I think it's fine for what it is (a feel-good story full of inspirational quotes), but if you're looking for a serious and intelligent story, you'll probably be disappointed.

He’s dead, so nothing is wrong with him now. But when he was alive, everything was.

Paulo Coelho is from Brazil and the book was originally written in Portuguese. It was a simple allegory, published locally, and did not do well. Several years later an English-speaking person visiting Brazil, offered to purchase the rights to the book and translate it into English. He also made suggestions to make the story longer. Gradually the book became famous all over the world.

Even though it is a very simple book, I like The Alchemist because the character works toward his goal and does not give up. Modern-day books with similar themes, such as The Secret by Rhonda Byrne seem to suggest you just have to want your goal bad enough and it will come to you without having to work for it.

I am really surprised by a lot of comments that say the book is not impressive. I am not impressed either. I think it's really overrated. I wonder how it became such a "masterpiece" then?

Scott Lynch literally writes about stealing from the rich. Like. Come on.

I’ve yet to read Doctor Sleep (on my TBR, finally got around to The Shining last month) but I’m currently reading Salems Lot.

He has an entire chapter ranting about the town and how it’s an evil entity that traps the souls of the inhabitants because they know every nook & cranny, every person and every thing about that person, all of the events, and so on. It’s so absurdly sinister and drones on for pages, I found it absolutely brilliant. It really captured my feelings as someone who was raised in a town of less than 10k and now lives in a large city.

How are you enjoying Doctor Sleep so far compared to The Shining?

Talking about or having something in your writing doesn’t mean you believe in that thing. But how the author treats it, does. What happens to the racists in the Expanse? How are they portrayed?

You’re literally making my point.

James SA Corey (Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck) wrote the expanse series and that deals with lots of racism and marginalization. Scott lynch from the gentlemen bastard series, lots!

I would love an example of an author you think isn’t in their work.

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Yes! I fell in love with Plum Sykes after reading The Debutante Divorcee and had to know more about her life. Rich girls fascinate me.

I know what you said and I’m telling you you’re wrong. What do you think all this anti-“woke” stuff is? JFC.

RIP Greg Bear

Oh, Harper Lee is a trigger name now.

She spent a lifetime earning an income, winning awards, and being praised for To Kill a Mockingbird. Then before she died she insisted on writing and publishing the sequel.

I am shocked that the new book was even published, and highly disappointed that it continues to be promoted for sale. The new book asserts physical abuse of women is normal and necessary, black people are a violent, ignorant subspecies, and most people need to be manipulated.

I wanted to break the CD I was listening to, but it was a library loan and I didn't want to put any money into the Harper Lee estate. It is hands down the worst book I have ever read. It's too bad they can't retroactively withdraw her Pulitzer Prize.

I think he is a bad writer.

I didn’t say people aren’t racist? I said there’s no place for people to be racist nowadays. Always two sided to a coin dude, whether you like it or not

Lol. People are racist all the time now, what the fuck are you talking about. And also, saying someone is “a product of their time” IS bullshit. Mark Twain was an ardent abolitionist, and he was alive during the civil war. Ffs.

The first time I ever read it I was so mad. The second time I read it I realized it was just a live lesson.

I respect your opinion but you’re using the luxury of hindsight in this situation. There’s always gonna be good and bad people who don’t share your opinion! That’s a matter of life, and yes you 100% have the choice to not read or indulge in these peoples work. BUT saying product of their time is bullshit is somewhat ignorant, given that it was the norm back in the day, whether you like it or not.

Now I am not a racist or a bigot in any sense, I just believe there’s more than one side to these arguments and using the luxury of hindsight is somewhat ignorant. Nowadays, there’s no place for people to be a racist in any sense, but back then, it wasn’t frowned upon.

Sure. Sometimes shitty people make art. And the art has shitty views in it. If you can’t see that when you read it, you should do some soul searching. I’m not saying don’t read them. But you should know their worldview.

You can find people in those same eras who aren’t giant pieces of trash, just like you can today. The whole “product of their time” line is such utter bullshit. He chose to write racist shit because he was a racist. You should know the context of his life before reading. You should know he’s a raging bigot. Same with Marian Zimmer Bradley, same with any artist.

I learned that just because a book is on one of those 100 Books To Read Before You Die it's not always going to be a good book with depth and impact. Sometimes it's just going to be a book written to sell well and have a shallow meaning easily grasped by a lot of people.

I understand where you’re coming from. But people seem to forget people can be a product of their times and are entitled to their own opinions! HP love craft for example, died in 1937, so his thoughts and opinions were very much a product of his time. I don’t think any negative opinions he held takes away from the magnificent work he produced.

If I were to write a story, and it involved a marginalized group being targeted, that doesn’t mean I’m racist, it might just be an aspect that I believe it important in the story and could be seen as interesting.

I understand where you’re coming from but sometimes shitty people make amazing art!

You cannot separate art from the artist. Go write something and tell me you aren’t in it. Even if everything is made up, it’s based on what they believe or as satire. From HP Lovecraft to JRRT to Brandon Sanderson; from Jane Austen to Mary Shelley to Ursula K Le Guin. Art is the very embodiment of an artist.

Hi there. Your post would be better asked in our Simple Questions thread. It helps us keep the main subreddit focused around broader discussion rather topics which only apply to an individual. Thank you!