1) THE ALCHEMIST by Paulo Coelho

The first book in my 50 Books in 2013 project! I know that I am probably one of the last people on Earth to pick up a copy of this book, but I figured that, as a literature student, I should read this book.

As one of the most popular novels in modern literature, there has always been an argument as to whether or not this book deserves the praise it garnered upon its publication. After reading it, I was finally able to form my own opinions about it.

Is it overrated? Yes, but it is a very enjoyable read. The story of the Andalusian shepherd who leaves everything behind in order to fulfill his Personal Legend was very entertaining and inspiring in a fairy tale sort of way. There is also a lot of that well-loved mysticism which sets Latin American literature apart from the rest. However, I think that Coelho tried too hard to make the novel something life-changing and profound to the point where he begins to become somewhat preachy. Also, towards the end of the novel, the mystical aspect of the story began to feel a tad forced and cheesy. 
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The book is also full of wonderful and inspirational quotes. I took note of the ones that I especially liked:

"It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting."

"It's the simple things in life that are most extraordinary; only wise men are able to understand them."

". . . when each day is the same as the next, it's because people fail to recognize the good things that happen in their lives every day that the sun rises."

"Not everyone can see his dream come true in the same way."

"Every blessing ignored becomes a curse."

"Making a decision is only the beginning of things."

"People need not fear the unknown if they are capable of achieving what they need and want."

"When you can't go back, you have to worry only about the best way of moving forward."

"Everything on earth is alive...and it [the Earth] has a soul.We are part of that soul, so we rarely recognize that it is working for us."

"Every search begins with begginner's luck. And every search ends with the victor's being severely tested."

To be fair, reading this book was a good way to start off the year. being about following your dreams, facing hardship, making sacrifices, and following your heart, this story reminded me of a lot of the lessons we learn as children but often forget.

Until always,

Lemonjuicesodapop

Another Rainy Day

Another rainy day, another blog post, another hour of procrastinating.

While reading Miguel Syjuco's  Ilustrado, one of the assigned novels for my literature class, I came across this line:

"Clichés remind and reassure us that we’re not alone, that others have trod this ground long ago."

This is, in my opinion, a very interesting way of looking at it. Whenever people use the word cliché, it is with a negative connotation. Miguel Syjuco's view of it, however, is of a positive and comforting note. It goes to show that things are never really one-sided and that there is always more than one way of looking at the same thing. 

I just thought I should share this quote. It may not be a deep philosophical reflection on the meaning of life or any of those literary quotes that people see on tumblr, but it gives you a new view on the concept of clichés. 

Until always,

Lemonjuicesodapop

Quotes from a Literary Birthday Celebrant

Rainy days always lead me to tumblr. One of the tumblrs I am following published a commemorative post for  the 465th birthday of Miguel de Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote de La Mancha. While I have never read the novel, I grew up listening to my parents tell me the story over and over again. Don Quixote was also the first movie my parents took me to see in the annual Spanish Film Festival help by Instituto Cervantes, the Spanish language center set up by the Spanish Embassy. So the story of the delusional nobleman who travels across the countryside with his servant, Sancho Panza, to fight monster-windmills holds a special place in my heart.

Miguel de Cevantes

(c) anniecarbo.tumblr.com

The tumblr post listed down a number of notable quotes (translated to English) from the great Spanish writer which I would like to share:

1. "The pen is the tongue of the mind."

2. "In order to attain the impossible, one must attempt the absurd."

3. "By such innovations are languages enriched, when the words are adopted by the multitude, and naturalized by custom."

4. "It is one thing to write as poet and another to write as a historian: the poet can recount or sing about things not as they were, but as they should have been, and the historian must write about them not as they should have been, but as they were, without adding or subtracting anything from the truth."

5."The pen is the language of the soul; as the concepts that in it are generated, such will be its writings."

6. "Our greatest foes, and whom we must chiefly combat, are within."

Until always,

lemonjuicesodapop