Reading Response

     This week I took a break from reading Flowers for Algeron and started reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho .  This book is about a boy who is a shepherd, traveling with his sheep. Until he goes into town and talks with a man (who he later finds out is a king) that tells him that to pursue his personal legend he must go to the pyramids in Egypt. At first the boy just wants to stay and marry a girl he met in town and his sheep but he rises to the occasion to find the treasure. He encounters many obstacles along the way but continues to work hard to follow his personal legend.

      This book has a lot of philosophical statements. To me the most thought provoking one was "Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their own lives.  But no one has a clear idea of how to live their own." (pg.16). Its true,Everyone (including me) has judged someone on the way they live their life whether it be someone's religion, the way they dress, or their culture. I failed to ever think of the flip side though. 

        As Americans we are always following magazine trends or getting the biggest thing. Most of us don't have a clear way to live our lives other than following trends. However we do judge anyone who doesn't follow the same trends as us. I never thought of it as that person is figuring out how to live their life and that I am doing the same. 

    8/28- 30 min, 8/29-40, 8/31-60 min 9/1-25 min