The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho:
On the Back of the Book:
Dreams are made to be followed.
Life is meant to be lived.
Some books are meant to be read, 
loved and passed on.
The Alchemist is one of those books.
The Alchemist is the story of a shepherd boy from the Spanish region of Andalusia who journeys to the exotic markets of North Africa and then into the Egyptian desert, where a fateful encounter with the alchemist awaits him.
Information: 177 (Paperback).
This is one of those books that if it 'grabs you' you will finish reading in a few nights.
It carries a message of hope - to persevere, even when things seem hopeless. It is inspirational, in a similar way to books like Jonathan Livingstone Seagull.