Paul Coelho’s The Alchemist is written beautifully. That I listened to it as an audiobook made the smooth narrative easy to follow as I ran across suburban streets. I wouldn’t recommend this novel to anyone, unless they’re seeking something light and fast. It reads almost like a self-help tome written, an allegorical tale steeped in South America’s magic realism literary culture. Whereas Marquez’s novels like 100 Years of Solitude require some engagement and thought, Coelho spells most everything out for you. Not to say that efforts to peel beneath its veneer would not reveal additional layers or substance but rather that you’d find much of the veneer to be its substance; the novel spells out much of what it contains. I might have missed a lot, and perhaps its didactic nature beguiled me, shrouding its richer concepts beyond my sight, but I suspect that part of the book’s popularity lies in its accessibility and general message, which are things that I support and appreciate.
I finished listening to the novel during a run. I had planned to time its completion with my return home; however, an urge to add another half mile struck so I put on some music. Given that I was fumbling with my phone while running along streets, which also involves ensuring that I maintain proper distance from passersby, I selected one of the first options I saw. A Touch of Grey sounded, which isn’t a song I listen to frequently, and it has likely been years since I’ve played it. Sometimes it’ll come on while I’m shopping for groceries but then it’s more of a backdrop that does remind me that I’ll survive the store, which, I suppose, I appreciate. At this moment, it was the perfect song. The Alchemist brightened my mood with its general theme and then this cheerful, optimistic song fit this COVID-19 heaviness. “I will survive. I will get by.” “Every silver lining has a touch of grey.” The bouncy nature of the tune meshed with my stride. I sang along, I smiled. I laughed. My pace quickened. It was wonderful. Then Friend of the Devil came on. And then Uncle John’s Band. Ok, so we’re heading through the checklist of pop hits, but, whatever, these songs are nevertheless good and sparkly and they fueled my reserves, bounded me forward, and got me through an additional couple of miles beyond what I had planned. Not a bad way to wean a little love.