Let me ask " when was the last time you stared at the sky to see stars for minutes?"

      " when was the last time  you stared at the sky to follow clouds and all the shapes which it's made  ?"

      But a shepherd's mind is completely free to see things which we usually are not able to see and to hear  sounds which  we usually are not able to hear.

      So I think the quality of reading could be completely different .

       

  • tnx 4 sharing !
    I countiou reading.
    • I'm glad to hear that . Thank you !
  • Hi Dear Karenina
    Oh Thank you !
    Finally you started to read it .I'm so glad . Please leave your comments about each part .I'm sure you have good things to say about them . I'm waiting impatiently.


    Karenina said:
    Darius,
    I enjoy The Alchemist, for sure I've learned some new words.
    Thanks for sharing with us, I will going the the next part.

    -K-
  • Dear Ensieh
    You said you read this book 2 or 3 weeks ago ,but I think you have read it 2 or 3 times because you've put your finger on its very tender thoughts of its writer .


    Ensie said:
    Hi Darius
    Finally you started your new story.I read this story 2-3 weeks ago but in farsi.It's a meaningful story that we can talk and discuss a lot about it.
    In the first part of first chapter,the writer tries to describe us a little about simple life of a shepherd that is called Santiago.He lives and also think simply.We understand it through these sentences:
    He swept the floor with his jacket and lay down, using the book he had just finished reading as a pillow. He told himself that he would have to start reading thicker books: they lasted longer, and made more comfortable pillows.
    He reads books to take his time and he prefers thicker books to have thicker pillows.But we understand something else too:A shepherd that reads books! He is different from the other shepherds.
    "They are so used to me that they know my schedule," he muttered. Thinking about that for a moment, he realized that it could be the other way around: that it was he who had become accustomed to their schedule.
    These lines say that it seldom occurs that we can change the world around us.Usually we ourselves are changed.When we experience the difficulties it makes us wiser and widens our eyes more.
  • Dear Hendro
    As you see in the third paragraph the writer has offered the first surprise for his reader . A shepherd! but he is differ from other shepherds around and at that age ."using the book he had just finished reading as a pillow. He told himself that he would have to start reading thicker books: they lasted longer, and made more comfortable pillows.". Yes a shepherd who reads books. And reader from he start of the story finds out it is a special story it is somehow paradoxical an educated shepherd. In previous and next paragraphs writer introduces him as a liable one .
    Little by little we ( as readers)will know him as one who respects to his dreams .
    And a romantic one .
    And finally one who has got a mind of economy .
    These component remind me all the things that SIDHARTHA*** followed them to reach to the truth which he was looking for .
    Maybe these are characteristics for starting a story like this .

    *** Sidhartha is the name of a book which it's written by Herman Hesse a German writer . Maybe it is the next book for reviewing here . Who knows??


    Hendro Purnomo said:
    its a good story Darius , telling us about the shepherd( the boy ) to always shearing the sheep skin in front of the proprietor .so the shepherd will not cheat and the proprietor will not cheated.
  • Dear Hani !
    Thank you very much
    I'm sure most of friends her have read this story but I've chosen this story because of some special points which is hidden there . Some Golden keys !!! . Exactly like an adventure in a computer game you need to get keys to be able to open the doors and you need to follow the signs to find your true way . I'm sure you will enjoy it .specially if you help me with your good useful comments which guide me to push it toward its best style .

    Hani said:
    hello dear Darius ..congratulation , we have the first chapter .i just remember the whole story while im reading yr effort of Alchemist . and about santiago that has long way up to his eyes,we will move with him till the final destination where this young boy will become experienced enough for life .lets see (>_^) keep doing as terrific as u can ......
    Hani
  • hello dear Darius ..congratulation , we have the first chapter .i just remember the whole story while im reading yr effort of Alchemist . and about santiago that has long way up to his eyes,we will move with him till the final destination where this young boy will become experienced enough for life .lets see (>_^) keep doing as terrific as u can ......
    Hani
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