Continuing through The Alchemist, I'm finding it more difficult to read. Perhaps it's just the formal writing style that seems rather boring to me sometimes. I may be getting too used to informal modern novels that don't take any effort to understand or decipher. Still though, The Alchemist presents insightful themes based on life experiences that are fascinating to learn from.
"I've crossed these sands many times...but the desert is so huge, and the horizons so distant, that they make a person feel small, and as if he should remain silent."
The Alchemist continuously mentions how much people can learn from nature. When Santiago is travelling through the Sahara desert, he describes it as old and wise, and recognizes that he can learn something from the desert, just as he learned from his sheep when he was a shepherd. Crossing the Sahara is dangerous, and many have died in the attempt. Santiago is maturing above what is common for his age by realizing how insignificant he is in the grand scheme of things. In order for him to survive the journey, he must respect the desert and learn to live under it's conditions. Its refreshing to read about people appreciating the elemental force of the world. Hopefully his humble tendencies will aid him in his efforts to travel the world and learn from everything the world has to offer.
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