The alchemist by Paulo Coelho

I read this way before short time after I bought it at Popular book store, but cant remember whether I finished it then. Certainly finished it this time around, down till the epilogue. Don't quite like it when the boy was certain about looking for the gypsy woman to give half of his treasure to her as he had promised. Why? Because I'm not comfortable with this kind of honesty, is it really in existence anywhere in this world that I've been living in for 41years now? I feel like this narration is a non fiction. I actually skipped the preface but now since I have to check and be certain of whether this is a work of fiction or non, I've got to read the preface. Will write again soon as I finish. Ahhh, have read the preface and.....he said that this is a symbolic book. Huh? Well, I guess the boy Santiago could be the author or someone he imagines to be in search of the magical power of alchemy. Huh? Gosh, I'm slow with this.