May was a month of a single book, consumed by the whirlwind of travel, new encounters, and the lingering pangs of separation. Yet, there’s truth to the adage, “Read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles.”

I stumbled upon Paulo Coelho’s “The Devil & Miss Prym” at a secondhand bookstore in Chiang Mai. As I embarked on a journey of self-reconciliation and revisiting my past, I found myself drawn to the tactile experience of physical books once again. Throughout my two-month adventure, I acquired five or six books, the only addition to my luggage’s weight. (Oh, and let’s not forget the postcards and stamps!)

Inspired by a fellow traveler who diligently penned handwritten postcards to loved ones, I rediscovered a part of my childhood self. The true joy of encounters lies not in meeting strangers but in reconnecting with fragments of our own selves that we’ve lost along the way.

Having long cherished “The Alchemist,” Coelho’s only previous work I’d read, I was surprised to discover a stack of his books at the old bookstore. Drawn to its emerald cover, I picked up “The Devil & Miss Prym.”

Much like “The Alchemist,” this novel is characterized by its simple plot, concise language, and easy readability. Coelho’s stories often explore common themes, such as self-discovery, the duality of good and evil, and faith in God.

In a recent show, Chinese author Mai Jia remarked that individuals without a strong inner core are easily swayed by external influences, lacking their own convictions. Coelho’s works possess a distinct personal style. Whether or not one subscribes to his beliefs, the idea of finding a guiding principle for one’s life and faith can provide a sense of stability amidst the chaos of the modern world. What kind of life do we aspire to lead? The answer lies in actively listening, observing, and absorbing knowledge. But most importantly, we must dare to be our authentic selves.

The novel’s plot revolves around a mysterious stranger who arrives in a remote village with eleven gold bars. Miss Prym, the story’s protagonist, is a young woman yearning to escape the confines of her small-town existence. The stranger’s plan to test the villagers’ morality using the gold bars culminates in a predictable triumph of good over evil.

One particular scene particularly resonated with me. The author vividly depicts a snapshot of life: a seemingly blissful couple harboring hidden resentments, a poised and elegant single woman harboring fears of loneliness and isolation. As I read this passage by the hotel pool, I observed the people around me through my sunglasses. Their effortless facades masked inner struggles and turmoil that were unimaginable to the casual observer.

If we focus solely on our own wounds, we risk overlooking the suffering of others. So, take a moment to look up, to observe the world and the people around you. Life might just become a little easier. At that moment, a genuine smile spread across my face. The author’s keen eye for observation is truly remarkable, and we can often find ourselves resonating with a passage in a book. It is in these moments that the essence of reading and travel intertwines.

Every individual faces constant choices and inner turmoil, but what determines one’s moral compass and ultimate destiny? If good and evil are inherently intertwined, how do we define our own life’s path? These are questions that may never have definitive answers.

Perhaps it is the quest for understanding and the journey itself that make life worth living!