:INFO
The Book That Keeps Returning to My Shelf
I have owned The Alchemist in five different editions. Three I gave away as gifts with genuine enthusiasm. Two of those three eventually came back to me, returned with a polite note suggesting I might want it back. I still do not know whether to take that as a commentary on the book or on my taste in gifts. I have since stopped giving it to people and started leaving it in places where it might find the right reader without my involvement.


:COUNTER.half
208 Pages
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:COUNTER.half
5 Copies Purchased

:CHECKLIST
People I Have Tried to Give This Book To
[x] My younger sister after she graduated from university
[x] A coworker who mentioned loving Hemingway in a meeting
[x] My partner during a long weekend away in the mountains
[ ] My father, who has not started it yet two years on
[ ] My best friend, who says he will get to it eventually

:JOURNEY
Reading The Alchemist
5 Genuinely moved
3 Sentimentality noticed
4 Made peace
2 Humbling

:QUOTE [quotetype:plain, subtitle:Paulo Coelho]
And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it.


:POLL
Have you ever had a gift book returned to you?
Yes and it was fine, I understood completely
Yes and it stung a little if I am honest
Never, my book gifts always land well
I have never given a book as a gift