Alchemist by Paulo Coelho|| Review by Maira Salman and Amna Gillani

PAULO COELHO'S enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world. This story, dazzling in its powerful simplicity and inspiring wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an alchemist, all of whom points Santiago in the direction of his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles along the way. But what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery of the treasure found within. Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transformation power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts.

Deeply philosophical, a literary marvel and simply unputdownable, Paulo Coelho's radiant masterpiece will undoubtedly leave his readers spell-bound. "The Alchemist" is an epic Odyssey as a young shepherd struggles to surrender to his heart's desire. His awakening recognition of his Personal Legend( i.e. destiny) led him to sacrifice his family's love. Blindly following his dream, heedless of the dangerous implications, he commences his voyage to the pyramids of Egypt in search of spiritual and literal treasure. Directed by an eccentric monarch, he gambles all his life's work to undertake a perilous expedition only to be manipulated by various individuals who portray loyalty. Losing his carefully accumulated wealth in a   in a sea of moment's distraction, Santiago is engulfed in a sea of despair threatening to drown him in tides of self pity. But he did not fall prey to it. In order to compensate for his inexplicable loss he is forced to earn his living through scrubbing crystal.

Santiago is in a midst of omens portraying his complicated destiny evoking a spiritual awakening in both him and the reader. His dream was to Santiago what water is to survival, what majesty is to an eagle and what inspiration is to an artist .Profound and inspirational, thorough and expressive, compelling and comprehensive, Paulo Coelho's work is a must-read for all book lovers.

Highly Recommended.

Master of Art|| Neil Buchanan's Majestic Paintings

Neil Buchanan ,an incredible artist with tremendous talent and potential, whose show Art Attack taught me all I know about art. The perfect show to instill creativity in children, Neil not only teaches to make amazing, handy things out of waste material and scratch but also teaches the most amazing art techniques from drawing to painting that simplifies art for amateurs. I could not possibly imagine a childhood without illuminating my days with Art Attack and it was greatly appalling for me and my sister to find out that the show would no longer be aired in our country.

A few of Neil's astounding artwork is displayed below.Get ready to get mind-blown.