A few years I finally read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. Coelho’s most well-known inspirational novel has captivated and enchanted readers around the world. I will admit that I did not get the same feeling as many readers have from it. However, it intrigued me, and I wanted to try another novel by one of modern fiction’s most well-known authors.

Aleph came onto my radar a few weeks ago, and I got the ebook version from my local library here in San Antonio, Texas. Coelho considers it his most personal novel, and the protagonist, who shares the author’s first name, is a best-selling writer facing a crisis of faith.

The protagonist travels around the world and ends up taking a trip across Russia via the Trans-Siberian Railway. The trip is meant to rejuvenate his life and help him find his purpose again. However, he meets a young violinist named Hilal, whom he met before in a previous life. Their reunion makes up the bulk of the story, and Paulo learns more about himself than he could have ever imagined.

Aleph was an interesting read that offered some intriguing perspectives on how to live life. However, I felt there were two stories happening in the novel, and they did not connect for me as a reader. Although Paulo and Hilal could revisit their past lives together, these moments disrupted the flow of the story, pulling me from its grasp. I’ll confess that the journey across Russia was the true essence of the story, and the other elements felt unnecessary.

Coelho has written another interesting book, and on the surface it seems to be the type of book that would be in my reader wheelhouse. But, I did not totally connect with Aleph and felt disappointed after finishing the story.

However, there were gems of wisdom that I appreciated in the novel. Here’s one to end my review:

“Is it possible to deviate from the path God has made? Yes, but it’s always a mistake. Is it possible to avoid pain? Yes, but you’ll never learn anything. Is it possible to know something without ever having experienced it? Yes, but it will never truly be part of you.”

There have never been truer words spoken.