The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

The first Paulo Coelho book that i have read.

This book was introduced to me by a friend (thanks tutubie way), and i found it simple but influential.

The story is all about Santiago, a sheperd boy who travels to find his own "personal legend" and a treasure buried in the pyramids. along the way, he met a gypsy, a man who calls himself a king, and an alchemist.

What is an alchemist? according to the book, an alchemist is "a man who understands the nature of the world", according to mr. webster it is the "one who studies and practices the chemistry of middle ages", according to the online dictionary "the one who has a power or process of transforming something common into something special", according to franklin language master "one who practices medieval chemistry". so what's an alchemist again? . . .

okay so much for that, let's proceed to the moral lesson.

I learned that everything in this world is possible if only you let it happen. have courage and follow your heart, but if you don't, you'll be doomed to a life of emptiness, misery and unfulfillment. don't let your heart be conquer by fear, because fear is the greatest obstacle to happiness. All of us has our own dreams in life, but many of us just gave up that dream and lose our passion in life. But this book tells us to follow your dreams! know your personal legend! your purpose in life! but for me, start with God first before everything, because He is the creator, the owner of this world. our happiness, courage, strength comes from Him and our own personal legend is written by Him.

I would highly recommend this book to everyone. a quick read and insipring indeed!

Stainless Longganisa ni Bob Ong

Ang ikalimang libro ni Bob Ong.

Tungkol nga ba saan ang librong Stainless Longganisa? yan ang itinanong ko sa aking sarili nung nakita ko ang libro sa bookstore. Hindi na ako nagatubili at binuksan agad ang nakasealed na libro. Nagbasa ng kaunti, tumawa, nagbasa ulit, nasiyahan, at sa hindi katagalan ibinili ko na.

Ano nga ba ang nilalaman ng nasabing libro?

Ibinahagi ni Bob Ong sa kanyang libro na may sari-sariling istilo ang bawat manunulat. Kahit hindi sundan ang pormal na paraan sa pagsusulat, basta ang mahalaga ay naiparating mo ng malinaw ang mensahe sa mga mambabasa. Ipinaliwanag rin nya dito kung paano at sino ang mga humikayat sa kanya para ipagpatuloy ang pagsusulat, ang kanyang pananaw sa literatura, ang mga pinagdaanan na paghihirap noong isinulat ang kanyang unang librong "ABNKKBSNPLAko?!".

Sa librong ito ni Bob Ong, makikita ninyo ang parte ng pagkatao niya sa pamamaraan kung paano siya magsulat. Ang mga salita nito ang hindi malalalim at hindi pormal ang mga wika na ginamit. Para sa kanya, ang pagsusulat ay isang kakaibang trabaho pero, iba naman ang naidudulot nitong saya at karangalan sa sarili.

Ang masasabi ko lang sa librong "Stainless Longganisa" :
Maganda. Sapul. Sulit. Nakakatuwa. Totoo.

Kaya ang mahalaga, huwag mawalan ng pag-asa sa gustong abutin sa buhay. Magsumikap ka. Magsulat ka kung gusto mo, dahil may buhay sa pagsusulat.