If you read The Alchemist by Paul Coelho as an adult mystery, or a thriller, or a romance, you will be greatly disappointed. Although at times, The Alchemist is all three of those genres. It is mainly an allegorically spiritual novel aimed for young adults and adults; it's for all ages.It is about Santiago who lives in Spain. He keeps dreaming of treasure and pyramids while shepherding his sheep. One day he meets a king named Melchizedek, who advises him to follow his dream and find his treasure. He follows this advice and the adventures he comes across are the stories.
The plot is fantastically imaginative. Religions are mixed up with references to Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, etc.. That's why I described it as spiritual and not religious. There's something for everybody.
The moral is to follow your dream.
